I get so confused, I’ve watched hours and hours of your videos, just when I think I know something, I realize I know nothing, bless your heart! Your everything is beautiful
Thank you for your lovely videos. Your tips and tricks are welcomed. I also appreciate your sweet blessings. Today's made my day! Have a beautiful day and I look forward to your next video.
Thank you so much for the great info. I am always blessed by the gentle manner in which you speak. Thank you, also, for always including a blessing as you close! Looking forward to a very beautiful heaven with loads of orchid blooms... and love! 🦋
Hi Jann! What a beautiful comment...thanks so much! I can only imagine what the orchids in heaven will be like! That's the way I see it as well....Bless you! :)
Thank you for the updated fertilizing Info & schedule! Since I have watched your video, I realized I have been starving my orchids with just 1/4 Tsp of Better Gro Orchid Plus and the Ca/Mg & Seaweed! All of the new growth of leaves are very small & the flower spikes are very short, 4" long, so very upsetting ! I just watered all of them with 1 TSP Better Gro Orchid Plus, and all the additional fertilizers. I can't wait and hope to see subtle improvements soon! You have saved my orchids from a slow death......God Bless you! Eve from Georgia
Thank you for your videos! I'm curious if you fertilize while the plant has buds and blooms or if you change the amount of fertilizer used. Mine are spiking and since it's so cold I'm reluctant to fertilize and give them a very minimum dosage every other week... Thank you and God bless you! 😊
Hi! I use the same amount of fertilizer all year long. It's important to fertilize them well while they're spiking so they'll have a good bloom cycle. The temps in my sunroom during the winter months are between 65 to 70 degrees...it's pretty cold here in the winter as well. Blessings and Happy New Year! :)
I'm so happy😊you're back🤗One Q...is this fertilizer mix just for Phals and Den's? Was wondering about Cattleyas with their fine roots. You've been my orchid bible for 3 yrs now and I thank you so much for the blessing 🙏Blessings to you from Arizona🎋
I have some cattleya orchid bag babies and I use this same regiment she uses except I still add Epsom salts a half a teaspoon because it has sulfur in which helps the health of a plant and helps to keep pests away... The sulfur that is. And I also add some micronutrients. I think the magnesium also helps get the leaves shiny and healthy looking and a calcium keeps them growing and keeping the right shape not curling up or splitting.
Thank you for your beautiful videos and for sharing your advice. I'm learning so much. Please advise on how to use water culture on a rootless orchid. Thank you and blessings to you too🙏🙏🙏
Hi and thanks so much for your sweet comment. I have a water culture playlist that will help you navigate many different situations with that method of growing. Blessings! :)
Very happy to have found you..I am new to orchids as I have inherited 4 phalaenopsis from my husband who recently passed in August. So I am determined to make these survive and grow beautiful flowers. I am in New Hampshire and could use your advice on window location. Oh & what type of tables are you using? Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Just listening to your voice is therapy for me. Thank you & may God Bless you Arlene
Hi Arlene and thank you so much for your sweet comment. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I grow my Phals in eastern facing windows...they love the cooler morning sunlight. The tables you see in my sunroom are tray tables that I bought at WalMart. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2021! Amy
@@OrchidWhisperer I will place the orchids to the East windows in atrium and pray they do well. Shop for tables at our local WallyWorld! Appreciate your reply and will watch for all your great info tips. Happy Holidays 2 u Arlene
Add the pelleted lime you can get it at Lowe's and it will give an even constant supply of calcium and magnesium to your plants I can't overeat so to speak calcium or magnesium like they can nitrogen and some of the other nutrients. I know the Orchid Whisperer has watch Rick's videos of Rick's orchids. And he explains immobile nutrients and mobile nutrients
Thank you so very much for getting back to me. ♥ Could I ask one more question. Repot me granules for orchids and African violets. Or Jacks liquid. Gosh, your so nice to reply back. My love Judy.
