Is my miniature orchid still alive?

[absolutebeginner]

Thank you, Claire! I'm glad I came to the forum and learned quite many things! =D I'll certainly start fertilizing my plants somehow!

I just googled a little and found that they actually have articles on how to use homemade fertilizer! Some are exactly what my mom uses for all her plants! lol...

Homemade Orchid Fertilizer

http://www.organic-gardeening.com/or...-chemical.html

[Claire25]

Cool links! I am definitely going to give some of those ideas a shot. Homemade eco-friendly stuff is always good, in my book.

[Judi]

I fertilize with a dilute solution every week, most fertilizers will tell you how to mix with water for weakly use. I have successfully used Peters 20-20-20 and I now use MSU, I think both work well. If you do decide to use a bark mix, don't forget to soak it--I soak overnight before using it. I also find that using K-L-N is extremely helpful; it is a rooting stimulant and really helps the plants grow better and healthier.

[rangiku]

Judi, do you use KLN each time you water? If so how much per gallon?

Thanks!

[Judi]

I use 1 tsp/gallon until established and 1/8 tsp/gallon after that. I mix KLN with fertilizer when I water. I have read that KLN needs to be used right away once it is mixed with water, so although I make multiple gallons of fertilizer at one time I only add the KLN before using. I also keep the KLN in a cool dry place.

[rangiku]

Thanks for the info, Judi. I keep my KLN in the fridge. Good to know it must be used right away after mixing.

[CTB]

Welcome to the Orchid Board, you have joined a great group as I am sure you see with all the good help you have gotten.

If you bought them in early summer, you have been doing pretty good with them.

I love the roots, they are so interesting. When you mount an orchid or have a vanda, they are all bare root without media sometimes.
Be sure not to bump or break them off while repotting and moving them around.
Enjoy!

[absolutebeginner]

Thank you, all! I just got my new clear pot and bark mix and repotted my plants. The old moss was really hard to take off. I was afraid to break the roots and saw on the repotme.com website that if I'm transfering from moss to bark, I should use 50% and 50% instead of change all at once, so I just loosened the moss a bit and added bark on the side. I hope the roots now wrapped around the moss will grow to the extended room and will be accustomed to the new environment soon. I'm hoping to change to all bark after a month or so.

As of fertilizer, I'll just use homemade organic stuff such as eggshell, leftover tea and milk carton and see how it goes. =)


(I'll put on the clear outer pots after they dry up a little!)

I'll report back once they re-bloom! I hope they do!

[absolutebeginner]

i wonder how often I should water these darlings if they're in a 50%moss/50%bark mix?

For now the roots are still wrapped around the moss and I just put the bark on the outer circle. Should I try to extend the roots or will it grow out?

I read that if the night temperature drops, the plants will get the message and start to re-bloom. I'm thinking to put them near the window at night. I live in east coast. I wonder if it'll be too cold for the plants? Will it freeze?

Thanks tons!!! Sorry I have so many questions!