Fear of overwatering...best practices?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

I am just using the same fertilizer that Ross uses. . .I have to, his mounted plants look amazing and are always blooming.

Actually, they aren't always blooming - just always doing what they do best grow, bloom, rest, etc. It's not just the mix one uses, it's also understanding when the 'chid wants to rest, etc. I use the mix Ray recommends for one simple reason: it's the best compromise for all the requirements the various species have. Phals love lotsa nitrogen and also some Epsom Salts. I don't mess with that! Others like other mixes. I just go with a balanced mix of 125ppm N MSU mix which seems to works for me (I think for others also ) I have seen huge improvements in growth of certain plants and modest improvements in others.

[Twilight Orchid]

gotcha....sounds not only efficient, but ecofriendly too!! That's a lot less waste of fertilizer and water for sure....

Do you follow a strict watering regime, or just check and water as necessary?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Twilight Orchid

Do you follow a strict watering regime, or just check and water as necessary?

I water on two regimes. Upstairs (the boxbay window setup) gets watered depending on the 'chids. There are several that get watered daily 'cause they are mounted on "sticks". There are a few that are in pots, baskets, etc. that get watered every 3rd or 4th day or so. The Orchidarium has mostly wet-growing stick mounted 'chids that get watered every-other-day.

[gmdiaz]

Of course there are MANY others here that have similar claims to fame but admit it!

You've always got SOMETHING in bloom. And the moss on your mounted orchids looks gorgeous.

I sure do agree though about working towards an understanding of the plant's need for time to rest. We're all caught up in the cycle of rest and growth but really need to atune ourselves to the needs of our orchids to help them obtain the best overall health.

Roots are good. See, I got it!

[gmdiaz]

Originally Posted by Twilight Orchid

gotcha....sounds not only efficient, but ecofriendly too!! That's a lot less waste of fertilizer and water for sure....

Do you follow a strict watering regime, or just check and water as necessary?

I only am strict about not letting them get TOO dry. As far as I can tell, all the growing conditions change and so you have to too.

Your watering conditions will be unique to your location.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Roots are good. See, I got it!

[Twilight Orchid]

Wow, thank you both rsfrid and gmdiaz....you've given me lots to ponder....I can see how one would need to change depending on the conditions......now here's a question...if we're supposed to cut back on the watering during the winter, how do we deal with the dryness that is caused by the use of woodstoves and or electric baseboard heating? And is winter considered the "rest" time for the plants? Or will it differ for each one? Goodness, you guys will be so sick of me shortly, one question after another! LOL

[gmdiaz]

Those are great questions! I was wondering about that too. . .what with winter coming up very shortly.

Probably I'll depend on a humidifer to help ease the dryness and use humidity trays under each plant.

I'll be very interested to hear what the other's have to say!

[Twilight Orchid]

I was thinking of maybe getting a humidifer...we have a de-humidifer for the basement....and I have a large floor fountain in my bedroom, which really helps with the humidity in there......but the orchids are in the living room/sun room, which is adjacent to the family room where a woodstove is located....open concept, so the air gets dry.....my dog has some eye problems which are aggravated by the heat/dryness, so maybe this is just another reason to get a super dooper humidifier....would probably work better than a Maxwell House coffee can filled with water and stuck on the sideboard, right? LOL j/k

[gmdiaz]

Right!