Fertilizer question

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Let me guess (even though probably wrong) ----- Billy Ray? hehe

Waaay south of base dude. I will presume SouthPark suits ya.

---------- Post added at 07:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

No. She says I'm "Bill Nye, The Science Guy" because of my (mostly) scientific fact-based responses.

And perfect response Bill... "mostly" scientific fact based. Gotta love it! Get that caveat in there!

---------- Post added at 07:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

You’re welcome.

And thank ya, thank ya very much. I knew you'd step up to the plate.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

You people are a riot! Thank for all the info. I actually did look up the latest water report but didn't see a dissolved solids number. I know chlorine is regularly added to our water. That's why I won't drink it. I prefer RO or artesian spring water for drinking. If the plants can handle it (and it seems they can) I'll continue like I have been. I will look into a fertilizer with those minerals included. I don't feed often due to lack of space and not wanting to store mixed solutions. Summer sees my plants on the patio since we have high temps/humidity and usually a breeze. Winter has them in the house except for the vanda who resides in the garage under the shop lights.

[estación seca]

They may report degrees of hardness or total milligrams of calcium and/or magnesium per volume.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

And perfect response Bill... "mostly" scientific fact based. Gotta love it! Get that caveat in there!

And thank ya, thank ya very much. I knew you'd step up to the plate.

1. I have always been a nerd.
2. I have probably always been a scientist, as well, even before formal training.
3. I am a degreed engineer and scientist.
4. I am a lefty.
5. My career put me in many situations that required me to make “gut calls” based upon the information at hand.

Should I really be expected to be any different when it comes to a hobby?

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Ray

1. I have always been a nerd.
2. I have probably always been a scientist, as well, even before formal training.
3. I am a degreed engineer and scientist.
4. I am a lefty.
5. My career put me in many situations that required me to make “gut calls” based upon the information at hand.

Should I really be expected to be any different when it comes to a hobby?

You just keep being a nerd, Ray. Every nerd is good at something, which is more than can be said for today's youth.

[Ray]

My wife says I should add "6. I'm a Bull sh*tter", but I keep telling her it's not BS, it's just comments made with a lifetime of experiential confidence that I'm right! (Much of the time.)

[WaterWitchin]

Just gotta....

1. I have always been a voracious reader; probably like books even more than people
2. I was probably a writer/editor in a prior life; no formal training
3. I have an education, non-degreed, because I ask lots of questions of folks who know what I don't, and know I don't know all (also see #1)
4. I rarely use the left side of my brain (Yes, many think that’s been disproven. I don't)
5. Devil’s advocate is my favorite game, learned at the foot of professional arguers.

Many see #5 as being a BS'r. It's really not. My career path gave me a lifetime of experiential confidence that there's always two sides of a fence.

---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:22 PM ----------

PS Welcome, again, to OrchidBoard, DustyOldMan! Sometimes threads get derailed. I'm usually one of the guilty ones. When/if you want it back on track, just holler at me. I'll stomp my moderator foot, slap myself twice, and tell everyone to move along. Or just enjoy the ride. You're the original poster, and it's your show!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Just gotta....

1. I have always been a voracious reader; probably like books even more than people
2. I was probably a writer/editor in a prior life; no formal training
3. I have an education, non-degreed, because I ask lots of questions of folks who know what I don't, and know I don't know all (also see #1)
4. I rarely use the left side of my brain (Yes, many think that’s been disproven. I don't)
5. Devil’s advocate is my favorite game, learned at the foot of professional arguers.

Many see #5 as being a BS'r. It's really not. My career path gave me a lifetime of experiential confidence that there's always two sides of a fence.

---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:22 PM ----------

PS Welcome, again, to OrchidBoard, DustyOldMan! Sometimes threads get derailed. I'm usually one of the guilty ones. When/if you want it back on track, just holler at me. I'll stomp my moderator foot, slap myself twice, and tell everyone to move along. Or just enjoy the ride. You're the original poster, and it's your show!

Thanks WW. I'm not a newbie to boards so thread derailment is a common occurrence and I just go with the flow as long as it stays friendly.
I do have another question for the topic. I have read a lot of posts about feeding, and the opinions are all over the place. But the major consensus is not too much, not too often. I have been looking through some of the other types of fertilizers we have and there are several that will work. The only one with magnesium also co tains copper and boron. Question: will these other elements harm my orchids? Remember, I have a dendrobium, two phals, and soon will receive my first catt from a friend in NJ. (Pics of that will be posted soon.)
BTW- Who you callin' old?!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

BTW- Who you callin' old?!

oops!!!!! True. Ol' could stand for say Orchid Lovin' for the case of 'l' being an 'L'.

[estación seca]

Orchids are not overly sensitive to the various minerals often incorporated into fertilizers. Ambient growing conditions are far more important to orchid cultivation.