Growing orchids in fresh horse manure

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Shadow

I had this idea, but it sounded so weird, that I went for the cows. By the way, the stuff from the toilet is the worst manure option. I heard that it is not good for orchids and other plants, because people are omnivorous, that's why the quality is very poor. In fact, the appliance of that stuff can have rather negative than positive results.

Yes it is not something I think I will be trying.. ever!

Now if I could just get all the froggies to poop into one bucket every night then in a few decades I might have enough to try out the manure method with maybe one plant

I'd say doggie and cat poop are also out of the question.

Sometimes I have used fishtank water on my mum's cymbids- full of fishie poop and the other stuff

[Orchonubee]

It seems some never read Nic van den Bosch publication, or viewed the incredible pictures of the orchids he grew in horse poo, or you would not be poo pooing this method. He grew several species including Dendrobium and Cattleya, modifying the application of the horse dung in the different species. He lived to 95 and was considered a inovator, in orchid management. After his death last year, his son, kept the website up for many months. I regret not downloading and printing his innovative, unorthodox, but apparently very effective, orchid medium article, before it was gone.

[L I Jane]

One fairly known orchid hobbyist here on L I (who has since passed away) used chicken manure tea on his plants
to great success.He was written up many years ago in the AOS magazine with pictures & his collection.His name was Lou Tempera.

[Gin]

I just printed the Info. there is mention of Disas in the link. I have a Cymbid. I am ging to try in it , by winter when they are indoors the HM should be fairly leached .. Thanks Sarah .

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Orchonubee

It seems some never read Nic van den Bosch publication, or viewed the incredible pictures of the orchids he grew in horse poo, or you would not be poo pooing this method. He grew several species including Dendrobium and Cattleya, modifying the application of the horse dung in the different species. He lived to 95 and was considered a inovator, in orchid management. After his death last year, his son, kept the website up for many months. I regret not downloading and printing his innovative, unorthodox, but apparently very effective, orchid medium article, before it was gone.

Orchonubee, I'm not poo pooing this method, just having a little light banter with Shadow.. I actually visited Nic van den Boschs website several times before it was taken down and was very impressed with his method and results.

[nancy]

Nic van den Bosch passed away (I think in 2005) at the relatively mature age of 95. I swapped e-mails with him for a number of years, and he was really a delightful personality, full of enthusiasm and curiosity. He always encouraged me to try HM with different varieties of orchids, and let him know the results (with photos if possible).
His son kept his site up for awhile after his death as a kind of tribute.
Very nice guy, and you just can't argue with his results.

[Orchonubee]

Yes, Nancy you are so right in his delightful, exuberant personality, even into the 90s. Last night I got a email from his son with the following link: Nic van den Bosch's Home Page

He was not aware that the site was down, and will try to revive the main site soon.

Damian, my apologies for not being more observant regarding the banter between you and shadow. My bad!

[KEGinMichigan]

I do understand the...idea of trying new and different media in which to grow orchids. It's the process of learning what will and will not work and seeing successes and sometimes failures. However, unless one can guarantee that there won't be any smell, I won't even consider growing in horse manure.

You all have fun with it though. :-)

Kev

[nancy]

Horse manure doesn't stink - it just smells like baked grass. Of course, I'm not a sissy :-)

[KEGinMichigan]

Well, I guess I am a sissy since I grow in an apartment. I would rather not have my apartment smell like baked grass. Have fun with your burnt grass. :-)

Kev