That is a subject I am really interested in! I've been trying to lower my dependency on expensive chemical fertilizers while at the same time using some of the resources I have for free here at home. I have a wood burning kiln for ceramics and a few chicken in a small coop. So I've been trying my hand at using ash and chicken manure in my orchid feeding program. I keep a 2 liter container with rain water and a mix of a couple of table spoons of chicken poop and a couple of tea spoons of wood ash. So that it starts to decompose and solubilize the N, P, K, Ca, Mg etc... then after some weeks I start using a cup of this stuff in 10 liters of fresh water. Now, I wonder how often I should use this. I have been doing it along with a little Peters 20-20-20 formula, at every fertilization, but maybe I am going to get some excess of lack of some nutrient. What is your opinion about it? Could it be a good option?
Yes this is a very good option . You probably don't need the 20 20 20 . You can add some other ingredients to your mix too . Cattle manure if you can get some , it has good enzymes in it to help the process and some soft green leaves like borage etc. this will add a lot of the other micro nutrients too . Once fermentation is complete it can be stored for 6 months to a year . Some keep a 100L drum and just keep adding and inoculating as it nears 1/4 left . I think you are doing the right thing . We should all be doing it this way lol . 😍💯👌
OMG so much to learn!!! I do have a question, for those of us who have orchids outside - do we consider rainfall as a fertalise or flush? I have been considering it a a fertalise, but might be wrong. At the moment I use all organic products at 1/4 strength for fern recomendations. I use a 'tonic seaweed based product for two weeks' then a 'carp based fertaliser' one week then flush then next. May I also ask the name of the orchid - Vanda at the start of the video - absolutely stunning. Thanks again guys for sharing - you are my go too all the time and I look forward to each and every video.
Rain can be considered both but I call it a flush , your fert schedule sounds good . This Vanda is one we brought in from Thailand when we were importing for the Orchid nursery we ran and they were hybridizing at such a pace at that point that most of the hybrids were not named . Thank you so much for watching our videos and feedback like yours helps everyone learn from what you are doing too . Thank you 🫂💕
I recently read that potash (potassium) is needed after the leafs/pseudobulbs mature in order to promote flowering. The usual fertilizer I use (MSU) is 13-3-15 and sometimes I water with just a little Cal-Mag. I have two other fertilizers that are 11-35-15 and 20-14-13 which I've never used. I have some cattleyas and a miltoniopsis that have bulbs that are reaching maturity so I was thinking of giving a weak dose of the 11-35-15. Two of the cattleyas are supposed to be winter blooming and they are under LED lights all day, but in a room that is only about 70°F (21°C). One has been in the pot for almost two years and the other only about a year.
I don't use a flowering fertilizer but some people swear by it . If you do use it just use it for a short period IMO . If your Cattleya are winter flowering , check where they would come from (or at least their parents ) to give you an idea of the number of daylight hours they need to flower , too long and they may feel they are still in summer. Your temps should be fine for Cattleya to flower . Also remember all NPK fertilizers have potassium in them and it is generally more than enough especially MSU 👍
Peter, you are really killing me lol 😅😅😅 I am truly confused now I just gonna go a little bit of this little bit of that and let’s see what happens, maybe that’s why I don’t have too many blooms lol 🙄
When I was in Thailand I also visited an orchid farm (very long ago, before YT vids). This guy there told us tourists his recomendation 3-1-3 and I stick to it. So currently I use 21-7-21+ the usual addatives. Regarding leaves of Phals they can differ quite a bit. If they are dark green it usually means that their flowers are very dark in colour, long, short, 'narrow', almost round leaves. I have one which almost looks like a Vanda. This also is the case in novelty Phals, e. g. Phal mariae has really floppy leaves. I thought there is something wrong with the plant, bought a 2nd one and its the same. Btw, still waiting for flowers 😡My Liodoro has a strange light green colour and when I bought it, the oldest leaves looking like Lasagne (cooked form). The new leaves are still this ugly green but - at least - not Lasagne any more. And its healthy (knock on wood) with flower spikes in every 'leave joint'. This year I was a bit worried as one new spike - in the middle of the plant 👀- grows leaves, so its going to be a keiki but luckily I saw a video where it happend too, so I'm relieved. Many regards ❣
