Light brown roots on Phalaenopsis

[estación seca]

That orchid food is acceptable. Fertilizer is the least important aspect of orchid growing. More important are air at the roots, proper light, proper humidity and plenty of water. Learn about those, and then it will be time to think about feeding.

If this is your product:
https://www.miraclegro.com/sites/g/f...100813_cfl.pdf
you can use a pinch per gallon (less than 1/8 of a teaspoon) at every watering.

It lacks calcium and magnesium. Unless your tap water has a lot of minerals, you should also use a calcium and magnesium supplement for your orchids. Use it according to the label. Don't mix the fertilizer with the cal-mag supplement in the same water; they can interact.

[Lindyloo]

Estación seca, again, thank you for your advice. I am following it regarding air, light, humidity, and water.

Yes, that's the orchid food I bought. I'll mix up a gallon per your instructions and start using it in a few weeks (30 days after repotting). I'll be visiting my sister in MA in a few weeks and already told her I want to visit the big nursery nearby. I'll pick up the magnesium/calcium supplement there.

I was just about to ask about water. We have a well with two filters, yet we still must drink spring water because the well water is so hard. I wouldn't trust it for my plants, which I've been watering with spring water for years. This is real spring water, not the filtered tap water that is sometimes bottled. I've seen a lot of comments on this board about using distilled water. Is it preferable to use distilled water rather than spring?

[estación seca]

Your well water might be fine. Do you have a recent water analysis?

You can collect rain. Make sure mosquitos can't grow in the barrels.

Reverse osmosis or distilled water is fine. If there is a aquarium shop in town they may sell reverse osmosis water much cheaper than distilled or spring water. You would need to bring buckets with lids and get it out of your car.

You can also get a reverse osmosis water purification unit. Ray at firstrays.com can provide good advice on this. But I would first try the rain collection idea. You should be able to collect more than enough.

[Lindyloo]

We haven't had our well water analyzed in years, but it's so full of minerals that it leaves a coating of white powder in my kitchen sink when it dries. I'm not going to chance it. We're in a drought, so rainwater isn't reliable and there is no aquarium store in this area.

I'll just go with the distilled water if spring water is not a good option. I always have both on hand.

[Dollythehun]

When I had less than 20 orchids, I bought a water pitcher and I filtered water into 3 gallon jugs and used that. I don't know how many you have. But one good rain will water and awful lot of orchids when it comes. Also there are other downsides to reverse osmosis.

[Lindyloo]

Thanks, Dollythehun. I think I'll stick with the distilled water. I'm trying not to make this any more complicated than it needs to be. Cranky husband doesn't understand why I need more "stuff." Long story, lol.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by Lindyloo

Thanks, Dollythehun. I think I'll stick with the distilled water. I'm trying not to make this any more complicated than it needs to be. Cranky husband doesn't understand why I need more "stuff." Long story, lol.

Oh, no explanation needed. I was told to quit buying shoes (can you imagine?)😢

[Lindyloo]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Oh, no explanation needed. I was told to quit buying shoes (can you imagine?)😢

Yes, I can. I'm an artist of a variety of media and have supplies for all. Husband calls me a hoarder.