Fertilizer Question

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I own 2 divisions of Neofinetia falcata. Imo, they're super easy to grow and bloom. They need moderate indirect lighting. I've had mine for a few years, I can't remember how many years exactly - lube 3 - 5 years, something like that.

I was looking on Hausermann's and they had a mini one :O! I was thinking about trying one out, it looks really cool and the story that goes with it is intriguing! Do they grow quick/slow/big/small? I've only been able to find out their watering/potting/climate info, not really much on size expectation.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I have the normal sized kind, which is something around 4" tall. They are fast growing when grown correctly.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I have the normal sized kind, which is something around 4" tall. They are fast growing when grown correctly.

Interesting. All the ones I was looking at pictures of were on big rocks or mounted on something and I thought it might get pretty big, lol. How come I am reading everywhere that they're so very expensive? I haven't seen any for $100+ anywhere. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?

[orchidsinstl]

Psychopsis would be another option to consider. Mine grow well with phals. I've also had good luck with calling Orchids by Hausermann, giving them the parameters for what I'd like to buy, then going with their suggestions. Good place!

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by orchidsinstl

Psychopsis would be another option to consider. Mine grow well with phals. I've also had good luck with calling Orchids by Hausermann, giving them the parameters for what I'd like to buy, then going with their suggestions. Good place!

Wow, those are trippy! Lol, I am still brand new to the hobby so I have to google it every time I hear of something I don't know about. xD

[Discus]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Wow, those are trippy! Lol, I am still brand new to the hobby so I have to google it every time I hear of something I don't know about. xD

Buy a comprehensive orchid encyclopedia. I have several, and if I had to pick one of them, I'd probably choose Flora's Orchids. Botanica is a lot more portable too, the kind of thing you might toss in a car in case you meet an unexpected friend of the orchid kind and wanted to see if it would like life with you...

These are the books I have, so if you're wondering about any of them, feel free to ask.

---------- Post added at 10:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 AM ----------

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

How come I am reading everywhere that they're so very expensive?

You get normal, bog standard Neos, and then you get the various specific (mutant) varieties with crazy Japanese names. Those are the expensive ones!

---------- Post added at 10:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:24 AM ----------

Originally Posted by james mickelso

The constituents in most fertilizers are inorganic chemicals and don't degrade.

That depends on the formulation; some will experience problems with the various chemicals interacting to form insoluble salts. Most companies try to avoid this sort of thing (for obvious reasons) but it's not impossible, and becomes more likely if you mix and match yourself, or the quality of your water doesn't match the fertiliser very well.

Certainly an algae bloom in your bottle will cause some degradation, and it definitely happens! I've been forgetful of them in the past and had to clean them out (sharp gravel, hot water and a lot of shaking works fairly well to get the stuff off the walls again). This is less likely if you use the whole bottle up at once and it dries out between waterings.

---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Masdyman

This happened to me when I was using rain water that was already low and when I used a Tomato feed many years ago now.

This is one reason you try to use a fertiliser formulated for the type of water you use - I imagine tomato fertiliser is formulated for normal tapwater (which is quite hard in most of Britain) - quite unlike rainwater; a rainwater/RO formulation would have worked better.

---------- Post added at 10:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Try Dracula lotax. They are warmth tolerant, small, inexpensive, and really cute - (if you're not freaked out by clowns; they've got clown-like faces in the center of the flower).

I've killed off a D. bella - is lotax more forgiving of heat?

---------- Post added at 10:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 AM ----------

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not people even do that, or whether it would work?

Have a look at this thread
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chid-wall.html

This looks like it might be working (but could be staged)

It seems Nepenthes quite enjoy this too.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Discus

I've killed off a D. bella - is lotax more forgiving of heat?

According to the IOSPE, Dracula bella comes from elevations around 1,700 m - 2,000 m above sea level in the mountains of Colombia and Ecuador. Should the elevations provided by the IOSPE be accurate, this would be classified as a cool - intermediate growing orchid - favoring more intermediate type temperatures.

According to the IOSPE, Dracula lotax comes from elevations around 800 m - 1,600 m above sea level in the hill forests of Ecuador and Peru. Should the elevations provided by the IOSPE be accurate, this would be classified as an intermediate to warm growing orchid.

In my experience, Dracula lotax can easily withstand our summers without a problem. Temperatures here can reach over 100 F (37.8 C) during the day, and can stay at around the mid 70's F (around 24 C) at night.

As with any other orchid upon purchase - check the roots.

[Discus]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

In my experience, Dracula lotax can easily withstand our summers without a problem. Temperatures here can reach over 100 F (37.8 C) during the day, and can stay at around the mid 70's F (around 24 C) at night.

Thanks Philip, that sounds promising