Bark media and fertilizer

[james mickelso]

The way I water is called the dip method. I have too many orchids to run water through them as I buy my water from a Reverse osmosis machine in front of the drug store down the street.. I fill a 5 gal bucket with 2 gallons of tap water (shudder) and then 3 gals of RO water and I put food and kelpmax in it. I dip the orchids in this bucket for not more than 15 secs. The velamin around the root, the spongy mass that surrounds the thin firm wiry root soaks up water on contact. So to water your orchid you can get a pan or bowl or??? filled with water and just put it in and let it soak up what it wants. Your are watering the roots, not the media.

[notsogreenthumb]

You have been most helpful Thank you so much

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

The way I water is called the dip method. I have too many orchids to run water through them as I buy my water from a Reverse osmosis machine in front of the drug store down the street.. I fill a 5 gal bucket with 2 gallons of tap water (shudder) and then 3 gals of RO water and I put food and kelpmax in it. I dip the orchids in this bucket for not more than 15 secs. The velamin around the root, the spongy mass that surrounds the thin firm wiry root soaks up water on contact. So to water your orchid you can get a pan or bowl or??? filled with water and just put it in and let it soak up what it wants. Your are watering the roots, not the media.

Hi James,
One question if I may. Do you not pre-soak roots first? This is one part of watering I find a bit tiring as I've read that first you have to moisten the roots, and then fertilize, which makes one do two soaks for each plant.

I was wondering if this was necessary?

Thanks!
WO