Fertilizer Question

[butterfly_muse]

Hey guys! I actually have a few questions, however my main question has to do with fertilizer. I only have 6 active orchids, all phals (two are in sphag and bag mode at the moment) so I don't have a giant, gallon-sized container for watering or anything, as I dunk my orchids once every 7-10 days when they're dry for a nice drink. Because of this, I only have a spray bottle in which I keep my water-soluble fertilizer. I made up a batch a few weeks ago and I am wondering if it breaks down in the water the longer it sits? Like if I spray it in a week or two from now, will it have all broken down and I might as well not even bother? Do I have to mix up new fertilizer often? I fertilize them when I water them, so probably "weakly weekly" as it were.

Another question I have is that I'd like to start looking into other kinds of orchids, not just the standard phals that I've got here. That said, I am looking for something that requires about the same, if not slightly more (not by much though) light as phals? Any suggestions?

Finally, my fiance is on this aeroponics kick (he wants to be able to grow fruits and veggies inside at our new apartment and we won't have a balcony/patio) and he really, really wants to see if orchids can grow that way. I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not people even do that, or whether it would work? And if not, would anyone be interested in following the progress of his science experiment? I won't let him have any of my plants, I'm just going to take him to a Lowes clearance rack or something to pick out his own so if he kills them they aren't mine, hehe. But I thought I'd at least throw the idea out there in case anyone was curious/knew anything about it.

Thanks!

[tucker85]

I don't know the answer to the fertilizer question. But you don't need to make a gallon. Many of those hand spray bottles are a quart. So if the fertilizer is used at 1 teaspoon per gallon (as an example), you can make a quart with 1/4 teaspoon.

Another orchid that likes the same conditions as phalanopsis would be paphiopedilums, sometimes know as slipper orchids.

I can't think of any reason that aeroponics can't work for orchids. I would love to hear about the results you get, if you try it. Some members of this forum use a passive hydroponics method called semi-hydroponics.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You'll love Pleurothallids! There are many that are almost always in bloom. What the flowers lack in size, they make up for in sheer volume.

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).

There are other really cool Pleurothallids too, and many of them are not very hard to grow.

If you like little smiley faces on the flowers, try Trichoglottis triflora. These are Vandaceous (related to Vandas). They are intermediate to warm growing. They grow in bright shade to moderately bright light. They are miniatures and are super cute.

I don' see why aeroponics can't work. I've been toying with this idea myself.

[butterfly_muse]

Thank you, King! I have actually been wanting some minis, there were some realllllly cute ones at Lowes a while back that I didn't buy and now I can't seem to find them again. I will look those up, for sure.

I can give updates if he does aeroponics, he was trying to figure out how big phal roots get earlier and whether or not he should cut them. I told him no way don't ever cut them, lol, so I will be curious to see if he gets increased growth that way, especially since phals are relatively slow growing.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The minis at Lowe's is most likely Tolumnias. These require moderately bright to sometimes indirect bright light.

I'd love to know how your fiance's aeroponics experiments work out!

The minis I mentioned are not slow growing. They grow at a decent rate that many people are more comfortable with.

[butterfly_muse]

Btw, King, do you know anything about Neofinetia falcata? I was looking on Orchids by Hausermann and it seems they're not *too* hard to care for. Would they need more/less light? I don't remember the foot candle rating of the LEDs I will be growing under once we move.

[james mickelso]

The constituents in most fertilizers are inorganic chemicals and don't degrade. In agriculture like tomatoes here in California they mix up a tank full (1000 gals+) at a time and then inject that into their watering system. The tank remains there for the duration of that crops growing season.

[butterfly_muse]

Great, thank you! Now I don't feel like the bottle of fertilizer I mixed 3 weeks ago is worthless Heehee.

[Masdyman]

Hi, The biggest problem from keeping fertilizer that has been mixed for long periods is the PH will change, normally lowers. If it goes too low some nutrients will not be available to the plant. 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.
Also if stored for too long there is a possibility the feed will start to get eaten by algae!
Mine did exactly this once and the algae bloomed at a amazing rate, within days.
Personally I try and use within 1 week.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Btw, King, do you know anything about Neofinetia falcata? I was looking on Orchids by Hausermann and it seems they're not *too* hard to care for. Would they need more/less light? I don't remember the foot candle rating of the LEDs I will be growing under once we move.

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 - about 4 - 5 years, something like that.