Using bacteria, fungi and microfauna with orchids

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by estación seca

Microorganisms live in symbiosis with plants. People don't realize how important they are.

Crazy, right? There's lots of information about potting media water retention, pH or even amendment, but not that much about microorganisms.

After some googling it seems that bacteria are an essential part of ponds and aquarium, and oddly enough they're not really talked about in the orchid world. At least where I live!

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

be sure to not allow TOO much of the rotten stuff in the medium as it will eventually choke the roots of O2 and possibly become toxic if not flushed

That is a good point. "Thankfully" temperatures here are super hot and dry, so the substrate doesn't break down too quickly; and I stopped before the conditions became anaerobic.

Originally Posted by Carebear2

Decaying substrate even consumes Nutrients, it does not make them more available. The simple fact is that tap water does contain enough Nutrients to grow Orchids, they need minimal amounts and tap water provides plenty, too much probably even, the biggest problem with tap water is it can cause an imbalance of nutrients, too little N and too much calcium and magnesiuum so adding a fertilizer adjusts the imbalance but the plant does get enough as you have noticed without.

I'm by not stretch of the imagination an expert, but I'm pretty sure that's not how it works.
My tap water is pretty decent and I've never seen an issue with it; it doesn't mean it's the same for everyone. One of my friends lives in the mountains, her tap water is extremely hard and alkaline and she can't use it as is.
Adding a fertiliser won't fix your water if you don't do the maths.
I suggest you take a look at https://firstrays.com/wp/wp-content/...er-quality.pdf

Originally Posted by Carebear2

Additives usually just mess things up more than they do good and if you haven't got the base steps I mentioned dialed in properly first there is no point wasting money on additives that in my experience rarely do much good anyway. The plant needs the basic Nutrients it needs, it doesn't need vitamins, boosters, enhancers or other stuff.

Do orchids need vitamins and boosters? Probably not if we use a proper substrate and fertiliser.
But as estación seca mentioned, plants live in symbiosis with tons of bacteria, fungi, microscopic insects... If we can provide those and get happier and healthier plants, why not consider it? The key is finding the right ones, in the right amount, for our conditions and plants.
This is the thing I would like to find out, does it actually make a visible difference?

Originally Posted by Ray

It also contains photosynthetic species that populate the plant, converting light into sugars, supplementing the plant's own photosynthetic process.

That is very interesting, do you have more info about those bacteria and how it works?