Thank you for sharing your fascinating orchid experiences! It’s amazing how much we learn from interacting with other orchid enthusiasts, whether it’s at a farm in Thailand or through trial and error in our own collections. Sticking to the 3-1-3 ratio and using a fertilizer like 21-7-21 sounds like a solid strategy, especially with the added trace elements to keep your plants thriving. You’re absolutely right about the variability in Phal leaves! It’s incredible how their leaf shape, color, and texture can hint at their flower characteristics or even their species. The example of *Phal mariae* with its floppy leaves is such a great point-sometimes these quirks can make us second-guess the plant’s health, but it’s just part of its natural charm. Your *Liodoro* sounds like it’s on the mend! That “lasagna leaf” description made me chuckle, but I know how frustrating it can be when leaves don’t look quite right. It’s a relief to hear that the newer growth is healthier and that it’s producing those flower spikes so prolifically-what a testament to your care! As for the spike-turned-keiki situation, I can imagine your initial concern, but it’s great you found reassurance in others’ experiences. It’s one of those little surprises orchids love to throw at us, isn’t it? Wishing you loads of success with your *Phal mariae* blooms and continued joy with your collection! 😊🌸
I've given my orchids the full dose recommended on the package. But from what I learn here is that May be I over fed. Some of my orchids start to get more yellow leafs. And the yellow begin from the stem and not from the tip. It worries me.. maybe I should give then a good flash. I give them flush ones a month, I will reduce the fertilizer to half strength
I mist daily with Calcium and magnesium (TDS around 180-200) and add a general (low phosphate) hydro fertiliser. Getting approx. 60% success rate on Phals, 90% on Cyms, 40% Paphs 80% Ency. and all Catts alive but growing sooo slowly. Oncids 100% as well as Ceolygines. Vandas 100%. Hoyas are doing well as are Anthuriums. Would you regard this as normal? Is there a normal? Should I alternate the Cal and Mag applications on separate days? Green Planet product mainly and pump 4-5 times per plant as GP product apparently doesn’t leave a salt deposit. Also use a “broth” of garlic, ginger and onion skin once or twice a week. Mounting most on timber outside these days as I tend to overwater.
I really like your organic take to growing orchids😍 , everyone can learn a lot from you . I do my best to be as organic as possible too . 😁 I would never feed with this much Cal Mag . Once a month max for me . Cat are sensitive to excess . The ones you are having good success with are the faster growers and heavier feeders . Paphs almost do better with flushing after every feeding so may be cut their feed right down to once a week max. I like the idea of your broth too but would also keep that to once a week . I try to underfeed than overfeed . We have some other feeding related videos here , to give you an idea of how we do it ua-cam.com/video/AVudsY9qa4U/v-deo.htmlsi=Lm5SYGXEav7gQzaZ ua-cam.com/video/F9z0RgcHSDQ/v-deo.htmlsi=L5-w0lVjG1dEQOEt And you are right when you say there is no normal lol 🫂💕
Like your videos. But please share more detail with actual physical watering techniques with visuals. General advice,but more demonstrative visuals would help.😊
It is a process of observation and learning, you will get the hang of it 👍 Also if you are able to store rain water it will make things a little easier or and inexpensive PPM meter can help a lot . You can check our Amazon store or TEMU too . 👌
Great information, today I learned why NPK ratios are so important for orchids. Thanks!
You're welcome, I'm glad I could help. Keep those orchids healthy! 🌱 Than you so much for your feed back we really appreciate it 🫂💕
That is a subject I am really interested in! I've been trying to lower my dependency on expensive chemical fertilizers while at the same time using some of the resources I have for free here at home. I have a wood burning kiln for ceramics and a few chicken in a small coop. So I've been trying my hand at using ash and chicken manure in my orchid feeding program. I keep a 2 liter container with rain water and a mix of a couple of table spoons of chicken poop and a couple of tea spoons of wood ash. So that it starts to decompose and solubilize the N, P, K, Ca, Mg etc... then after some weeks I start using a cup of this stuff in 10 liters of fresh water. Now, I wonder how often I should use this. I have been doing it along with a little Peters 20-20-20 formula, at every fertilization, but maybe I am going to get some excess of lack of some nutrient. What is your opinion about it? Could it be a good option?
