hidden steps growers take

[Shadeflower]

As the title says when a grower shows his orchids you never really know how much care has gone into the orchid.

Sometimes you see a great flowering orchid and the grower says they only use tap water and keep it in a corner.

I certainly have a more lazy approach but it needs to be a balance, like I caused some issues this year not doing what he is doing in the following video, when I did check things my ph was 4.5 and my ppm was up to 450!

If I had checked things sooner I think I would have avoided some slight leaf damage but have a look at the following video. Serious respect for the care and attention he provides which could easily be ovelooked if he wouldn't show this step he takes every 3 months.

My kind of grower, although arguably even more precise than me

What I find a bit odd is why he picks such a high PH. I aim for a lower ph of 5.8-6.5 which is the hydroponic range yet he goes for 6.5-7.5 which is a terrestrial plant range.

Wonder how long it actually took him to make the video:

Reservoir check on my 56 Phalaenopsis orchids!

- YouTube

[claypot]

You know my advice......don't get too hung up about TDS or PH, just act sensibly but above all enjoy your orchids. Just start with rain water if you can because that is their natural drink and I am sure nobody in the rain forests tests the water to adjust anything before it rains. Orchids are tough things so enjoy their wonderful flowers. I have grown them for over 40 years in my two greenhouses and never tested with any meters.

[nemesis]

My question to you is this: In the natural habitat, there are less contaminates than where we, in more urban areas abide, thus our rainwater pH is more likely to vacillate. Isn't it wise to check that every time we water?. Remember, I am a neophyte, so I don't know these things, just an honest query. Nemesis aka Kelly

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by nemesis

My question to you is this: In the natural habitat, there are less contaminates than where we, in more urban areas abide, thus our rainwater pH is more likely to vacillate. Isn't it wise to check that every time we water?. Remember, I am a neophyte, so I don't know these things, just an honest query. Nemesis aka Kelly

Well, I have managed to grow a very wide variety of orchids, mostly using southern California city water which is quite high in minerals, especially calcium carbonate. TDS ranges from 200-400 ppm or thereabouts, pH stubbornly around 7.8 (calcium bicarbonate is a very good buffer at that pH) In the last few years I have been using RO water for some of the more fragile cloud-forest species (higher-elevation Pleurothallids, etc) and have been getting better results on those. But those Cyms, Catts, Phals, Paphs, Oncidium relatives, most Dendrobiums (a few fussy exceptions),Catasetinae, ,etc., have done fine on the "liquid rocks" coming out of the tap. What use would frequent testing do? What I get is what I get, I think that i have had reasonable success...(Rain isn't even a factor.. nice when it happens but far too rare to rely upon) Until you get into some of those picky species, you can be very successful, especially with most of the commercially-available hybrids, not worrying about water quality too much. (I freely admit to being a "What can I get away with?" orchid grower. It turns out that I can get away with a LOT.)

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I freely admit to being a "What can I get away with?" orchid grower. It turns out that I can get away with a LOT.

That makes two of us.

[Roberta]

Now, not to diminish the efforts of those who seek "optimum" rather than "what works". I am not likely to win any cultural awards, with huge floriferous plants and perfect foliage. But that's not my goal. If growing a few magnificent orchids to perfection is what makes you happy, go for it. However, for a new grower all that effort is likely to do is take the fun out of it. Learn the basics first - experience the joy of that first rebloom, the anticipation of buds or a flush of new roots. Orchids are amazingly adaptable. There is plenty of time to specialize and fine-tune later if you decide that seeking perfection is what you want to do. I went in a different direction... started out with the usual mix of hybrids, and then just got more and more intrigued by species, their habitats, and their diversity. I honestly don't care if I ever get awards on any of them. But I am filled with a sense of triumph when I manage to grow and bloom some weird and exotic orchids, finding the overlap between what they want in nature and what I can provide. There is plenty of room in the orchid-growing activity to accommodate your tastes and desires - which likely will change over time. First, though, enjoy.
(It is a lot like being a new parent...)There's an infinite amount to learn, a large part of the attraction for me.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i am in that camp as well, roberta.

I have gone to shows and been quite impressed by the perfect orchids but i know i do not have the time, money, space, patience or interest to grow plants like that.

i am quite pleased when i get a great, epic show from any plant but i am really quite happy just to watch them all grow

[Ray]

I think that saying I try to “optimize” my growing would be a gross misstatement.

What I have done over my orchid growing career has been to try to solve problems (like providing proper watering when you travel at least 6 days a week and sometimes a few weeks in a row), or try to test a hypothesis that “jumped” into my mind based upon either something I noticed, or realized, or just speculated about.

Some of those thing were successes, some were so-so, and a lot were outright failures. At this point, after 5 decades of that sort of thing, I have run across a set of general cultural parameters that work for my conditions with my choice of plants. (But I still “push it” from time to time.)

If I am a “pro” at anything in this arena, it’s observation.

[Leafmite]

Professional growers/nursery...growing orchids that need the same conditions, conditions that are available, or, if growing orchids that need different conditions, having different spaces with the different conditions. Growing hardy or very adaptable plants. Buying good quality, healthy plants. If not living where the type of plant can be grown outside (optimal), setting up a greenhouse and controlling temperatures, humidity, fan speeds, and using systemic pesticides and fungicides on a schedule.

[claypot]

.............and remember...........the chances are that your plants have probably never seen their natural habitat but have been bred and reared in artificial conditions, so they are tougher than you think being used to town water etc.