"It's getting cumbersome" is the key here. Orchids should be fun and interesting.

The primary goal of watering is to get the roots wet. Getting the medium wet makes root rot more likely. Also, soaking can have the medium float.

A 30-second pour-the-water-through-pour-the-water-through does the watering job nicely.

Richardol is right on the money. There are two ways of pour-the-water-through. The first way is to have the pots on trays over a bed of stones and if using plain water, just pour through and the water goes down to the stones and the trays and creates a humid environment. In this method be sure to have the bottoms of the pots protected from wicking up the water by either slippng them into clay pots or slipping a plastic lid of some sort under them. Many peope have grids over the trays instead of stones.

The second method is to put a cake rack over the top of a bucket and pour fertilizer water through the pot. This method keeps the plastic trays with the stones free of fertilizer which causes algae, mold and all sorts of problems.

Granted, this method wets the roots, and does not get the medium as wet, but as richardol says, the medium is less likely to rot and the medium won't float.

I do both soaking and pouring. It depends on how much time I want to devote on "that particular day."

When I soak I wait longer to water the orchid again than I do when I pour by three or so days. I never soak more than on orchid together either. If one happens to get a fungus, disease or virus I don't want to risk spreading it. I soak one at a time in the kitchen sink. I can soak two because we have a split sink. I clean the sink between each orchid to rid of any fungi, bacteria or viruses (spray some bleach, wipe and rinse - nothing major or time consuming).

Soaking also depends upon the medium you are using I would think. I am using charcoal, bark and some added sphag - not much (handfull or so). The medium dries out after 7-10 days (I think). I might soak every month or month and a half just to do a thourough watering. I also mist my orchids once daily, but I wait about three days after soaking.

As for watering, it comes down to..."Whatever floats your boat," as long as you're not over- or under- watering/fertilizing. ;-)

OK, another watering question: I do the soaking thing for most of my orchids, just about a minute each but I also run cupfuls of the water/fertilizer through from the top while they're soaking just to get them thoroughly drenched. I also run water from the tap right through the medium before soaking & drenching. I start with a large bowlful. Is it OK to use the same water/fertilizer for about 6-8 orchids? That's what I've been doing and so far no bad results.

One problem that may arise could be contamination. If fungus/disease gets into the water from one pot, it may be passed to the others afterwards.

Vtandrea, if you mean that you make up a batch of fertilizer water and then pour a little in each pot, that's okay. But if you pour the batch into one pot, catch it and then pour the very same fertilizer water into the next pot, that's a no-no for the reasons that aesir22 states, plus you'll spread an insect infestation faster than a lightning bolt, and that will cost you more in labor and money than the fertilizer, and it may cost you a plant or two in the process.

Ooops! I didn't know. Will never do it again! Guess I've been lucky so far.

Hi Florrie,

Others are spot on. One additional piece of info - many orchid folks fertilize only every 3rd or 4th watering, depending on medium. Reason: fertilizer salts can burn orchid roots if they're not "leached" or "flushed" (rinsed out) periodically. This can kill the orchid.

People have different routines. Here's one.

For plants in a bark mixture,
1. first watering, regular water
2. second watering, fertilizer in regular water
3. third watering, leach w/ regular water
4. fourth watering, fertilizer in regular water

Repeat.

"Regular water" usually is non-softened tap water. To leach or flush, pour regular water through the medium from the top till it equals watering it about 4 times. This will rinse out the fertilizer salts.

For plants in sphagnum, salts build up faster, so
1. first watering, regular water
2. second watering, fertilizer in regular water
3. third watering, leach w/ regular water

Repeat.

To water & fertilize, I put a bucket near the plant shelves, take dry plants off the shelves one at a time, and water over the bucket, using a watering can.

To leach, I put the plants on a largish baking tray w/ a lip and take them to a sink. If you've got a sprayer, you can use that. This is a good time to rinse both sides of the leaves under running water w/ your fingers to get off dust and help prevent nasties.

Hope this is helpful and ups your orchid enjoyment factor.

Whitecat8