unspoken truths...

[bil]

Originally Posted by Fernando

That depends mostly on the question ... if you want an accurate answer you must try a precise question.

Ah, but then in order to ask the precise, correct question, you need to know the answer.

---------- Post added at 07:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 AM ----------

Originally Posted by u bada

I'm with bil here (except I don't have a greenhouse but...) too many variables in my climate here, indoors and out, my growing cases (e.g. aquariums/terrariums) are where i have my most control, and even still too many variables... especially considering time and funds!

goes with having any sort of garden... you can go crazy trying to control everything that can happen (weather, animals, pets, clumsy self, no time), better working with the plants that work with what effort you can offer and with the climate you have and conditions you can provide.

Four or ten really...

and watering before fertilizing is basically watering twice each time... oh man, that's a lot of time!... when I hit upon the weakly, weekly idea it was like I had a whole 3 hours to my day!

(I should note I don't bother with vandas really, and the ascos/et. al. get what they get)

Yeah. The more you work against the natural conditions, the more expensive it gets, and when something fails, as fail it will, then it will do some damage.

Yeah, watering twice? My mounts are an hour a day in summer, before I start on the pots...

I think not.

[Fernando]

It ain't necessarily so, Bil.
You are right, that the more you know, the easier it is -sometimes! - to ask a precise question.

It is more or less safe to say that more orchids have been lost through over-watering than under-watering, but it is impossible (as I see it) to give one advice on watering for all type of orchids.

So, for multiple reasons, it is far better to fertilize (any kind of plant) after wetting/rainfall/dull weather etc., but this of course does not apply to every orchid/plant in every case.

To give a precise advice, we need precise previous information.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Fernando

It ain't necessarily so, Bil.
You are right, that the more you know, the easier it is -sometimes! - to ask a precise question.

It is more or less safe to say that more orchids have been lost through over-watering than under-watering, but it is impossible (as I see it) to give one advice on watering for all type of orchids.

So, for multiple reasons, it is far better to fertilize (any kind of plant) after wetting/rainfall/dull weather etc., but this of course does not apply to every orchid/plant in every case.

To give a precise advice, we need precise previous information.

More or less? I think you are hedging your bets a bit there. I would think that it is the single greatest cause of deaths in orchids.

I still think that the idea of very weak fertilising at every watering is better. I am more than happy to listen to explanations as to why not, but as yet i haven't heard anything that convinces me to move from my current viewpoint.

Agree totally about giving advice based on precise information input, but usually the problems we see are from people that possibly lack the knowledge to give such precise info.