Really happy to see your video again .As usual a great video.Need some advise from you , I have just started collecting orchids for past 1.5 years back . My den phals keep producing new canes and roots but am yet to see blooms any advise ? What are the things I could be doing wrong 😅
Hi and thanks so much! When Den Phals don't bloom, it's usually because they're not receiving enough light. Move them to a brighter location and see if that helps. :)
Hi Laura and thank you so much! I'm not using epsom salt now...my orchids are getting plenty of magnesium with my current fertilizer regimen. Blessings! :)
I live up in the foothills of Northern California. Summer as it is now is 98 degrees. Winter we get snow. The East window where my orchids are and 20 African violets. Plenty of light and sun. I watched your video on fertilizers and how much each brand you use to mix the formula. Is there a simpler method you could suggested? J R Peters Inc 50708 Jacks Classic Liquid Orchid Food, 8-Ounce on Amazon. Your thoughts on using just this product? I learn on this video fertilizing orchids not all together. Blessing to you. Lovely day.
Hi Judith! I was considering using that Jack's orchid fertilizer. Jack's products are just so good. Just keep an eye on the amounts you use. I highly recommend using a TDS meter, because you know exactly how much you're feeding. Then you can use my seasonal amounts, that change. Happy growing and many blessings! 😇💖🤗
I have been watching a lot of your old videos and im wondering if you put your water culture phals into bark or moss ? And if you still have some phals in water can you please make a video on how you fertilise them now. Thank you . I have learned so much from you
Thank you for this wonderful video, and I am so glad you are back, I have been following you for the last two years. I was wondering do you still add Epson salt to your fertilize mix? You truly are a blessing.
Hi Mary...good to hear from you! I don't use Epsom salts with this fertilizer mix...it provides plenty of magnesium. Thanks for watching! Blessings! :)
I still add Epsom salts a half a teaspoon per gallon a couple times a month they can't overdose so to speak on magnesium and I also use the pelleted lime which also has calcium and magnesium in... The leaves get really shiny and healthy looking with the Epsom salts and also Epsom salts has sulfur in it which helps to keep the plant healthy and Cal Mag doesn't have that and neither does the pelleted lime. And if you use your leftover fertilizer on your house plants the Epsom salts with a sulfur in helps to keep pests away
@@maxineellis5165 I'm not doing the opposite of what she's doing I've just added something I apologize if I've done something rude that I thought an exchange of ideas is what UA-cam's all about I know when I post my videos I'm anxious to hear what somebody else has to say about what I'm suggesting. What I said was what I learned from Rick's orchids and I know the Orchid Whisperer was the subscriber or is the subscriber to Rick's channel. In fact I think that's where she learned to use the pelleted lime. I don't suggest don't follow what she says I'm just saying with my 70 orchids I still add some Epsom salts when I think about it. I apologize if I've done something wrong
@@maxineellis5165 thank you so much for your reply I never intended to be oppositional I just wanted to make sure people understood they could still every once in awhile give Epsom salts because it has sulfur in which is good for the health of the plant and helps keep away insects! It's good that we keep each other on our toes so thanks for both comments
Hello! Love your channel! I only have two orchids and I mix a small watering can each time. I believe its only about a liter, its very tiny. How can I make sure I am mixing the right amounts? Should a tds meter still say 50ppm for a small amount of water and so on? I just use about a pinch of msu and a few drops of grow more seaweed. I would love to get my measurements down right. Thank you 🥰. P.s which tds meter is good to get?
Hi Johanna and thanks so much for your sweet comment! :) Yes, you can adjust fertilizer amounts depending on how small or large of a mixture you want if you have a TDS meter. I use a Health Metric. You can see it in a video I posted a few weeks ago about equipment I use for my sunroom setup...I included my TDS and pH meters at the end of that video. Thanks for watching and happy growing! Amy
So very helpful, as always! Thank you, Ms. Amy! :)))) I have a question: I’m currently experiencing salt accumulation in a fair number of my orchid pots (about 10-12 of them), most likely from not flushing the pots after feedings. You mention repotting them, but several of my pots aren’t even six months old. Would flushing them with pure water repeatedly over a period of several weeks be sufficient? I want to avoid repotting 12 orchids if I can. 😨 Also, I find that garden lime leads to an expedited degradation of my sphagnum moss, so I’ve reduced my use of it. Thank you!
