came across some new "secret"

[iceicebaby]

Hi I would like you to comment on this.
A friend of mine who has been very successful in growing Phals, Vandas dendrobiums and cattleas says that she feeds her plants macerated small fishes made into a broth and then boiled for better growth and foilage.

She sprays coconut milk"the white juice you get once you crush the endosperm of the cocount in a ratio of 1:3 parts of water.

I would like you to comment on this and share if you have any such secrets to share.

thanking in advance,
devapratim

[Izzie]

I've heard of the fish fertilizer, and I believe someone mentioned the coconut milk on here- both with good results.

I'll let others chime in with more experience.

[neb]

The cocnut water has rooting hormones in it

[JenHowlett]

"Coconut water"...hmm...I've got a few whose roots I'd like to see develop a little better. Are you talking about mixing supermarket coconut milk in solution with water? What concentration? Is it sprayed on or added to the weekly water/fertilizer soak?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by JenHowlett

"Coconut water"...hmm...I've got a few whose roots I'd like to see develop a little better. Are you talking about mixing supermarket coconut milk in solution with water? What concentration? Is it sprayed on or added to the weekly water/fertilizer soak?

Coconut milk/water has more than just rooting hormones. It has a wide array of phytohormones.

Be careful with these, they've got to be used fresh. If they go bad you risk infecting your plants with bacteria or fungus.

I don't think the dilution of coconut milk to water really matters.

The results will vary depending on the individual plant, as each individual will be in different states of well-being.

Certain species will also respond differently to the coconut milk. Some will produce more shoots than roots.

Its' pretty unpredictable.

Great way to induce a problem plant to produce enough material to clone though!

Coconut milk/water can also be used as an amendment to in-vitro media for cloning or seed sowing, by the way.

It can be the stuff you get in the little cans in the supermarket. Asian supermarkets sell them for dirt cheap (that's if your neighborhood has an Asian community with an Asian supermarket to boot)! One itty-bitty can costs $0.50 in an Asian supermarket, and agar is in great abundance and also dirt cheap there too.

[iceicebaby]

Hi I know someone who sprays her plants at two months interval with FRESH coconut milk diluted at 1:3 with water.
Her plants are doing fine, must admit here she uses an array of plant feed and fertilizers. Right from tea leaf extract to fish fertilizer to bloom feed.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by iceicebaby

Hi I know someone who sprays her plants at two months interval with FRESH coconut milk diluted at 1:3 with water.
Her plants are doing fine, must admit here she uses an array of plant feed and fertilizers. Right from tea leaf extract to fish fertilizer to bloom feed.

I responded because I did it too! Quite recently in fact.

There were a number of plants that I had purchased about a month ago that was in bad shape to begin with. I caught a few of the plants in time and sprayed with coconut milk mixed in water. I didn't measure how much though. Just as long as it looked a little milky, I was okay with it.

Like I said, I got a variety of results from it, often depending on the species.

And like I stated, I got enough plant material to clone. That's how bad they were when they got to me. I kinda hesitate to mention who I got the plants from because it might be bad business.

Anyways...

I haven't tried the tea or the fish (I can't do the fish, it's too smelly).

But in many Asian cultures, water used for rinsing rice has been used for watering plants.

[iceicebaby]

"But in many Asian cultures, water used for rinsing rice has been used for watering plants."

Can you please elaborate on it Philip.
I have just tried fish, will let you all know the result.
regards.
Dev

[cb977]

Sounds good...and if the plants don't like it, we'll make Pina Coladas!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by cb977

Sounds good...and if the plants don't like it, we'll make Pina Coladas!

Sounds good right about now!