Orchid Accessory Complex
 

Yes another orchid related disorder ;) . For those of you who don't know what to do with your "used" orchid water I suggest Gesneriads. I picked up a bunch of baby African Violets, a few Episcia, some Chirita and a couple Streptocarpus last fall. I felt bad about literally pouring my used distilled water and fertilizer down the drain so my grandmother took me to a place called the Violet Barn ( The Violet Barn, home of Rob's African Violets ). Really nice people and in six months all my teeny tiny plants have shot up. These are the first to bloom and Im really happy with them. I was pretty suprised when each of these little guys only cost about $4-$5 each especially in relation to what we pay for orchids. I really didn't expect them to grow quite this quickly, but hey, I'll take it. Thanks for looking :)

I really like the one in the second photo at the bottom right, it has greenish and pink flowers. Hey these guys come to Ohio for the african violet show at Kingwood center, they always have the coolest little plants. Oh and if you dont know yet the violets grow really fast in terrariums.

that one is called 'Green Lace', look for it the next time they're out your way :)

ooohh i love the purple one on the end! Whats it called?

I have the same question. It is so colorful. - - Marilyn

Left over fertilizer solution works great on a lot of other plants too. My succulents love the stuff. Your violets are so pretty. Did Grandma tell you that AV's don't like to get their leaves wet. They flourish in a lightly filtered western exposure and love to sit on top of a pebble filled humidity tray.

Leftover fertilizer solution (if in the 125ppm N - 15ppm N range) is great for all sorts of plants including cacti. I posted a thread a while back on mine which stay more-or-less in bloom all summer. They have been growing as well.

the back row from left to right is AV 'Blue Dragon' ; AV 'Alliance' ; Streptocarpus 'Smelly Cat' ; and Episcia 'Jims Porcelain Doll' and the first row from left to right is AV 'Purple Passion' ; Streptocarpus 'Bristols Ravishing Ruby' and the last one is AV 'Green Lace'. I do have a ton of other house plants, nothing too exciting. Some young Hoyas and Begonias and the rest are pretty much Walmart specials. Im really careful not to get they're leaves wet at all and I use a fast draining mix because I tend to be a bit heavy handed with the water sometimes. Ive had violets before and have always used the violet mix they sell at the store. The stuff is just too darn heavy and the little fellas rot they're feet off. So when I bought these Rob and his wife (who is also a big orchid nut) suggested a mix of semi-course perlite and pro mix, mixed at a 2:1 ratio. Its worked wonderfully for me.

Oh, I should have added...... I love cacti. Would have a hundred of them. But they seem to be the one thing that I don't do well with, they usually commit suicide and end up as compost.

That's sort of funny in a non humorous way. When I lived in Southern Oregon (Klamath Falls) I had a rather extensive collection of over 300 species of cacti. They grew great there because of the desrt conditions. I moved about 2/3 of those here to Michigan in the 1970s and most died from mites and red spider. This climate is not conducive to cacti, with a couple exceptions. My extensive collection is now down to 5 species which seem to do well. Two are doing exceptionally well and those I posted about. I attribute this to the waste orchid water your post is about.