Hi Sara! Yes, I stopped using garden lime with my orchids growing in moss for the same reason. Sphagnum moss retains nutrients really well, and since I'm using CalMag they're getting enough calcium. You can flush your pots with water until you notice the salts are gone...I do this in the morning to make sure the pots have time to dry before evening, especilly this time of the year. Then resume your regular fertilizing schedule. But I only fertilize at this rate every other week. It's too much to do this rate every week or I do end up with salt buildup. Blessings! :)
Thank you, and blessings to you, as well! I wish you could see how much larger and stronger my orchid leaves have become after following your advice. They’re green monsters! 🌱😆
Hi! I don't recommend using regular tap water with your orchids unless you know that it's really high quality water. Tap water contains chlorine in the US, which is not good for orchid roots. Thanks for watching!
If you have a dehumidifier you can use that water I've been using it on my orchids cuz basically it doesn't have anything in it but you do have to keep the little buckets that go with a dehumidifier cleaned out inside cuz they can get kind of slimy. I also save a lot of rain water. And the reason City water isn't good as has lots of things to kill stuff in it like chlorine and fluoride. Fluoride only helps growing teeth in children otherwise it's not healthy for plants or for grown ups. It used to be used in insecticides and used as rat poison. And the aluminum industry used to spend millions of dollars because it's a hazardous material to get rid of and then some genius decided to put it in water to help promote healthy teeth. But I haven't seen any dentist going out of business lately
Thanks for sharing! That's definitely a big feeding! I used to use better gro in the past and it burned my roots. Yours look so lovely. Very interesting on the insufficient Calcium. I did not know about the Calcium Magnesium deficiencies early on when I started growing and didn't have good results. I switched to msu fertilizer and seeing better results, but never thought about the cal mag preventing root burn. Definitely food for thought (I still have a bag of better gro and eventually need to use it). Great video!
Hi and thanks so much for your comment! I know many growers who use msu with good results...if it works for you, I'd keep using it! It contains calcium, so you don't have to add the CalMag. When I finally got my mixture right with Better Grow, I decided to keep using it...I find it easily in my area. But it's really important to know that it doesn't contain any calcium before you use it so that you can supplement. Happy growing!
I would suggest you use the pelleted lime also if you go to a couple of Rick's Orchids last videos he talks about how the best thing for his orchids is that and he still use the Cal Mag... Every growing cell in an orchid whether it's a spite of flower a root or Leaf needs calcium. Calcium is not a mobile nutrient so it can't I don't know how else to describe it cuz I can't spell the other word eat a leaf to grow a new Leaf. Older leaves die off on a because the plant recycled the nitrogen phosphorus and potassium in it it can also recycle magnesium those are mobile nutrients and there's a few other micronutrients that are mobile the calcium is not a mobile nutrient so if you don't give it to the plant it can't grow right and that includes the roots so it might not be the fertilizer you were using it was the lack of calcium enabling the roots to grow. Also if you weren't Flushing your orchids that can cause root dieback and burn. I have 70 orchids and it takes forever to water because I soaked my orchids for 20 minutes or more five or six at a time and a big plastic tote box. I don't have Leaf dieback except maybe on a new one I bought. So my orchids are getting nourished enough they don't have to recycle nutrients out of an older leaf. I have a UA-cam channel if you're interested it's about orchids and about my houseplants. It's just my name in the search engine on UA-cam and the word orchids or house plants or you can just click on the blue K and it'll take you to my channel. God bless you all
If the Orchid recycles the nutrients that are in the spike and they turn brown I cut mine off but if they stay green I leave them on. Sometimes if it looks like cuz I've had my orchids for 3 or 4 years now and after that Spike blooms a couple different times I cut it back some to the first node after the bloom Spike's because those branches get thinner. There's a big controversy about whether you should cut the spike back or not but I don't cut it back unless it's dead
@@kathleenmurphy2379 thanks. That’s what I have been doing. I have two mini Phals that I rescued from a friend after they had finished blooming. I repotted them immediately. The spikes were still green so I left them and now they are reblooming on the old spikes.
