How much water do you use everytime you water an orchid?

[glitchathon]

I just realized my RepotMe style MSU liquid fertilizer will only last a couple months at the rate I am using it. I use about half gallon of water (and add fertilizer according to that) for every plant (i have 5" and 5.5" pot size plants).

This allows me to do a thorough watering. But it seems it could be a bit wasteful. Do you think a quart of water per plant (pouring slowly and carefully) will give it enough time for the roots to properly soak in the water?

Of course on the 4th week for the non-fertilized monthly flushing I can go a gallon per pot. But for fertilized solutions, I hope to be able to conserve a bit of this fertilizer to stretch it out longer.

[johnblagg]

I actualy water first then a shot of fert mix a little later when roots have adsorbed some water usually I use my spray bottle to apply the fert after the water

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by johnblagg

I actualy water first then a shot of fert mix a little later when roots have adsorbed some water usually I use my spray bottle to apply the fert after the water

Same here. Much more efficient use of fertilizer.

[CTB]

I mix 1&1/2 gallons of water with 1&1/2 teaspoon of fert. and apply with a pump sprayer. That is enough to go over 100 orchids just to the point they are dripping. I spray media and all leaves tops and bottoms.. Applied every week, this seems to be plenty., and plants are responding well.. My pump sprayer was $8 at our local hardware and works great has an adjustable head.

I water twice a week with a hose, and water freely. That is in addition to my water use when fertilizing. I live in Florida and most orchids are in hydroton so the water just runs through. If you have to water by hand then do it first then fertilize after like JB does, a little spray bottle works too.

[WhiteRabbit]

hehe - I use a hand pump pressure sprayer too - For plants in bark I water well and thoroughly with plain water once a week in summer - then use fert water from pressure sprayer in-between

[Izzie]

I soak for 20 min when I fertilize, and then use the used water on my garden outside.
I might try the method mentioned here though.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Not me.

When I water, I water until the plants are soaked/drenched, and the water runs out of both the bottom and top of the pot.

To give you an idea, right now I use 15 gallons of water mixed with fertilizer to water my rather smallish collection of orchids, which includes 2 seedling trays, 5 renantheras and about 30-40 cattleyas.

I'm soaked by the time I finish fertilizing.

When I water with the hose I water in the same way: until the water runs out of both the top and bottom of the medium. I use 100% hydroton BTW (although I don't use the semi-hydroponics method).

I tried the sprayer thing but I found I was out there ages and ages. So now I use a plastic container and fill it up twice for each plant. If I have any left over I do another round.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by johnblagg

I actualy water first then a shot of fert mix a little later when roots have adsorbed some water usually I use my spray bottle to apply the fert after the water

Does this method not give you only fertiliser on the surface and not right down into the medium

I water by using an outer pot as close in size to the main one as possible and filling it to the brim... so each plant get's about a pot full of the water/fertiliser mix and I know it's right the way through the medium.

If the spraying method is enough then I might switch to that, I'm just wondering how effective it really is.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

hehe - I use a hand pump pressure sprayer too - For plants in bark I water well and thoroughly with plain water once a week in summer - then use fert water from pressure sprayer in-between

I use one of those for spraying my mount and a couple of others that do best with regular spraying, but never had the fertiliser in it.

Hmm, maybe I need to a get a second one for fertiliser and use that to fertilise.

Anyway any thoughts on the fact that this will not spread the fertiliser through the medium like my current method (and like I've assumed was needed).

[CTB]

My pump sprayer method takes about 20 mins for 100 orchids, I don't understand the time difference, I've found that's the quickest method for me. Of course I'm more interested in getting the fetilizer on the plant than a lot of water. Actually watering is different..

When Fertilizing I spray, root, surface media, and tops and bottoms of leaves. Just enough till the pot drips. The presser sprayer give out a broad fine mist of my mix of fert, seaweed tonic, dish soap and vodka. its going right where its needed, no waste.

Love the forum everyone does something different.....