Do You Use Calcium

[Don Perusse]

With all the advice above it goes to show you that all orchid growers have their own formulas as do good chefs. I do use a regime that includes Cal-Mag once a month, KLN once a month, and Stem (trace elements) once a month along with a regular 20-20-20 then a flush in the fourth week. Works for me. I never disagree with what another is using as long as it works for them. By the way I read using Lime and Gypsum for Cyms. helps prevent browning tips. I did buy but haven't had long enough to provide results.

[musicloveranthony]

most orchids that need calcium to thrive grow on limestone or marble, right? Why not just pot them in limestone, or marble? It's worked very well for me, so far

[Pamela52]

Hello, I'd like to know where to get crushed oyster shells and dolomite. I have limestone on my driveway is that the same thing? I do use KLN and Superthrive, not sure whats in the st. Help??

[BikerDoc5968]

Dolomite can be purchased in any big box store. Look for a product made by Espoma called "Garden Lime" It is a combination of Calcium and Magnesium and is safer than hydrated lime and is pelletized. As for KLN/SuperThrive: KLN contains NAA and IBA while ST only contains NAA. Both contain Vit B-1 (thiamin). I believe KLN also contains some fertilizer while ST does not.

[Ephemere]

My mother always said: soak your egg shells in water for plants, it provides calcium and they love it...

[orchids3]

I get my crushed oyster shell from a farm supply store. It is sold to chicken farmers to feed to chickens. The calcium in the Oyster Shell add Ca to the chickens diet and makes the egg shells stronger. If you use egg shell on you plants you may be using oyster shell from the other end of the chicken.

Be careful with Calcium Nitrate! Too much will damage your plants. I use it as a time release application "about a pinch" of time release to a gallon pot. Use too much and the plant will turn black and keel over. It might be wise to only use Cal Mag fertilizers like "Rays MSU" where the application rate is already calculated, at least until you have more experience with it - maybe try a few test plants you dont like - but be careful with Calcium Nitrate.

[Donald]

I put crushed oyster shells on my phrags. Whether it helps or not is beyond me. I ran across the advice on a slipper orchid site.

[Des]

I may be wrong ,but I don't think that form of ca is soluble in water you would need microbial or bacterial action to make it available to the plant . I have an idea that this is also the process in the chickens gut.
The egg shells would have to be composted to make the ca available to the plant .

[Undergrounder]

I don't bother with calcium because my tap water has plenty of it already. If i watered with RO or rain water though i would probably add calcium.

[orchids3]

Calcium carbonates are not soluable in water nor can they be used by the plant. A rise in pH causes them to release small amounts of Ca but it buffering action that is valuable. Gypsum, eggshell, seashell, lime,marble chips are all forms of calcium carbonate.