Make sure to use the brand you're showing pelleted lime regular Garden lime that comes in a big bag that's just powdered could burn the plant. I know Rick of Rick's orchids one of his last videos that he shot before he couldn't do videos anymore he talked about the pelleted lime was the best thing he felt he could do for his plants his orchids. The way he found out about the pelleted lime is he got in touch with the better grow people who make the fertilizer and also grow the bag babies. They told him that they use this pelletized lime in their greenhouses where they're growing their orchids. Calcium really isn't stable for the most part when you try to put it in a fertilizer that has nitrogen phosphorus and potassium. I think he sometimes uses calcium nitrate which is calcium and nitrogen but you have to be real careful that that doesn't burn the plants plus it doesn't have potassium and phosphorus in it. As I said on one of my comments on one of your other videos I have 70 orchids and it is getting overwhelming watering them since I sold five or six of them in a plastic tub for about 20 minutes mine are planted in bark... They're also in clay pots. The only thing I add to mine when I water is a little bit of Epsom salts and some micronutrients. I try to use the better Gro fertilizer at half strength maybe I should start using it at full strength like you are. I try to flush my orchids a couple times a month before I soak them in the nutrient solution. I then use the excess nutrients Solution that's left over at the end of the day on my houseplants or on my flowers outside in the winter I water my pansies with that water and I have more blooms in the spring then I ever have using the leftovers from the orchids
Amy , have you ever used superthrive and did it show good results for your orchids? I have a bottle of superthrive and I wanna try it out but what did it do to your orchids?
Hi! I've never used superthrive. I really get the results I want with the way I'm feeding them now. If you decide to use it, please keep me posted! Blessings! :)
Hi Zo! I have a fertilizer playlist on my channel with all my latest and best advise about fertilizing, and how I change that from season to season. I also have a video on that playlist where I show you what I use and how to mix it up. I think everyone does it slightly differently, but I've had a lot of success with this method of fertilizing. Happy growing!😇
@@OrchidWhisperer ok. I ordered the fertilizing items that you mentioned in various videos. I am going to try it all in very small amounts with my Phals. I do not have a sunroom, however I will be ecstatic I can keep the alive, get them to grow new roots, a new spike and more blooms.
I used to use it, but I don't anymore. It has a lot of phosphorus, and that can block other nutrients when used incorrectly or for too long of a time. Bloom boosters are only supposed to be used for about a month.
Oh my goodness, this is recent, repotting???? No more water culture,,,,, I’m so very very confused....spent hours and hours watching and learning water culture? m so confused plez help.....ty
Hi Genevieve! I do water culture now as a temporary method to grow orchids when one is struggling. The winters here in East TN get quite cold, with low humidity. So they would struggle through the winter. Where you are in Maui, water culture should be a good way for you to grow because your humidity is so high. I have a playlist about water culture on my channel...watch the most recent ones where I gained some experience with the method. That should help you. Happy growing! :) Amy
I get so confused, I’ve watched hours and hours of your videos, just when I think I know something, I realize I know nothing, bless your heart! Your everything is beautiful
Oh my days, you are back, i have missed you so very very much. Sending you much love Ju xxx
HI Julie!! :)) It's so good to hear from you! Much love & many blessings my friend!
Thank you for the video it was very informative! Also thank you for the lovely prayer. God bless you too. 💕🌺🌷
Thank you for your lovely videos. Your tips and tricks are welcomed.
I also appreciate your sweet blessings. Today's made my day!
Have a beautiful day and I look forward to your next video.
So nice of you to say, Roslyn! You have a blessed and beautiful day as well! :)
Thank you ❤️ for the video. It's always nice to hear your voice. Can't wait for another. God bless you.❤️❤️❤️
Thanks so much, Elza! :)
I'm am so happy you are back.
Thank you for another great video ❤️👍Good bless you!
Thank you so much for the great info.
I am always blessed by the gentle manner in which you speak.
Thank you, also, for always including a blessing as you close!
Looking forward to a very beautiful heaven with loads of orchid blooms... and love! 🦋
Hi Jann! What a beautiful comment...thanks so much! I can only imagine what the orchids in heaven will be like! That's the way I see it as well....Bless you! :)
I'm so happy you are back. One day I want my plants to look as gorgeous as yours do 🌷
Thank you Nanette! :)
Thank you for the updated fertilizing Info & schedule! Since I have watched your video, I realized I have been starving my orchids with just 1/4 Tsp of Better Gro Orchid Plus and the Ca/Mg & Seaweed! All of the new growth of leaves are very small & the flower spikes are very short, 4" long, so very upsetting ! I just watered all of them with 1 TSP Better Gro Orchid Plus, and all the additional fertilizers. I can't wait and hope to see subtle improvements soon! You have saved my orchids from a slow death......God Bless you!
