Your fav fertilizer

[JackiBlu]

Originally Posted by gehentogo

Here's a question that's a bit off-topic from a newbie:

What is the best method for watering?

One method I have seen mentioned is to allow the orchid to soak in a container of water for 10 minutes or so followed by draining for 15 minutes before putting it back in it's pot. I can see the advantage of that being you can use distilled water mixed with fertilizer on all your orchids, but couldn't fungi or viruses be spread that way?

Up until now I just ran tap water from the sink through the orchid pot for a few seconds. I don't fertilize yet, and am not sure about how to do it accurately with this method.

Any thoughts?

Welcome and nice to meet you!

I am one who soaks. But I do that about once or twice a month. The reason I do this is because the medium is of course not dirt and in my opinion does not get enough water to 'hold' with just a little water poured on it once a week. So I allow them to soak so the medium can be saturated. This soaking is not just water, I am fertilizing as well. I soak, leaves and all if possible, in the day time so that surface water is gone by night. The next watering I likely will just use clear water since they have their medium all full of fertilizer.

I find this works fine for me. I have a small collection of just less than 50 plants. So soaking is not such a chore as it would for a much larger collection.

I never use tap, did that once saw an immediate reaction (and my tap is great water too!). I collect and use rain water. If my rain water runs out then I would use my well water. If I had to resort to tap, then I would get it out of my tap 2-3 days in advance and let it sit in an opened container/s to allow the added chemicals to evaporate.

[JackiBlu]

I'm loving all the fertilizer idea's here and find each very interesting.

I don't think we got everyone's thoughts/opinions on this yet..

I"m still listening..

[gehentogo]

So contaminating orchids by soaking them all in the same bucket isn't an issue for you, JackiBlu? Or do you soak each plant in it's own water? I'm just a bit concerned that if a fungus can be spread by using the same cutting tool, it could also be spread by soaking an infected plant in communal water. Is that a reasonable assumption? Has anyone ever had problems with that?

[JackiBlu]

Originally Posted by gehentogo

So contaminating orchids by soaking them all in the same bucket isn't an issue for you, JackiBlu? Or do you soak each plant in it's own water? I'm just a bit concerned that if a fungus can be spread by using the same cutting tool, it could also be spread by soaking an infected plant in communal water. Is that a reasonable assumption? Has anyone ever had problems with that?

I've not contaminated anything as far as I can tell. I've not seen anything on them that could be spread. (I know you can't see virus') To answer your questions, no, it is very likely considered a bad habit by some or most. And no I do not soak each in its own water.. but knock wood I've not had issues. So far, I'm not having bug problems or fungus problems. I do take a good solid look at each one nearly every day. I can't say if soaking in the communal pool would equal cutting with the same tools. I do not know if anyone can really. BUt if I did have a suspected/ill orchid it would be separated and treated by itself. I don't want to tempt fate that blatantly.

I also do not sterilize my cutting tools. Wipe them off sure. Spray them with the cinnamon stuff if I am going from a non-orchid to an orchid with them, absolutely. But I've not found anything anywhere that has said that sterilizing cutting tools will definitely prevent a virus. No one can say for sure. I have also read that even using fire, bleach or peroxide for a sterilization technique doesn't warrant that if a virus exists, that this will wipe it out on that tool. Virus's are just that. Even in humans, taking an antibiotic for a virus does nothing except for the pharmaceutical companie$. Anyway, I do what has worked for me and many would say I have developed some very bad habits. But I also have to say I have had either tremendous luck or some of my babies just like it here and put up with me.

I do however believe in the soaking and making sure they are getting a good drink every so often. But making a batch of water for 50 plants is no longer a hobby for me, nor would it be fun. Its just my thought that when a hobby becomes dreaded, then its not a hobby anymore, its work.

[gehentogo]

Thanks, that sounds like a very common-sense approach. I have a couple plants I am trying to resucitate, so I probably wouldn't mix them with my healthy ones. But, soaking healthy plants in the same bucket sounds like the natural thing to do.

[brighteyez]

how exactly do you use epsom salts? desovle it in water and the spray???

[Swamper]

Whitley I use it for my palms only. I throw it on the ground and then water the area for a few minutes. Jacky apparantly does the same with the orchids, she sprinkles it into the potted area then waters.

[Ross]

As for communal soakings (ie. same bucket) it's generally accepted that this is not a good practice because it might spred disease and insects. But sometimes, it's the only way. I have no choice with my setup, but to water every orchid from the same bucket. Now that I have my new RO unit (60 gallons per day) I am less likely to reuse the water as before. I simply mix up my MSU mixture in a 5-gallon pail, water the orchids and discard the redidue. Simple as that. Less insects (like scale) less bacteria and very happy 'chids.

[brighteyez]

thanks swamper! what exactly does it help? new growth? blooms?

[Swamper]

It's supposed to help produce a more robust plant. It is magnesium. Like I said I use it on just my palm trees when I see thenm start to turn yellowish around the leaves. AND I use it for me to bathe in it, well I did when I fished for 3 days and 4 nights in a row and came back hurting like heck. I'm sure it didn't hurt the smell either LOL