My Les Dirouilles (how to care for)

[No-Pro-mwa]

I feel so proud I now know the name of my Phrag even though I can't pronounce it. I just wanted to start my own thread so I wouldn't derail tucker85's any longer sorry for that tucker.

I'm going to write it on the back of the tag. Anyway jeremyinsf to answer your question it is a mix that I got from Kelley's Korner and it has Coco Husk chips, Diatomite, Sponge-rock and charcoal. It also say's it has a wetting agent in it. Now I know one of those is the perlite but diatomite or sponge-rock which is it?

I water it about twice a week but I am going to up that because sometimes I get busy and let it get to dry. I am usually random about feeding my orchids but have been doing much more research lately thus finding this board and reading my Better Homes and Gardens Orchid book.

So lately I have been trying to feed them about every second watering. When I fertilize I use Dyna-Gro Orchid-Pro 7-8-6 1/2 tea plus Dyna-Gro Pro-Tekt 1/2 tea in a gal of water. I have always used rain water when I have it but if I don't I just use my well water.

How does this sound or do I need to weaken my fertilizer for at least this Phrag? I need to get either K-L-N again however I only used this when I repotted and it is very old so I don't think it did anything or superthrive which is the best? I am also thinking of getting seaweed or kelp. Is this the same thing?

And then we have the epsom salts when is this used? So many questions. I use epsom salts on my lawn and I mix it in with bone meal to plant tomatoes and roses but I never though of using it on my orchids.

Oh and I have a liquid worm poop has anyone heard of this? I wonder how it would do with them. I would think maybe just there cup of tea.

[jeremyinsf]

A Phrag like that should never get dry. The mix sounds fine, as long as you keep it moist. Perlite and sponge rock are the same thing, just different names!

I just switched over to k-lite fertilizer from First Ray's:

Orchid Growing Supplies Semi-hydroponics Hydroponics Orchid Books PrimeAgra

You will find lots and lots of good words on this site about that fertilizer. I don't use salt and don't suggest it for you what you are doing. It's easy to over-care for a plant - however, the smallest deed is bigger than the grandest intention. So my advice, if I may, is slow and steady with your adjustments. If you do too much all at once, and something goes wrong, you won't know which part was causing the problem.

Lots of light! Don't forget that. And also, as we all often DO forget: patience. It's a plant. Takes time to do it's thing.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Thanks will do. I am going to get some kelp I do believe but I am going to use up my Dyna-Gro then decide if I want to change fertilizers or not. It is getting low however.

[jeremyinsf]

Just don't use them at the same time! You can alternate between them, using only one, about once a month.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Ok I won't just thought maybe mine need some kelp. I do put the Pro-Tekt with the fert, was told to do that by the gal that got me into these things.

She is the one I learned some stuff from but she has sense moved away.

[MandaneWiser]

I have this big Phrag and it is one of my favorites.. Mine is in a clay pot in spag and it literally sits in water.. never let it dry out.. It is pretty like light tolerant but needs more filtered/dappled light to flower.. as others have said it is very very sensitive to water chems.. I buy a gallon of purified water just for it.. Here in Ga we have Flouride in our tap as well as chlorine and flouride does not evaporate like chlorine (and got knows what else is in the water).. and fertilize very very very sparingly.. It's such a nice grand orchid when in bloom!! I love it!! Happy growing!

[The Orchid Boy]

I usually use 1/4 a teaspoon of fertilizer per gallon. Try sitting it in a little saucer of water and flush it and replace the water once a week.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I'm really trying to water it more. I have always been a person that worries so much about rot that I tend to under water so this is a big move for me. How in the world did I even get this thing to bloom?

Should I use 1/4 even when the fertilizer is this weak already?

And yes I love this thing, it has made me a phrag nut. Took me 2 years to get it to bloom then when it did .....nutty!!!!!!

[quiltergal]

Phrags are not heavy feeders at all. You could probably get by with a monthly feeding. If you over fert, and underwater you will start seeing leaf tip burn. I also kept mine in a saucer of RO water. The roots actually grew out of the drainage holes into the saucer.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I'm using rain water for it only at least till I run out which should be a while. Really are you sure I can't over water this thing. I am putting rain water in the saucer every 2 days and it is socked up in a day ok, ok I got scared so I didn't put it in there yesterday because I'm freakin out here thinking I'm going to rot it.

Not even sure when I fed it last. How does one go about keeping all the different needs in one mind? If I lose this one I'm going to kick myself.