Eve from Georgia
Wishing you lots of orchid growing success! Keep me posted! :)
It's nice to see that your doing videos again 😊 we've missed you. I'd like to see a video of your remaining orchids
Hi and thanks so much! :) I'll be doing updates...they're all spiking right now!
Thank you so much for sharing such an informative video
Glad it was helpful!
Welcome back !
May the Lord bless you also
Very helpful. Thanks so much.
Glad it was helpful! :)
Always great information. Your blooms are beautiful! ☺️
Thank you for your videos! I'm curious if you fertilize while the plant has buds and blooms or if you change the amount of fertilizer used. Mine are spiking and since it's so cold I'm reluctant to fertilize and give them a very minimum dosage every other week... Thank you and God bless you! 😊
Hi! I use the same amount of fertilizer all year long. It's important to fertilize them well while they're spiking so they'll have a good bloom cycle. The temps in my sunroom during the winter months are between 65 to 70 degrees...it's pretty cold here in the winter as well. Blessings and Happy New Year! :)
Thank you for your prompt response! Very informative. I'm looking forward to seeing beautiful blooms as I fertilize my spikes 😉 God bless you!
I'm so happy😊you're back🤗One Q...is this fertilizer mix just for Phals and Den's? Was wondering about Cattleyas with their fine roots. You've been my orchid bible for 3 yrs now and I thank you so much for the blessing 🙏Blessings to you from Arizona🎋
Hi Sharon! Good to hear from you! I use this same recipe for my Cattleya...it thrives. Thanks so much for your sweet comment....blessings! :)
I have some cattleya orchid bag babies and I use this same regiment she uses except I still add Epsom salts a half a teaspoon because it has sulfur in which helps the health of a plant and helps to keep pests away... The sulfur that is. And I also add some micronutrients. I think the magnesium also helps get the leaves shiny and healthy looking and a calcium keeps them growing and keeping the right shape not curling up or splitting.
Thank you for your beautiful videos and for sharing your advice. I'm learning so much. Please advise on how to use water culture on a rootless orchid. Thank you and blessings to you too🙏🙏🙏
Hi and thanks so much for your sweet comment. I have a water culture playlist that will help you navigate many different situations with that method of growing. Blessings! :)
@@OrchidWhisperer Thank you kindly. God bless
Very happy to have found you..I am new to orchids as I have inherited 4 phalaenopsis from my husband who recently passed in August. So I am determined to make these survive and grow beautiful flowers. I am in New Hampshire and could use your advice on window location. Oh & what type of tables are you using?
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Just listening to your voice is therapy for me.
Thank you & may God Bless you
Arlene
Hi Arlene and thank you so much for your sweet comment. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I grow my Phals in eastern facing windows...they love the cooler morning sunlight. The tables you see in my sunroom are tray tables that I bought at WalMart. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2021! Amy
@@OrchidWhisperer I will place the orchids to the East windows in atrium and pray they do well. Shop for tables at our local WallyWorld! Appreciate your reply and will watch for all your great info tips.
Happy Holidays 2 u
Arlene
God bless you also. Thank you for sharing your tips on fertilizer. I do use cal-mag with my fertilizer. Your orchids are beautiful.🤗🥀
Add the pelleted lime you can get it at Lowe's and it will give an even constant supply of calcium and magnesium to your plants I can't overeat so to speak calcium or magnesium like they can nitrogen and some of the other nutrients. I know the Orchid Whisperer has watch Rick's videos of Rick's orchids. And he explains immobile nutrients and mobile nutrients
Thank you so very much for getting back to me. ♥ Could I ask one more question. Repot me granules for orchids and African violets. Or Jacks liquid. Gosh, your so nice to reply back. My love Judy.
You're welcome. Fertilizing can be a big decision. I've never used granules, but I think either one would be a good choice. Blessings! Amy 😇⚘
@@OrchidWhisperer thank you so much. ♥💕
Really happy to see your video again .As usual a great video.Need some advise from you , I have just started collecting orchids for past 1.5 years back . My den phals keep producing new canes and roots but am yet to see blooms any advise ?
What are the things I could be doing wrong 😅
Hi and thanks so much! When Den Phals don't bloom, it's usually because they're not receiving enough light. Move them to a brighter location and see if that helps. :)
Welcome back! Thanks for the video, it is very informative. I want to ask if you still use epsom salt for your orchids. Thank you and God bless you!
