orchids and decay

[piping plover]

An interesting discussion. My orchids suspend from my Japanese maple tree. Photo below. I allow the leaves from my maple to remain on and in my orchid baskets. The leaves are small and when they dry and curl they find places between the orchid growths. I consider it like a slow release fertilizer and refresher of the media. This also means that small bugs and spiders will come indoors with them during autumn but since they have their own sunroom I’m okay with that for now. If I lived in a warmer climate I’d be concerned with bringing in truly unwanted spiders like a black widow or something, but not a real concern in frigid New England area. Also if I kept my orchids in my living spaces such as bedroom, living room I’d be more fastidious with cleaning out the debris.

[Fairorchids]

At a New England show, I met an AOS judge, who described an experiment conducted locally. They took 36 Cattleyas (all same clone), and divided them into 3 groups of 12. In late spring they were taken outdoors, and:

1. The first 12 got a spike with one dead mouse.
2. The next 12 got a spike with two dead mice.
3. The last 12 got a spike with three dead mice.

At the end of the season, the mice had disintegrated. The conclusion was, that two mice were about right for best growth.

[piping plover]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

At a New England show, I met an AOS judge, who described an experiment conducted locally. They took 36 Cattleyas (all same clone), and divided them into 3 groups of 12. In late spring they were taken outdoors, and:

1. The first 12 got a spike with one dead mouse.
2. The next 12 got a spike with two dead mice.
3. The last 12 got a spike with three dead mice.

At the end of the season, the mice had disintegrated. The conclusion was, that two mice were about right for best growth.

What an interesting experiment!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

1. The first 12 got a spike with one dead mouse.
2. The next 12 got a spike with two dead mice.
3. The last 12 got a spike with three dead mice.

Each individual plant from group #1 received its own mouse?

And each individual plant from group #2 received its own pair of mice?

And each individual plant from group #3 received its own mice triplet?

And were the mice blended in the blender?

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Each individual plant from group #1 received its own mouse?

And each individual plant from group #2 received its own pair of mice?

And each individual plant from group #3 received its own mice triplet?

And were the mice blended in the blender?

Kim, is this for real? And SouthPark, of course you would ask about blended mice. SMH. Who DOES this kind of experiment? How did we get from leaf debris and lizard poop to dead mice? No, NO, NO!!!

Not trying it, not having it. And don't wanna meet the guy who came up with the idea in the first place!

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Kim, is this for real? And SouthPark, of course you would ask about blended mice. SMH. Who DOES this kind of experiment? How did we get from leaf debris and lizard poop to dead mice? No, NO, NO!!!

Not trying it, not having it. And don't wanna meet the guy who came up with the idea in the first place!

It was reported to me by someone who helped set up the experiment.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Kim, is this for real? And SouthPark, of course you would ask about blended mice. SMH. Who DOES this kind of experiment? How did we get from leaf debris and lizard poop to dead mice? No, NO, NO!!!

WW hahahaha!! I was just thinking that a smoothie would be easier to digest, and orchids have no mouth hahaha. Or even distribution of the food around the roots haha.

[estación seca]

Bone meal and a suggestion

[piping plover]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Bone meal and a suggestion - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !

The dead rat in the bottom of a pot gave me a good laugh! That pot would definitely remain outside ...ALL WINTER!! I think I’ll stick with my maple leaves and miracle gro. Lol

[isurus79]

My orchids are all outside getting rained on by dead oak leaves and catkins (in the spring). I don't remove any of the debris. If I see lizard poo on a leaf, I knock it into the pot (did that today, in fact) so the nutrients get into the root mass. Works for me!