Multiple questions from a newbie - Orchid Board

Skirril · #1 08-10-2011, 09:59 PM

Hi there, I have posted in another thread about one particular issue, but as I think I will need to put in an order for bark chips very rapidly to make sure my new orchid doesn't die I want to make sure there is nothing else I need before I place the order.

I have CHC, and will get small bark chips for my cambria, but is it worth getting large bark chips as well? (I have phals and 1 cambria). I have perlite and Sphag moss as well.

I am really upset to find that my "first" phal orchid (the first I chose for myself, which wasn't a gift) had a terminal spike when I got it. It was in the Tesco finish range, and was spectacular with soo many flowers. I wonder if it was pushed too far to get so many? There is a leaf on the spike, will this become a keiki? Or is it just a leaf (I can take pics, but it's just a single leaf on the spike, and it doesn't come off it like a little plant, it's wrapped around it).
I have had the plant for 3 or more months now, and most of the flowers (but not all) have finished, but the leaf doesn't seem to have done anything more, and there is no sign of keikis from elsewhere. Partly because this was my first orchid (and got made me want more!) and partly because I think the flowers are so incredibly beautiful I don't want it to die without getting a baby from it. How can I best encourage it to make them?

Is there a fertiliser available in the UK which is vegan which is suitable for orchids? (being listed as vegetarian would probably work).

Besides fertiliser, pots, misting bottle and potting medium what is considered essential for keeping them well? A little knife for root cutting? How should it be sterilised? fungicide? Is there a pesticide which can kill bugs in soil (though I read fungus gnats don't harm the plant?)?

Sorry for all the questions, I really didn't want to just off load them all at once like this, but I am afraid my cambria might die if I don't order as soon as I can and the postage is so high I don't want to keep ordering things bit by bit. Also, I don't suppose anyone knows of somewhere in the UK which sells these sort of supplies (Essex/London/East Anglia/Norfolk)?

Thank you do much for any help! Sorry again for wall of text

RosieC · #2 08-11-2011, 05:19 AM

I've found the large bark chips from 'Orchid Accessories' to be a bit too big for most of my plants. I use them in with other stuff in my Cym mix but they are too big for phals and Oncidium types (like the Cambria).

An interesting one to have is Lecca/hydroton. I've been loving it as an airy medium, however don't get that mail order, it's too expensive on the shipping. Hydroponic stores sell it and you can ask orchid stores who sell it to take some to a show for you to pick up. I'm lucky to have a Hydroponic store really close.

Other than that, I would advise Fine and Medium Bark. I've got medium CHC like you, but in the future I might try the fine instead. I have fine perlite, but in the future think I might try medium instead. Moss, as long a grade as you can get (the more AAA's in the grade the longer it is). I also have Orchid Accesories Cym mix, but you don't need that unless you plant to get Cyms.

Clear pots. I think Orchid Accesories now does a mixture pack of clear pots. It's good to have a range of sizes (I used to call him and ask for a mixture even though it wasn't on his website then). If a plant has lost roots it needs to go smaller and some of his smallest work well for sick plants.

RosieC · #3 08-11-2011, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skirril

I am really upset to find that my "first" phal orchid (the first I chose for myself, which wasn't a gift) had a terminal spike when I got it. It was in the Tesco finish range, and was spectacular with soo many flowers. I wonder if it was pushed too far to get so many? There is a leaf on the spike, will this become a keiki? Or is it just a leaf (I can take pics, but it's just a single leaf on the spike, and it doesn't come off it like a little plant, it's wrapped around it).

I have had the plant for 3 or more months now, and most of the flowers (but not all) have finished, but the leaf doesn't seem to have done anything more, and there is no sign of keikis from elsewhere. Partly because this was my first orchid (and got made me want more!) and partly because I think the flowers are so incredibly beautiful I don't want it to die without getting a baby from it. How can I best encourage it to make them?

That's a shame

I would leave the spike on until it dries up, in the hope a keiki will form. The leaf you see is probably just the fact that Terminal spikes often have an extra leaf on the spike.

I would keep caring for the plant as normal, don't give up on it. When the crown of a phal terminates (either through damage, a terminal spike or other reason) the hormone levels in the plant change because one of the hormone's was being generated by the growing crown. That change in hormone levels can prompt dormant nodes either on base of the plant or on the spike to start growing a new crown.

If it's at the base of the plant it's called a basel keiki and you probably would leave that attached to the existing leaves, if it's on the stem then once it's got about 3" of roots it can be removed and potted on it's own.

The change in hormone levels can take a while to kick in, and so I would just keep caring for it and hope for the best.

RosieC · #4 08-11-2011, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skirril

Is there a fertiliser available in the UK which is vegan which is suitable for orchids? (being listed as vegetarian would probably work).

Sorry, no idea on this. Many of them are purely chemical/artificial so not made from any animal products. I think only those that advertise a particular ingredient like Kelp or something have more natural ingredients. However I can't be certain on this, it's only a feeling I have.

I really like the powder range for Orchid Accessories. There is no mention of being made from animal products but then it just lists the chemical constituents, not the ingredients.

Just a note, is that the Orchid Focus fertiliser he sells is good BUT weak. Now while you can still mix to get the same strength, you pay more for weaker fertilisers simply because you use more. I prefer a strong powder fertiliser which you mix weaker because it last longer per £ spent.

RosieC · #5 08-11-2011, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skirril

Besides fertiliser, pots, misting bottle and potting medium what is considered essential for keeping them well? A little knife for root cutting? How should it be sterilised? fungicide? Is there a pesticide which can kill bugs in soil (though I read fungus gnats don't harm the plant?)?

A knife you can easily sterilise is a good idea. I hold it in the cooker flame to sterilise it.

I'm lucky in not having needed a fungicide or pesticide so far so I don't know what is available in the UK. I use a solution of coffee when the plants come in from the greenhouse/outside to get rid of slugs and other crawlies in the pot. I use carnivorous plants to keep the numbers of fungus gnats down.

RosieC · #6 08-11-2011, 05:48 AM

I think I've answered everything I can. Don't worry about lots of questions. I know what it's like when you are starting out.

Orchid Accessories and my local Hydroponic store are the only ones I know and I'm not in your area so can't really help on that. As I said before trying to find local orchid shows can be a good time to pick up supplies, especially if you contact the vendor and ask them if they are going and if so to take what you need. Most are willing to do this so you can save postage. You can even ask them what shows they are likely to be at in your area.

Skirril · #7 08-11-2011, 07:56 AM

Thanks so much! That is all really helpful. Even more sad now I know that probably isn't a keiki

I will be devastated if I don't manage to get one from her

Good to know that most of the orchid feeds seem not to be animal based.

Thanks again for all the info