Hi Laura and thank you so much! I'm not using epsom salt now...my orchids are getting plenty of magnesium with my current fertilizer regimen. Blessings! :)
I live up in the foothills of Northern California. Summer as it is now is 98 degrees. Winter we get snow. The East window where my orchids are and 20 African violets. Plenty of light and sun. I watched your video on fertilizers and how much each brand you use to mix the formula. Is there a simpler method you could suggested?
J R Peters Inc 50708 Jacks Classic Liquid Orchid Food, 8-Ounce on Amazon. Your thoughts on using just this product? I learn on this video fertilizing orchids not all together. Blessing to you. Lovely day.
Hi Judith! I was considering using that Jack's orchid fertilizer. Jack's products are just so good. Just keep an eye on the amounts you use. I highly recommend using a TDS meter, because you know exactly how much you're feeding. Then you can use my seasonal amounts, that change. Happy growing and many blessings! 😇💖🤗
I have been watching a lot of your old videos and im wondering if you put your water culture phals into bark or moss ?
And if you still have some phals in water can you please make a video on how you fertilise them now. Thank you . I have learned so much from you
Hi! I still have some of my phals in water culture! I feed them this exact same recipe. I'll be doing videos about them soon. :)
Hi!! So glad you are back. Do you do this recipe when they are flowering as well?
Hi Karin! Thanks so much...it's great to be back! :) And yes, I use this recipe when they're flowering as well. Merry Christmas! :)
Love you many thanks.
Thank you for this wonderful video, and I am so glad you are back, I have been following you for the last two years. I was wondering do you still add Epson salt to your fertilize mix? You truly are a blessing.
Hi Mary...good to hear from you! I don't use Epsom salts with this fertilizer mix...it provides plenty of magnesium. Thanks for watching! Blessings! :)
I still add Epsom salts a half a teaspoon per gallon a couple times a month they can't overdose so to speak on magnesium and I also use the pelleted lime which also has calcium and magnesium in... The leaves get really shiny and healthy looking with the Epsom salts and also Epsom salts has sulfur in it which helps to keep the plant healthy and Cal Mag doesn't have that and neither does the pelleted lime. And if you use your leftover fertilizer on your house plants the Epsom salts with a sulfur in helps to keep pests away
@@maxineellis5165 I'm not doing the opposite of what she's doing I've just added something I apologize if I've done something rude that I thought an exchange of ideas is what UA-cam's all about I know when I post my videos I'm anxious to hear what somebody else has to say about what I'm suggesting. What I said was what I learned from Rick's orchids and I know the Orchid Whisperer was the subscriber or is the subscriber to Rick's channel. In fact I think that's where she learned to use the pelleted lime. I don't suggest don't follow what she says I'm just saying with my 70 orchids I still add some Epsom salts when I think about it. I apologize if I've done something wrong
@@kathleenmurphy2379 I'm sorry you are quite right. The more knowledge we have the more choices. 😊
@@maxineellis5165 thank you so much for your reply I never intended to be oppositional I just wanted to make sure people understood they could still every once in awhile give Epsom salts because it has sulfur in which is good for the health of the plant and helps keep away insects! It's good that we keep each other on our toes so thanks for both comments
Hello! Love your channel! I only have two orchids and I mix a small watering can each time. I believe its only about a liter, its very tiny. How can I make sure I am mixing the right amounts? Should a tds meter still say 50ppm for a small amount of water and so on? I just use about a pinch of msu and a few drops of grow more seaweed. I would love to get my measurements down right. Thank you 🥰. P.s which tds meter is good to get?
Hi Johanna and thanks so much for your sweet comment! :) Yes, you can adjust fertilizer amounts depending on how small or large of a mixture you want if you have a TDS meter. I use a Health Metric. You can see it in a video I posted a few weeks ago about equipment I use for my sunroom setup...I included my TDS and pH meters at the end of that video. Thanks for watching and happy growing! Amy
@@OrchidWhisperer thank you, Amy 🥰
So very helpful, as always! Thank you, Ms. Amy! :)))) I have a question: I’m currently experiencing salt accumulation in a fair number of my orchid pots (about 10-12 of them), most likely from not flushing the pots after feedings. You mention repotting them, but several of my pots aren’t even six months old. Would flushing them with pure water repeatedly over a period of several weeks be sufficient? I want to avoid repotting 12 orchids if I can. 😨 Also, I find that garden lime leads to an expedited degradation of my sphagnum moss, so I’ve reduced my use of it. Thank you!
