One Day Old Orchid Owner - Orchid Board

Moell · #1 09-13-2009, 08:08 AM

Hi - I bought my first orchids yesterday. The fertilizer purchased is Peters Excel Cal-Mag. The label says to use 1 teaspoon per gallon tap water. Fertilize weekly, water only once per month. What does this mean? How do I apply this to the plants? Just pour it over the leaves and roots? Collect the runoff for the next plant?

Pilot · #2 09-13-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moell

Hi - I bought my first orchids yesterday. The fertilizer purchased is Peters Excel Cal-Mag. The label says to use 1 teaspoon per gallon tap water. Fertilize weekly, water only once per month. What does this mean? How do I apply this to the plants? Just pour it over the leaves and roots? Collect the runoff for the next plant?

Perhaps it means fertilize with the treated water, but at least once a month water with just plain water??? This would be done to keep fert from building up and burning the roots.

However... I would stick to this hard and fast rule of watering weekly. Your post says you are from TX-- which can mean just about anything, weather-wise. If it is dry there, you may need to water more often-- if it is humid, then less. Also what is the plant grown in? If it is moss you may want to consider changing it to another type of medium like bark or hydroton. Either way, and with any medium, I would repot the plant to see and therefore understand the health of your plant completely by seeing how the roots are doing.

Browse the forum-- loads of newbie questions on here and I'm sure yours will be answered.

Welcome to OB and a new and enjoyable addiction

)

RosieC · #3 09-13-2009, 11:35 AM

I think it means to use water only (no fertiliser) once a month.

I had to read it a couple of times because I thought they were saying not to water it the rest of the time, but I don't believe that is what is meant.

It is usual with weekly fertilising to mix it with the watering water once a week, BUT once a month run plain water through the pot. This rinces out the fertiliser salts which can build up and cause problems if they are not flushed out ocasionally.

That's what I aim to do with mine, although I can never remember when I last flushed so I'm not very acurate at doing it monthly.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 09-13-2009, 12:55 PM

First of all what kinds of orchids are we talking about?

Second, yes, do please tell us how they're being grown. Or better yet...post a few pics of the plants in question.

And yes, you can browse the site for a lot of information.

Moell · #5 09-13-2009, 08:42 PM

Hi Rosie and King - thanks for responses. Here is the list of the back of the tags on each of the new plants I bought:

Z. Bluebird

Otaara June Fumiye 'Hawaai' AM/AOS

Ctna Haleahi Comet = (Why Not by Joy Bassin)

Lc Purple Splash 'Live Oak' HCC/AOS

ASCDA Princess Mikasa (blue)

Oncidium Saint Dawn Gold

Dd. Aridang Green x Oliver Green

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 09-13-2009, 08:55 PM

Zygopetalum Hybrid:

Z. Bluebird = Zygopetalum Bluebird

Vanda Intergeneric Hybrid:

Ascocenda is a cross breed between plants from the genus Ascocentrum and Vanda.

Ascda Princess Mikasa (blue) = Ascocenda Princess Mikasa (blue variety)

Cattleya Intergeneric Hybrids:

Laeiocattleya is usually a cross breed between plants in the genus Laelia and Cattleya.

Lc Purple Splash HCC/AOS = Laeliocattleya Purple Splash HCC/AOS

Cattletonia is a cross breed between plants from the genus Cattleya and Broughtonia.

Ctna Haleahi Comet (Why Not x Joy Bassin) = Cattletonia Haleahi Comet = Cattletonia Why Not x Cattletonia Joy Bassin

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #7 09-13-2009, 09:06 PM

The first letter of a natural genus name or intergeneric name is always captialized.

The first letter of a species name is always lower case.

The first letters of a grex name and/or cultivar name are always capitalized.

When reading a tag be mindful of this. When posting an orchid's name, be mindful of this. When re-writing the name tag on your orchid, be mindful of this.

Sometimes, breeders will try to be cute and as part of their humor, they will name their hybrids with grex names or cultivar names that are very similar looking to species names. This is confusing because you need to get the names with the plants straight in order to get the cultural details straight.

Natural hybrids such as Phalaenopsis x leucorrhoda have a 'x' in front of the "species" name (species is in quotes because taxonomists used to think these natural hybrids were distinct species and was given a species name; however, later down the line it was determined that they were natural hybrids, so instead of changing the names, they just put an 'x' in front of the old species name to denote that it's a natural hybrid).

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #8 09-13-2009, 09:09 PM

The HCC/AOS part of Lc Purple Splash HCC/AOS is to denote that this plant had won an award.

HCC = highly commended certificate

AOS = American Orchid Society

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 09-13-2009, 09:12 PM

I forgot...

Oncidium Hybrid:

Onc Saint Dawn Gold = Oncidium Saint Dawn Gold

The other two plants I'm not familiar with. So maybe someone else can give you the info.

Moell · #10 09-13-2009, 09:13 PM

Thanks King... its good to be the king.

Lots to learn. My first goal is to keep them alive and enjoy them. I am reading today about how to water and fertilize and give them light.

Thanks for the insight on what I bought. Some just had nice blooms. I will post the pics when I get them loaded up.