New guy from Philadelphia area, interested in potting, propagation and pest control

[Flobish]

The 3 Ps:-P

Hey everyone, I'm a true orchid lover, mostly learned from O. J. T:-)
My collection is... intimately acquainted, with lots of individualized attention. Not very big, in other words.

Anyone who wants to chat, share tips, wisdom, trade tricks, etc. Please feel free. I am a sponge for your collective knowledge.

My plant children are mostly phals of varying sizes and strains, but I also have a dendrobium nobile, an intergeneric oncidium/odontoglossum, a miltoniopsis and what I believe to be an odontobrassia.

I'm sure I needn't go into my obsessiveness over my plants in this forum, but, as I stated above, my main objects of focus are potting, propagation and pest control. For now.

Oh, and if anyone has a solution to my being broke, yet wanting very badly to stop giving my plants tap water :'( I know, I'm bad, slap my hand. Please share that.

I can go on and on, and have lots of time on my hands, so I sincerely hope to talk to as many of you as possible.

You can also see my first post on the beginners board, butting in on the "the phal abuse ends here" thread, on the last page as of now...


Maybe someone has experience with that...

Til next time

[WhiteRabbit]

Glad you found us!

I use tap water for my orchids, but don't know how the quality or hardness might compare with yours. Some options if you really want to use purer water - vending machines that have R/O or distilled water; 25-35 cents a gallon here - not too bad if you only have a very few orchids. I do use the R/O or distilled from machines for a few little carnivorous plants I have.
Collect rain water.
It is usually recommended to add a small amount of tap water (a couple tablespoons per gallon) to pure water, to add trace minerals.

[Flobish]

You mean those booths you see people filling up huge jugs at?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Flobish

You mean those booths you see people filling up huge jugs at?

yes - some offer only 'drinking water', which would be fine for orchids - probably has minerals added for taste, or spring water (also ok for orchids), which would also have minerals. Others have a selection, which may include R/O and/or distilled water - you need to read what type of water is dispensed.

[Flobish]

Thanks alot!
I'm really just trying to do all the things i can to increase their overall health and beauty, and this is one of those issues that keeps being repeated. Not that I have any reason to believe my water is causing them any problems.
What, as a Super Moderator, is your opinion on the most important aspects in producing and maintaining healthy, long-lived plants?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Flobish

Thanks alot!
I'm really just trying to do all the things i can to increase their overall health and beauty, and this is one of those issues that keeps being repeated. Not that I have any reason to believe my water is causing them any problems.
What, as a Super Moderator, is your opinion on the most important aspects in producing and maintaining healthy, long-lived plants?

I'm a mod because I'm here a lot, and having been a member a while it seemed unlikely I would abuse it hehe - I've been growing orchids a few years (8 I believe), so I'm not completely new to it, but there are many members with much more growing experience than I, and I'm still learning from them!

So - with that, I would say - learn about the type of orchid you are growing, or wish to grow, decide if you can provide what it needs to thrive, and do your best to do that. Temps, light, water. (I'm less concerned about humidity than some other people, tho constant extremely low humidity could be problematic. But, my orchids get whatever humidity the air here provides - can be quite low during summer days, but does go up quite a bit at night usually, and hasn't seemed to be a problem with the orchids I grow - I suppose there may be some orchids it could be a problem for tho. Of course, I don't have too many mounted orchids) For all non-terrestrial orchids, good aeration for the roots. Consistent care.

I'm sure others can add to this

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Flobish

You mean those booths you see people filling up huge jugs at?

Actually, no. That tends to be spring water, which is often higher in mineral content than many tap water supplies.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Ray

Actually, no. That tends to be spring water, which is often higher in mineral content than many tap water supplies.

I don't know about other places, but here we do have some machines that vend R/O, and distilled water

[Flobish]

Well, I just mixed up my first batch of bug soap with the old tap water, not to mention watering and fertilizing the odon. with the same. Used 10 drops of Dawn/gallon for the former and standard Miracle Gro (1/2 strength) for the latter.
Ray, what's your opinion on tap water? Is distilled, RO or rain going to make that big of a difference?
And what does anybody think about my soap solution / choice of fertilizer? And, as far as the soap goes (because obviously I've got a bug/fungus problem), how long do I continue watering with it? Should I also be spraying with it? And should I switch between the soap and my fungicide? Both are such a pain, because I swear when I treat for one, the other comes back. I should just repot all the affected plants, shouldn't I?
And one last thing, as to the humidity issue: I've found added humidity to be greatly helpful in some of my plants. Essential, in fact, in one, the brassia. It wasn't doing well at all shortly after I brought it home, so I read a little and, not having a humidity tray, per se, on hand (or ever having heard of one) I thought quickly to the old broiling pan my wife no longer used, yet didn't want to throw out. I made a few modifications, put some gravel and water in the pan and slapped the grate on top and there my brassia has happily lived ever since.

Thanks again for reading :-)

[WhiteRabbit]

I've soaked pots with a soap solution when I think or know there may be bugs in the media - Usually just do it the one time unless I see or suspect more critters.

I haven't had issues with fungus, other than the occasional mushroom, so can't really advise.

Hope some others can help out! If you aren't getting responses here, post a new thread addressing that specifically.