Yes this is a very good option . You probably don't need the 20 20 20 . You can add some other ingredients to your mix too . Cattle manure if you can get some , it has good enzymes in it to help the process and some soft green leaves like borage etc. this will add a lot of the other micro nutrients too . Once fermentation is complete it can be stored for 6 months to a year . Some keep a 100L drum and just keep adding and inoculating as it nears 1/4 left . I think you are doing the right thing . We should all be doing it this way lol . 😍💯👌
@@thenaturecompany thanks for the reply! 👍
thank you for adding your comment I hope a lot of people read it and learn from what you are doing . 💯👍
OMG so much to learn!!! I do have a question, for those of us who have orchids outside - do we consider rainfall as a fertalise or flush? I have been considering it a a fertalise, but might be wrong. At the moment I use all organic products at 1/4 strength for fern recomendations. I use a 'tonic seaweed based product for two weeks' then a 'carp based fertaliser' one week then flush then next. May I also ask the name of the orchid - Vanda at the start of the video - absolutely stunning. Thanks again guys for sharing - you are my go too all the time and I look forward to each and every video.
Rain can be considered both but I call it a flush , your fert schedule sounds good . This Vanda is one we brought in from Thailand when we were importing for the Orchid nursery we ran and they were hybridizing at such a pace at that point that most of the hybrids were not named .
Thank you so much for watching our videos and feedback like yours helps everyone learn from what you are doing too . Thank you 🫂💕
Love your videos .. ypu just never stop learning!
I think it is the more you know the more you realize you don't know lol . 😁 Thank you so much for your feedback it means the world to us 🫂💕
I recently read that potash (potassium) is needed after the leafs/pseudobulbs mature in order to promote flowering.
The usual fertilizer I use (MSU) is 13-3-15 and sometimes I water with just a little Cal-Mag. I have two other fertilizers that are 11-35-15 and 20-14-13 which I've never used.
I have some cattleyas and a miltoniopsis that have bulbs that are reaching maturity so I was thinking of giving a weak dose of the 11-35-15. Two of the cattleyas are supposed to be winter blooming and they are under LED lights all day, but in a room that is only about 70°F (21°C). One has been in the pot for almost two years and the other only about a year.
I don't use a flowering fertilizer but some people swear by it . If you do use it just use it for a short period IMO . If your Cattleya are winter flowering , check where they would come from (or at least their parents ) to give you an idea of the number of daylight hours they need to flower , too long and they may feel they are still in summer. Your temps should be fine for Cattleya to flower . Also remember all NPK fertilizers have potassium in them and it is generally more than enough especially MSU 👍
Joyous🎉
🫂💕 thank you
I gave my collection (minus a few) a "flush" a few days ago. They seemed to appreciate it!
You are a great orchid parent! 😊
@thenaturecompany
oh my
Peter, you are really killing me lol 😅😅😅 I am truly confused now I just gonna go a little bit of this little bit of that and let’s see what happens, maybe that’s why I don’t have too many blooms lol 🙄
hehehe we gotta keep you on your toes lol 😁. Thats why in the beginning it is easier to keep a record and as you go you learn what works the best .
I put just a little fertilizer in every time I fill my sprayer, rotating brands each time, also have a bucket of filtered water for rinsing
it sounds like you have got things well sorted 😍💯👌
@thenaturecompany if you say that's good, I'm a happy girlie. ♡♡
hehehe I think your orchids are too 😘
When I was in Thailand I also visited an orchid farm (very long ago, before YT vids). This guy there told us tourists his recomendation 3-1-3 and I stick to it. So currently I use 21-7-21+ the usual addatives.
