New orchid lover

[Canadienne]

The clear pot will give you a good view of some of the roots. I don’t water mine till you see the roots in the bottom have a silvery colour. Phal roots are thick and don’t need to be watered that often. I water once a week, leaving them in a plastic container with rainwater for about 10 minutes or so. Have fun with the new plants and tell us if you managed to get the rootless ones going again. I was never successful with that.

[Waterdog111]

You might try some kelpak. Oh and welcome to the board.
I am one that is trying out scoria(red lava rock) I like the kind with various size piecies. It takes a while to get it to soak up cause of all the little holes but it holds water well without strangling the roots.

[Gpesci]

Welcome, Leobaby! I think that the folks with experience, the teachers, will be able to point you in the right direction. I love it here, you learn so much and you learn the RIGHT stuff!!! I think for the root-less phals you might want to try some kelpak. It may help to grow some new roots. You can get it from one of the members here on his site firstrays.com (I hope I'm allowed to do that!) Anywho, welcome and have fun!
Regina

[Canadienne]

I’ve never been able to buy kelpak in Canada, sending it up from the states might be restricted. But you can try to find out.
I use Marinis seaweed concentrate ( available in Can. tire, Rona etc.) added to fertilizer, with some success.

[Waterdog111]

Check;Rays, website,he will let you know. I had another type but when I add it it makes my water too dark.

[CocoSo]

Hi everyone. I too have been looking at what's available in Canada for kelp/seaweed fertilizers. Here are 3 possible options for liquid fertilizer all made in Canada.
1) KelpMan Sea Spray Organic Fertilizer
Available: online direct, Home Depot $29.97/500ml
The West Coast Canadian Kelp used in Kelpman is the giant Pacific Kelp called Macrocystis Integrifolia.
2) Rubicon Organic Fertilizer, Liquid Seaweed for Plant Growth
Available: Direct online, Canadian Tire $24.99/l
Marinis Seaweed Liquid Extract is a concentrated extract of Ascophyllum nodosum harvested from cold water.
3) Sea Forest SEA FARM Liquid Kelp Fertilizer
Available: Direct online at seaforest.ca, Amazon.ca - $19.95/l
Cold-press extract, made of Pacific Sea Kelp sustainably grown and harvested in Canada’s Salish Sea.
I have contacted Sea Forest to ask specifically what Pacific Kelp is in their fertilizer as Salish Sea has several kinds. The 2 main kinds are Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) and Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Super strictly speaking, kelp is a taxonomic distinction that refers to members of the Order Laminariales. Therefore very strictly speaking Ascophyllum nodosum isn’t really kelp, almost looks like it albeit smaller but not. It along with the others below are all part of Phaeophyceae(Brown algae) class.
So here’s how it goes in the 3 listed varieties above;
Phaeophyceae/Fucales/Fucaceae/ Ascophyllum nodosum(Rubicon)
Phaeophyceae/Laminariales/Lessoniaceae/Ecklonia maxima(Kelpak) and Nerocystis luetkeana(possibly Sea Forest Sea Farm)
Phaeophyceae/Laminariales/Laminariaceae/ Macrocystis pyrifera(integrifolia)(KelpMan) (possibly Sea Forest Sea Farm)
As soon as and if I hear back from Sea Forest, I’ll add on that info. Hope this can be of some benefit to the Canadian contingent as the expense of importing Kelpak can be prohibitive and I’m speaking from experience.($45.00/l plus post=YIKES)