Orchid Myths

[Gin]

What about blooms with warts ?
had a woman say oh better not touch them or you will get warts .. no joke I laughed so hard ,she thought I was batty . Part of that might be right

[cirillonb]

Originally Posted by Ray

As to the N-P-K thing, I recall being told that high nitrogen fertilizers enhance foliage growth, high phosphorus favors root growth, and that high potassium is good for the overall health of the plant, so favors flowering.

Later that was modified to high phosphorus being the "bloom booster".

Yes, nitrogen does favor vegetative growth, but too much is akin to give kids too much candy (now why would I think of that the day after Halloween?) - gives lots of energy, but isn't overly healthy. In fact, a plant that has been given to much nitrogen will be a beautiful emerald green color, but tends to be "leggy" and soft, rather than compact and sturdy.

A plant does need phosphorus, but not very much, and "more is [not] better". And... it turns out that the primary function of the high phosphorus content of so-called "bloom booster" fertilizer formulations is to dilute the nitrogen, which in addition to its other potential faults, can actually retard or stop blooming altogether.

Potassium is another essential macronutrient, but doesn't really boost anything. Of course, if you underfeed, then change to an adequate diet, it looks like the change "boosted" growth, doesn't it?

In other areas of horticulture it is taught that Potassium is important for the strength of the vegetative portions of the plant helping tighter cell growth of more compact cells.
Nick

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by sucuz

Seem to remember a post awhile back from one of the Australian growers. If I remember correctly, there are some Australian native orchids that require 'prarie fire' type of burns that remove invasive plants and encourage/or are necessary to the orchid's health and bring it into bloom. (Much like praries here in USA)

As an alternative to burning, they discovered that these orchids can be put into a container with some bananas (or banana peels). The gasses given off trick the plant into thinking that they have been through a fire and they bloom. If this is true, it would show that bananas are more helpful than hurtful.

Australian friends, am I remembering correctly, or is this a false memory influenced by root beer?

Sucuz, you are correct. Supposedly, ethylene released during bushfires is the stimulus for flowering in a few fire responsive orchid species. The ethylene given off by ripening fruit is able to mimic this stimulus in cultivation. As far as I'm aware, this method is used solely for tuberous terrestrial orchids. The technique was originally used to get Leptoceras mensiesii to flower. I've also used it successfully to induce flowering in Thelymitra graminea and Pterygodium catholicum and no doubt other terrestrial species are also responsive. I should point out that a number of fire responsive orchid species don't respond to this method.

[Ray]

Ethylene is a combustion product? I would think it would decompose post-haste.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Ray

Ethylene is a combustion product? I would think it would decompose post-haste.

Ayers and Gillett, 1988 show a ~3-fold increase ethylene emissions during bushfires. As you mention the ethylene probably doesn't stay around for long (the paper references a lifetime of less than a day), although banana treatment of fire stimulated orchids is typically only continued for 1-2 weeks.

[Des]

This is all so interesting to me as I have for many years soaked my tomato seed in smokey water. This is water through which I bubble smoke through from a small fynbos fire. The seed does not only germinate faster but the plants are stronger than those I have not treated
I wonder what would happen if I were to soak orchid seed in 'smokey water' , or inject a minute amount of ethylene into the flask ??

[orchids3]

Have heard that asperine cures orchid ailments algae and fungus? Is it true or false?

[Intruder]

And.... what about urea assimilation???

[Miyuki]

My father-in-law wanted to by me an orchid as a gift. The florist told him that orchids are "annuals" and once they finish blooming they should be thrown away. Dad was really worried that this wasn't the type I grow but bought it anyway. Thank goodness because it is one of my best bloomers!

[kiki-do]

oh I just remembered one and I haven't looked back to see if it's already mentioned, but I know my nephew from Texas got an orchid as a gift, and was told to put ice cubes in the medium once a week and that is how you water them. The ice melts down into the medium slowly....the correct way to water! Crazy, huh? The florist happens to own a very popular place, so my nephew took it as law.