Need advice on how to water and feed correctly.

[Cewal]

Based on what I've been reading here, I think I'm doing it all wrong.

I water and feed once a week with 1/4 strength fertilizer (Orchid Focus) and 1 drop of Superthrive in 1 gallon of water. I sit each plant, one at a time, in the same bucket of water for a couple minutes and use a cup to make sure the bark is completely wet, top to bottom. I also mist several times a day.

To wash the growing medium, I pour clean water over the top for a few seconds. Our cold tap water is filtered (no sodium added) but the hot isn't, so if I add enough hot water to not shock my orchids, there will be some chlorine in the water. Instead, I use cold water from the tap and put it in the microwave for a few seconds to take the chill off. I've read some articles that say run tap water over the medium for 15-20 seconds to wash away salt and mineral buildup. My orchids never get washed off that well. Is it okay to rinse them under the tap water, even though the hot water has chlorine added?

I've had the same orchids (about 8) for about 6-7 years, except for a paph that I lost to mealybugs. After reading about overwatering, bacteria, and viruses, I'm amazed that I haven't killed them all!

I recently purchased a few new orchids, and have a few more coming this week, so I want to make sure I'm doing this right. I grow all of my potted plants in a bark mixture. Please help!!

[Royal]

1/4 strength isn't too strong, you shouldn't get too much salt buildup as long as you use plain water every once in a while. Chlorine is no big deal at low concentrations, but unless you know what it is coming out of your tap you can't make assumptions. I'd bet that a mix of your filtered and unfiltered is fine.

If you filled up a bucket, watering can, etc. the day before you watered much of the chlorine will dissipate and it will be at room temp when you use it. Kind of two birds with one stone. I don't see problems with the way you are doing things now, EXCEPT...

I would strongly advise against sharing water/bucket between plants. Pests or disease can spread throughout your entire collection very quickly like this. It's tough enough loosing one plant to mealies, imagine if every single one got them from a shared watering bucket.

[tucker85]

You can't argue with success. If you've had those orchids for 6-7 years they must be happy with the environment and culture. My orchids are outdoors so they often get rain water but when it isn't raining I use tap water, chlorine and all. I've never had any problem with it.

[Ray]

1) "1/4 strength" is meaningless. One-fourth of what? If you want to talk facts, it is important to discuss the fertilizer formula and actual dosage rates.

2) Orchid focus is such a dilute product right from the bottle ("Grow" = 2-1-2), that I would recommend 5 teaspoons per gallon at every watering. Their recommendation of two teaspoons per gallon is giving you a solution that is 50 ppm N, and your use of 1/4 that is only 10% of my recommendation - hardly anything at all.

[johnblagg]

Just one question have you got them to rebloom.....


If you have then your doing everything right except one detail and that is do not use the same bucket and the same water ...at least that is the recommended process ...I have to admit guilt on this one too at times but ahh well sometimes time is precoius and if you have had all the orchids together for years then the probability of that causing problems now is slim but with new purchases be more carefull and isolate them for quite a while as that is actualy a more likely source of infection now than the old plants that by now are are clean or all infected after years of this so dont get frantic on that with the old stock now....

If you dont get all of them to rebloom then you need to find out what is what and what needs changes in culture..more light... a rest ...stronger fert ect

[Cewal]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.

Ray, I'm getting different fertilizer with the S-H starter kit that I ordered from you yesterday. I'll use that on the plants that I repot in PrimeAgra. What do you recommend for the plants potted in bark mixture?

Johnblagg, I'm not getting reblooms very often, but Ray mentioned in the post before yours that I'm not using enough fertilizer. I think I'll try correcting that, and see if I notice a difference. Thanks.

[Cewal]

Johnblagg, I'm also going to add some shelves with new lighting - so, hopefully, that will help also. Do you have any recommendations about what lights to buy?

[Ray]

Minda, I recommend folks start with 125 ppm N, no matter what they are potted in. (Divide 10 by the %N on the label to get the teaspoons per gallon to use. Rounding up or down is not an issue.)

If you grow in a cool, low light scenario, cut it back, if you have ideal, warm conditions, or grow stuff like vandas, you might want to up it a bit, but I find the 125 ppm N target to be fine here in southeast PA.

[Orchid126]

You might try upping the light a bit. Usually when the plants don't bloom, it's because of not enough light. Move them closer to the window.

[CTB]

I'd make any changes real slow, if you have been treating them this way for seven years they might shock. slowly up your Fertilizer and light increases. The new ones should be fine with the new treatment.