Roots and calcium

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Kollba

OH, I almost forgot. When you are using the root booster (Kelpmax was it ?). Do you mix it with water together with fertilizer or do you spray fertilizer one day and Kelpmax another day ?

KelpMax can be used at 1 tablespoon/gal in plain water or mixed with fertilizer solutions. The only restriction is that it not be added to solutions having a pH>7.

[Kollba]

Originally Posted by Ray

KelpMax can be used at 1 tablespoon/gal in plain water or mixed with fertilizer solutions. The only restriction is that it not be added to solutions having a pH>7.

Sorry... I was asking PhoenixIndo about it because we earlier talked about B-1 Liquinox. I cannot get Kelpmax here so I thought he might remember our conversation and tell me how he was using B-1 before starting to use Kelpmax.

Is it the same restriction with PH for B-1 ?

[Ray]

I have no idea, sorry.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Kollba

Some of the leaves are getting a bit grey, but not even close to the roots of my mounted orchids.

Kollba ------ thanks for mentioning that. This could likely mean that the water is not the issue. Because ------ if your 200+ orchids appear to be doing just fine with that same water, then the issue is something else.

[Kollba]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Kollba ------ thanks for mentioning that. This could likely mean that the water is not the issue. Because ------ if your 200+ orchids appear to be doing just fine with that same water, then the issue is something else.

I disagree.

I am using pipes with nozzles that sprinkle water all over most of the the orchids (not the mounted ones) and the leaves where water get standing and drying by itself get a grey coating where the water was. Same thing happens with the plants that are growing under the hanging orchids.
You can see it on the pics below.

[PhoenixIndo]

I usually mix with fertilizer, and since plants can absorb the most out of fertilizer at around 5.50 and 6.50 ph that's what I aim for in my fertilized water. Except on new plants that just arrived after shipping I soak in B1 only for an hour.
I use phosphoric acid which I bought for ph down on my hydroponic vegetables. I read somewhere vinegar doesn't last long thus not used for hydroponic nutrients, but I can be wrong. And if you don't use semi hydro/hydroponic probably vinegar would work.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Kollba

I disagree.

kollba ----- what I meant was ------ if your 200+ other orchids are doing just fine with the same water (as in their roots are staying alive) ------ then the issue is not with the water, right?

But ------ on the other hand ----- if it turns out that your 200+ other orchids have their roots getting negatively impacted by the water too, then definitely ----- a water test should be done.

And/or a reverse-osmosis system will be needed.

Whether the testing and/or acquirement of a reverse osmosis system can be done (or not) is a different matter.

[Kollba]

Originally Posted by PhoenixIndo

I usually mix with fertilizer, and since plants can absorb the most out of fertilizer at around 5.50 and 6.50 ph that's what I aim for in my fertilized water. Except on new plants that just arrived after shipping I soak in B1 only for an hour.
I use phosphoric acid which I bought for ph down on my hydroponic vegetables. I read somewhere vinegar doesn't last long thus not used for hydroponic nutrients, but I can be wrong. And if you don't use semi hydro/hydroponic probably vinegar would work.

I just checked Lazada (online shopping) and they do have phosphoric acid so next step is to get a PH-meter and adjust the water I am using for my mounted orchids down to PH 6. No more simple watering with a hose...
No I am not using any kind hydroponic growing. The (few) vegetables we have are growing in the old traditional way - soil.

I will start mix B1 with fertilizer too, it makes life a little bit simpler.

Thanks.

---------- Post added at 11:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 AM ----------

Originally Posted by SouthPark

kollba ----- what I meant was ------ if your 200+ other orchids are doing just fine with the same water (as in their roots are staying alive) ------ then the issue is not with the water, right?

The roots on my mounted orchids are not dead - they just get more and more grey. But I water the mounted ones 2-3 times a day and the orchids in baskets just 1 time (some days not at all, depending on the weather) so I think that is the reason why the roots on the mounted orchids get grey - just like the leaves on the pics.
And I believe the media (coconut husk and sphagnum moss) will suck up much of the calcium so the roots will not get very much compared to the mounted orchids.

I will start by trying to adjust the PH for the water I am using for the mounted orchids and later, when my wife no longer needs medication, I will invest in a reverse osmosis equipment.

Thanks to all who was engaged in this and came with different suggestions and advices

[PhoenixIndo]

Do be careful with Phosphoric acid, they are caustic. The ones for hydroponics are only 10% concentrated or so. I got the 85% food grade last time and watered it down with distilled water and the container got really warm so it was a bit scary. But I didn't want to work with it directly either.

[Kollba]

Originally Posted by PhoenixIndo

Do be careful with Phosphoric acid, they are caustic. The ones for hydroponics are only 10% concentrated or so. I got the 85% food grade last time and watered it down with distilled water and the container got really warm so it was a bit scary. But I didn't want to work with it directly either.

The Phosphoric acid I can get at Lazada is 85% so maybe I should use nitric acid instead ?
Thank you for the warning!. I have never dealt with Phosphoric acid so I did not know it was that strong and would not protect myself in any way. Now I will at least use goggles to protect my eyes.

I have experience from using other acids when I was a teenager and made guncotton, TNT and nitroglycerine.
Maybe I should take up that hobby again to scare off the neighbors chicken and dogs from my yard...