Regarding leaves of Phals they can differ quite a bit. If they are dark green it usually means that their flowers are very dark in colour, long, short, 'narrow', almost round leaves. I have one which almost looks like a Vanda. This also is the case in novelty Phals, e. g. Phal mariae has really floppy leaves. I thought there is something wrong with the plant, bought a 2nd one and its the same. Btw, still waiting for flowers 😡My Liodoro has a strange light green colour and when I bought it, the oldest leaves looking like Lasagne (cooked form). The new leaves are still this ugly green but - at least - not Lasagne any more. And its healthy (knock on wood) with flower spikes in every 'leave joint'. This year I was a bit worried as one new spike - in the middle of the plant 👀- grows leaves, so its going to be a keiki but luckily I saw a video where it happend too, so I'm relieved. Many regards ❣
Thank you for sharing your fascinating orchid experiences! It’s amazing how much we learn from interacting with other orchid enthusiasts, whether it’s at a farm in Thailand or through trial and error in our own collections. Sticking to the 3-1-3 ratio and using a fertilizer like 21-7-21 sounds like a solid strategy, especially with the added trace elements to keep your plants thriving.
You’re absolutely right about the variability in Phal leaves! It’s incredible how their leaf shape, color, and texture can hint at their flower characteristics or even their species. The example of *Phal mariae* with its floppy leaves is such a great point-sometimes these quirks can make us second-guess the plant’s health, but it’s just part of its natural charm.
Your *Liodoro* sounds like it’s on the mend! That “lasagna leaf” description made me chuckle, but I know how frustrating it can be when leaves don’t look quite right. It’s a relief to hear that the newer growth is healthier and that it’s producing those flower spikes so prolifically-what a testament to your care! As for the spike-turned-keiki situation, I can imagine your initial concern, but it’s great you found reassurance in others’ experiences. It’s one of those little surprises orchids love to throw at us, isn’t it?
Wishing you loads of success with your *Phal mariae* blooms and continued joy with your collection! 😊🌸
I've given my orchids the full dose recommended on the package. But from what I learn here is that May be I over fed. Some of my orchids start to get more yellow leafs. And the yellow begin from the stem and not from the tip. It worries me.. maybe I should give then a good flash. I give them flush ones a month, I will reduce the fertilizer to half strength
Yes I think that is an excellent way to start adapting your watering and feeding . Flushing is a very important task 💯👍
I mist daily with Calcium and magnesium (TDS around 180-200) and add a general (low phosphate) hydro fertiliser. Getting approx. 60% success rate on Phals, 90% on Cyms, 40% Paphs 80% Ency. and all Catts alive but growing sooo slowly. Oncids 100% as well as Ceolygines. Vandas 100%. Hoyas are doing well as are Anthuriums. Would you regard this as normal? Is there a normal? Should I alternate the Cal and Mag applications on separate days? Green Planet product mainly and pump 4-5 times per plant as GP product apparently doesn’t leave a salt deposit. Also use a “broth” of garlic, ginger and onion skin once or twice a week. Mounting most on timber outside these days as I tend to overwater.
I really like your organic take to growing orchids😍 , everyone can learn a lot from you .
I do my best to be as organic as possible too . 😁
I would never feed with this much Cal Mag . Once a month max for me . Cat are sensitive to excess . The ones you are having good success with are the faster growers and heavier feeders . Paphs almost do better with flushing after every feeding so may be cut their feed right down to once a week max. I like the idea of your broth too but would also keep that to once a week . I try to underfeed than overfeed . We have some other feeding related videos here , to give you an idea of how we do it
ua-cam.com/video/AVudsY9qa4U/v-deo.htmlsi=Lm5SYGXEav7gQzaZ
ua-cam.com/video/F9z0RgcHSDQ/v-deo.htmlsi=L5-w0lVjG1dEQOEt
And you are right when you say there is no normal lol 🫂💕
Like your videos. But please share more detail with actual physical watering techniques with visuals. General advice,but more demonstrative visuals would help.😊
Thank you for this . We will be sure to do this ASAP . We really appreciate your feedback , it helps us make better content for everyone 😍🫂
Well, this is terrifying. How does a person figure all this out given different water and conditions.
It is a process of observation and learning, you will get the hang of it 👍 Also if you are able to store rain water it will make things a little easier or and inexpensive PPM meter can help a lot . You can check our Amazon store or TEMU too . 👌
"Bing Bong" a general fertilizer doesn't take long ... Lol 😂
you are a poet and I think you know it 😁🤣