What are these?????

[VickiC]

Hi Rosie,
I hope that's what they are, but would they be "mushy" if they're fertilizer pellets? When I mashed them, gooey-liquid stuff came out. Whatever they are (were) I didn't like the way they looked.
Thanks for your reply,
Vicki

Originally Posted by RosieC

They look like fertiliser pellets to me as well. I've not seem them in 'chids before but I've seen then in plants I've bought to put in the garden.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by VickiC

Hi Rosie,
I hope that's what they are, but would they be "mushy" if they're fertilizer pellets? When I mashed them, gooey-liquid stuff came out. Whatever they are (were) I didn't like the way they looked.
Thanks for your reply,
Vicki

Slow release fertilizer pellets (like Osmocote) are made of a porous resine capsule, in which there is the fertilizer. I've had fun crushing some sometimes when I repot, and it is exactly as you describe.(assuming that it's really what they are) A fully used up pellet has nothing left in it.

[VickiC]

Hi again Camille,
Well, if they were fertilizer pellets, like you said, I feel pretty stupid getting so paranoid. I don't guess it hurts to be on the safe side and ask, though.....especially since I've never seen them before in orchid media. Anyway, you say you had fun crushing them sometimes when you repot?!? (I guess it's sorta like popping bubble wrap lol) Well, I did too....the most fun for me at the time was dumping them into the dumpster. lol By the way, in my paranoia state, I wondered why they were in a "patch" sorta....kinda like the mother of the little things laid her eggs in a "bed". I guess that's just the way fertilizer pellets end up in the media sometimes. Didn't know that, so thanks for your help.
Vicki

Originally Posted by camille1585

Slow release fertilizer pellets (like Osmocote) are made of a porous resine capsule, in which there in the fertilizer. I've had fun crushing some sometimes when I repot, and it is exactly as you describe.(assuming that it's really what they are) A fully used up pellet has nothing left in it.

[camille1585]

Nah, I can understand that you were paranoid! It's better to be overly cautious sometimes with things you don't know! Also these slow release ferts aren't common in orchids because the different medium (as opposed to soil) makes it a bit tricky. There's also a risk of root burn if the pellets suddenly let out a lot of fert (depends on temperature and water)

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by VickiC

I wondered why they were in a "patch" sorta....kinda like the mother of the little things laid her eggs in a "bed". I guess that's just the way fertilizer pellets end up in the media sometimes.

I've seen them in patches like that. I did worry about what there were as well the first time I saw them.

Of course Camille and I are just guessing what they are based on what we've seen before. But that's my guess.