Need advice on crushed oyster shell dressing for paph

[cnarciso]

Hello,

I posted something similar over in the paph section, but so far have had no nibbles, so I am going to start a similar thread here where there is more traffic and see if it fares better.

Recently (about 3 months ago) I got two new primary paph hybrids

Paph malipoense x Paph moquettianum
and
Paph concolor x Paph leucochilum

As all of the species involved in these hybrids are of the type that grow naturally on limestone I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on supplementing calcium with crushed oyster shell. I have heard/read that topdressing with either crushed oyster shell or dolomite lime can help these plants considerably. Does anyone else use either lime or shell to supplement these type of plants? Or if you could just give me your thoughts on the use of lime/shell. I am basically just looking for confirmation on how much is a good amount to use for starters and if, in your opinion, it really does the plants much good at all.

PS. In case anyone needs to know, I grow my plants in an acidic bark mixture with some perlite and charcoal.

Thanks in advance!

[ericst11]

If your looking for a organic form of calcium thats available . Then use Bonemeal or you can go in the grass area of any lowes or the big name hardware stores and get pelletized lime its organic and it has a ton of calcium in it. Make sure you read the back of the package and its good it will just be lime and differant forms of calcium minerals and its fast acting.

[xristie9]

And what about the shells? It looks like a good idea... My mother loved to eat them, when she was pregnant.

[RosieC]

I don't really know about this, but I thought I remembered reading on OB a year or so ago that the shells were not an effective way to boost calcium as the amount that leaches out of them is minimal. I could have completely mis-remembered though.

[Ray]

A lot of paph growers add crushed oyster shells, purchased as a chicken feed supplement at a local farm store.

I use the MSU RO fertilizer, and it seems to have plenty for paphs.

Some folks are supplementing with

[cnarciso]

Thanks for all your quick replies! Given what you have said I think I might add a little crushed shell simply as a long-term buffer (my water is fairly acid)/low calcium that will stay in the pot and sprinkle a very tiny amount of lime too for faster action. I was hesitant to use lime because I figured that being a powder it would wash out of the very pourous bark before it had a chance to do much good, but this seems the best option given your suggestions.

Thanks a bunch!

I recently had my water tested and it is low in magnesium and calcium and the fertalizer I am currently using has only a very tiny amount of magnesium with no calcium, so I am going to start supplementing both for now and in the longer term look into getting a cal-mag fertalizer.

[ericst11]

Here Cnarciso this is the stuff i use for top dressing my plants and doesn't burn and works very well. I apply it every month during growing season and it works very well and cost 4.88 for that big bag.

[cnarciso]

Thank you ericst11, I picked up something similar at a local home depot.