Hi Sara! Yes, I stopped using garden lime with my orchids growing in moss for the same reason. Sphagnum moss retains nutrients really well, and since I'm using CalMag they're getting enough calcium. You can flush your pots with water until you notice the salts are gone...I do this in the morning to make sure the pots have time to dry before evening, especilly this time of the year. Then resume your regular fertilizing schedule. But I only fertilize at this rate every other week. It's too much to do this rate every week or I do end up with salt buildup. Blessings! :)
Thank you, and blessings to you, as well! I wish you could see how much larger and stronger my orchid leaves have become after following your advice. They’re green monsters! 🌱😆
Do you recommend the same fertilizer regimen for tap water? Thank you!
Hi! I don't recommend using regular tap water with your orchids unless you know that it's really high quality water. Tap water contains chlorine in the US, which is not good for orchid roots. Thanks for watching!
If you have a dehumidifier you can use that water I've been using it on my orchids cuz basically it doesn't have anything in it but you do have to keep the little buckets that go with a dehumidifier cleaned out inside cuz they can get kind of slimy. I also save a lot of rain water. And the reason City water isn't good as has lots of things to kill stuff in it like chlorine and fluoride. Fluoride only helps growing teeth in children otherwise it's not healthy for plants or for grown ups. It used to be used in insecticides and used as rat poison. And the aluminum industry used to spend millions of dollars because it's a hazardous material to get rid of and then some genius decided to put it in water to help promote healthy teeth. But I haven't seen any dentist going out of business lately
Thanks for sharing! That's definitely a big feeding! I used to use better gro in the past and it burned my roots. Yours look so lovely. Very interesting on the insufficient Calcium. I did not know about the Calcium Magnesium deficiencies early on when I started growing and didn't have good results. I switched to msu fertilizer and seeing better results, but never thought about the cal mag preventing root burn. Definitely food for thought (I still have a bag of better gro and eventually need to use it). Great video!
Hi and thanks so much for your comment! I know many growers who use msu with good results...if it works for you, I'd keep using it! It contains calcium, so you don't have to add the CalMag. When I finally got my mixture right with Better Grow, I decided to keep using it...I find it easily in my area. But it's really important to know that it doesn't contain any calcium before you use it so that you can supplement. Happy growing!
I would suggest you use the pelleted lime also if you go to a couple of Rick's Orchids last videos he talks about how the best thing for his orchids is that and he still use the Cal Mag... Every growing cell in an orchid whether it's a spite of flower a root or Leaf needs calcium. Calcium is not a mobile nutrient so it can't I don't know how else to describe it cuz I can't spell the other word eat a leaf to grow a new Leaf. Older leaves die off on a because the plant recycled the nitrogen phosphorus and potassium in it it can also recycle magnesium those are mobile nutrients and there's a few other micronutrients that are mobile the calcium is not a mobile nutrient so if you don't give it to the plant it can't grow right and that includes the roots so it might not be the fertilizer you were using it was the lack of calcium enabling the roots to grow. Also if you weren't Flushing your orchids that can cause root dieback and burn. I have 70 orchids and it takes forever to water because I soaked my orchids for 20 minutes or more five or six at a time and a big plastic tote box. I don't have Leaf dieback except maybe on a new one I bought. So my orchids are getting nourished enough they don't have to recycle nutrients out of an older leaf. I have a UA-cam channel if you're interested it's about orchids and about my houseplants. It's just my name in the search engine on UA-cam and the word orchids or house plants or you can just click on the blue K and it'll take you to my channel. God bless you all
Thank you both, excellent advice here!
@@NicoleDeanna you are very welcome and it's easy to leave a comment when I use the microphone on my cell phone keyboard!
Why do you leave the bloom spikes on until the orchid blooms again? I thought they should be cut off when they dry.
