Watering a Huge Collection - Page 3 - Orchid Board

natasha · #21 04-20-2009, 05:39 AM

thanks rogerman & jerry. i think i would seriously consider putting the system. in rainy season it wasn't much of problem, but now it begin to be really hot! it is also very windy too, especially in february. how much should i water if using such system, two times a day? morning & evening? will it make my plants rots should i accidentally overwater?

i saw it at nurseries, i think it kinda cool to have it at home, can scare my pet cats if they try to eat my roots

cb977 · #22 04-20-2009, 09:16 AM

Most of my collection is in the orchid room which has a river rock floor and the rest are out around the pool so I have no concern for water run-off.

I have a 2 gallon Gilmour sprayer for everyday watering/misting which only gets RO water. I have a one gallon Black & Decker rechargeable sprayer for feeding time..I use a small watering can for the potted plants and this sprayer for the mounts and vandas.

Using a sprayer allows for precise direction on where the water goes. I spray it directly into the pot and can avoid an overload of water/food to get on or in the leaves of the plants. I also use the sprayer on a wide-spray to give a cooling mist to everything on the really hot days here

It takes about 2 1/2 hrs to get almost 500 chids done...that's with me taking little rest-breaks along the way. I can't do them all in one shot

rogerman · #23 04-20-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natasha

thanks rogerman & jerry. i think i would seriously consider putting the system. in rainy season it wasn't much of problem, but now it begin to be really hot! it is also very windy too, especially in february. how much should i water if using such system, two times a day? morning & evening? will it make my plants rots should i accidentally overwater?

i saw it at nurseries, i think it kinda cool to have it at home, can scare my pet cats if they try to eat my roots

I water three times a day.....and the Vandas especially could do with more...... I'm in the same sort of heat as you.....Very hot here, but with little wind..... I have never had a problem with rot..... Only problem i have had was underwatering seedlings. Now thats been fixed with the sprinkler system.

natasha · #24 04-20-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerman

I water three times a day.....and the Vandas especially could do with more...... I'm in the same sort of heat as you.....Very hot here, but with little wind..... I have never had a problem with rot..... Only problem i have had was underwatering seedlings. Now thats been fixed with the sprinkler system.

i would spare some money to buy the auto system then... as now is really hot! esp bad in february, when the kite show is held, the clothes sure can fly... but now my vandas are flowering

last two months was my dendrobiums... during the rainy season. i was all over the moon

rogerman · #25 04-21-2009, 05:05 AM

My Vandas are starting to bloom now. This is the hottest month supposedly and when the rains start my Vandas will really take off.

natasha · #26 04-21-2009, 05:36 AM

i'm excited too.. very excited since this is the first time the flower bloom under my care. i have one in flower - 2 stalks! and another three just start to send out the stalks.

rogerman · #27 04-21-2009, 06:58 AM

Well, the little secret for me is, that this is the first time I have had such a big collection (3000+)flower for me as well.... In the past few years I have only had a couple plants.

Blondie · #28 04-22-2009, 11:53 AM

HOW did you guys get such big collections??? Just a passion for the 'chids?

(I fear for myself.)

rogerman · #29 04-22-2009, 11:59 AM

Not only a passion...... More like a hobby that turned into a business..... I wanted one particular type of Den. and ended up with a flask....turned into two flasks then 35 flasks.....200 flasks later i'm also buying grown plants wholesale and selling retail. I had a block of land with nothing on it so I built a shade house......everything just kept going.

phearamedusa · #30 04-22-2009, 03:46 PM

I use a hydroponic flood and drain system, under HPS lighting. I'll post picture later when I get home. I have about 30 plants on the table right now. Pierardii, just finishing blooming, delicatum is in bloom, and has been for about a month, Den. b213(speciosum?) finished end of last month and was blooming from early/mid Feb. Phal just opened last night and have three other plants in spike.