Worm tea for Orchids

[Laserbeak]

Originally Posted by Phal-lover

Orchids don't get urea in the wild, thus it may damage them.

I find it hard to believe that there are no little tree-dwelling creatures that relieve themselves on orchid roots.

[IncurablePlantHead]

I find it hard to believe........how good it is.....and if you don't like your worm tea.......you don't have to use your worm tea......period.

[Phal-lover]

Originally Posted by Laserbeak

I find it hard to believe that there are no little tree-dwelling creatures that relieve themselves on orchid roots.

They do, birds and lizards, however, they do not urinate.

[catherinecarney]

Birds and reptiles both secrete "chalk" (can't think of the right name for it off the top of my head) which contains urea/uric acid (again, been a while since I read up on this and can't remember the exact composition). So, orchids that come in contact with this do receive nitrogenous compounds.

Catherine

[mooburr]

Originally Posted by catherinecarney

Birds and reptiles both secrete "chalk" (can't think of the right name for it off the top of my head) which contains urea/uric acid (again, been a while since I read up on this and can't remember the exact composition). So, orchids that come in contact with this do receive nitrogenous compounds.



Catherine

I believe they are referred to as "urates". Basically the solid form of urine.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Orchids have the enzyme urease, specifically for breaking down urea. At least one research paper has been published, indicating that Phalaenopsis absorb urea through the roots and metabolize it internally. I communicated with the author, Martin Trepanier, he thinks that many orchids do this.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Orchids have the enzyme urease, specifically for breaking down urea. At least one research paper has been published, indicating that Phalaenopsis absorb urea through the roots and metabolize it internally. I communicated with the author, Martin Trepanier, he thinks that many orchids do this.

Personally, I suspect all of the parroted naysaying about urea probably originated from problems with biuret toxicity caused by older, less refined, urea based fertilisers.

[Laserbeak]

There are rodents and monkeys up there too. Oh and don't forget tree sloths.

[catherinecarney]

Thank you, mooburr. It's been a while since I read the info...Also, if I remember correctly, the urates tend to have (at least in chicken yards) an acidifying effect on the soil.

So, bottom line is that urea exists in various forms in the tree canopy (courtesy of the fauna) and it would appear that orchids can use it.

What about the existence of P and K and trace minerals? Beneficial/benign/pathogenic organisms (especially microbes)?

Catherine

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by catherinecarney

Thank you, mooburr. It's been a while since I read the info...Also, if I remember correctly, the urates tend to have (at least in chicken yards) an acidifying effect on the soil.

So, bottom line is that urea exists in various forms in the tree canopy (courtesy of the fauna) and it would appear that orchids can use it.

What about the existence of P and K and trace minerals? Beneficial/benign/pathogenic organisms (especially microbes)?

Catherine

Yep, all of that monkey pee also contains P. The same is true of all other forms of excreta (bug, bird, reptile, etc.). Since its a key component of DNA, RNA, proteins, etc., it has to be throughout all plant & animal tissues.

Hennig Brand actually discovered phosphorus while conducting experiments on urine.

Oh, and potassium is also in there, as are nutrient elements such as Ca, Mg, Cl and others.

---------- Post added at 09:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 AM ----------

BTW, interesting article on N, P, and K effects on orchids, even if you are not into all the science stuff, the photo in Figure 5 is interesting:
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/....full.pdf+html