If the Orchid recycles the nutrients that are in the spike and they turn brown I cut mine off but if they stay green I leave them on. Sometimes if it looks like cuz I've had my orchids for 3 or 4 years now and after that Spike blooms a couple different times I cut it back some to the first node after the bloom Spike's because those branches get thinner. There's a big controversy about whether you should cut the spike back or not but I don't cut it back unless it's dead
@@kathleenmurphy2379 thanks. That’s what I have been doing. I have two mini Phals that I rescued from a friend after they had finished blooming. I repotted them immediately. The spikes were still green so I left them and now they are reblooming on the old spikes.
Make sure to use the brand you're showing pelleted lime regular Garden lime that comes in a big bag that's just powdered could burn the plant. I know Rick of Rick's orchids one of his last videos that he shot before he couldn't do videos anymore he talked about the pelleted lime was the best thing he felt he could do for his plants his orchids. The way he found out about the pelleted lime is he got in touch with the better grow people who make the fertilizer and also grow the bag babies. They told him that they use this pelletized lime in their greenhouses where they're growing their orchids. Calcium really isn't stable for the most part when you try to put it in a fertilizer that has nitrogen phosphorus and potassium. I think he sometimes uses calcium nitrate which is calcium and nitrogen but you have to be real careful that that doesn't burn the plants plus it doesn't have potassium and phosphorus in it. As I said on one of my comments on one of your other videos I have 70 orchids and it is getting overwhelming watering them since I sold five or six of them in a plastic tub for about 20 minutes mine are planted in bark... They're also in clay pots. The only thing I add to mine when I water is a little bit of Epsom salts and some micronutrients. I try to use the better Gro fertilizer at half strength maybe I should start using it at full strength like you are. I try to flush my orchids a couple times a month before I soak them in the nutrient solution. I then use the excess nutrients Solution that's left over at the end of the day on my houseplants or on my flowers outside in the winter I water my pansies with that water and I have more blooms in the spring then I ever have using the leftovers from the orchids
Thanks for sharing, Kathleen! Happy growing! :)
Amy , have you ever used superthrive and did it show good results for your orchids? I have a bottle of superthrive and I wanna try it out but what did it do to your orchids?
Hi! I've never used superthrive. I really get the results I want with the way I'm feeding them now. If you decide to use it, please keep me posted! Blessings! :)
Hi, do you use this recipe for orchids in Bloom?
How many ppm nitrogen do you end up with? I've read that using over 200ppm nitrogen can be harmful to orchids, but I'm new to the hobby.
Hi Zo! I have a fertilizer playlist on my channel with all my latest and best advise about fertilizing, and how I change that from season to season. I also have a video on that playlist where I show you what I use and how to mix it up. I think everyone does it slightly differently, but I've had a lot of success with this method of fertilizing. Happy growing!😇
Do you maintain your fertilizing schedule even during the fall and winter ("dormant") months?
Yes I do! But mine don't go dormant...they get a lot of light during the winter months in my sunroom.
@@OrchidWhisperer ok. I ordered the fertilizing items that you mentioned in various videos. I am going to try it all in very small amounts with my Phals. I do not have a sunroom, however I will be ecstatic I can keep the alive, get them to grow new roots, a new spike and more blooms.
Hello, I was wondering if you ever use the Better Grow Better Bloom ?
I used to use it, but I don't anymore. It has a lot of phosphorus, and that can block other nutrients when used incorrectly or for too long of a time. Bloom boosters are only supposed to be used for about a month.
Hi do you put all that in just one gallon of water
It is so wonderful to have you back! Thank you for all your great orchid information. I hope all is well.
Thanks so much Lenora! Life is good! :)
Can this fertilizing schedule b used for younger orchids little bigger than seedlings?
I wouldn't fertilize seedlings at this rate all at one time. They need smaller amounts, more frequently.
Oh my goodness, this is recent, repotting???? No more water culture,,,,, I’m so very very confused....spent hours and hours watching and learning water culture? m so confused plez help.....ty
Hi Genevieve! I do water culture now as a temporary method to grow orchids when one is struggling. The winters here in East TN get quite cold, with low humidity. So they would struggle through the winter. Where you are in Maui, water culture should be a good way for you to grow because your humidity is so high. I have a playlist about water culture on my channel...watch the most recent ones where I gained some experience with the method. That should help you. Happy growing! :) Amy
No more epson salts? a pinch?
Okay just read no you do not thank you