What are these????? - Orchid Board

VickiC · #1 02-28-2009, 02:19 PM

Hi everybody,
I just bought this oncidium, came home to unpot it then repot it, and I found some little round things in the medium that I've never seen before (pic attached). Are they eggs??? Whatever they are, I'm gonna go sqush them.....I don't like the way they look.

Please advise,
Vicki

camille1585 · #2 02-28-2009, 02:23 PM

Looks like they might be slow release fertilizer pellets. Some growers like to use those as fertilizer.

VickiC · #3 02-28-2009, 02:55 PM

Ohhh....I didn't know growers put them in orchids. I've put them around my tomatoes...and other things, so I learned something new. Thanks for telling me, Camille.
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

Looks like they might be slow release fertilizer pellets. Some growers like to use those as fertilizer.

l.ania · #4 02-28-2009, 02:25 PM

Oh my, for me it looks like spider eggs.... But I'm not sure. Hope none of mine has sth like this... I'm terrified of spiders!!!!

Hope I'm wrong!!!

VickiC · #5 02-28-2009, 03:10 PM

I'm terrified of spiders, too! Eek! I'm hoping Camille hit the nail on the head and they're fertilizer pellets...but , they are dead before they had a chance to "hatch", "release their fertilizer" or whatever. I just finished stomping the living whatever out of them, put the remains in a garbage bag and threw it in the dumpster...be it fertilizer, spiders, or anything that's not supposed to be in orchid media! (lol, sorta) I'm very paranoid of stuff like this I'm not familiar with. I'm not gonna repot until I find out what do to...if anything. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please.
Thanks for your reply,
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by l.ania

Oh my, for me it looks like spider eggs.... But I'm not sure. Hope none of mine has sth like this... I'm terrified of spiders!!!!

Hope I'm wrong!!!

RosieC · #6 02-28-2009, 02:57 PM

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.

VickiC · #7 02-28-2009, 03:15 PM

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

Quote:

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 · #8 02-28-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

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 · #9 02-28-2009, 04:09 PM

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

Quote:

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 · #10 02-28-2009, 04:28 PM

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)