I have been around for 63 yrs. and have watched and read a lot of information about plants. I place you in my top five people who have the knowledge and are great to watch. You appear very relaxed.
Ohhhhh, Bill! Thank you for your thorough discussion of the types of orchid media. Your common sense coverage narrowed the information to the most essential points for each media. You helped me realize more about the importance of using a little sphagnum moss with (lava) rock. I appreciate this lesson VERY MUCH, THANK YOU! P.S. Your oncidium (at time marker 7:50) is so healthy. I see the price was $10. My brain scrambled itself recognizing that low price. How fortunate.
So right about watering. Even in the same Home. Seasonally watering times change. For me here in Indy, IN. We have all 4 seasons. 100s in summer, sub zero in winter. For example 30 days ago furnace running like crazy. Humidity indoors was 27ish. Watering 2 twice a week at least. In just a few short weeks. Spring has sprung. Raining a lot. Opening windows. Its been 5 days and really only need a spot watering. Except a few of the larger plants are really taking off and the love more water.
Just found your channel and subscribed! I like your style... Kind of silly but very down to earth. Looking forward to see more of your was with orchids. (I'm new to them and learning how to get the right conditions for them)
At my orchid society one of the members has his Phrags in semi hydroponic hydro ton beads and he wins awards and ribbons galore. He told me the beads keep the Phrags moist and allow air to circulate. He grows his orchids in a greenhouse. If you wish next time he has tours of his greenhouse I'll take you as a guest. He's a really cool guy who loves to share his knowledge in a really straight forward down to earth way. For that matter, any one who live in the GTA is welcome to come along with me as a guest.?we could meet and have a fun time. I think it would be fun for any one who lives in this GTA area to meet one another . The forum here is a community after all.
Great video again. I don't own many house plants but it is always interesting to see what you have and how you take care of them. Love your sincerity lol . Thumps up for that !!!!
I have like.... 5 orchids in pure sphag, including all my paphs, a phal, and 2 oncidiums. I love it and it's perfect for a lazy waterer!! :D I like using the skewer method to see when the center of my pot is approaching dryness.
I've started using Leca beads for several months now, because I go out of town a lot. With the beads I water once a week or sometimes just a tad longer according to my needs. The beads absorb the water from the reservoir which is left on the bottom of the pot. Then when I get home some will still have water and some will be a tad dry. Then I thoroughly water them, fill the reservoirs and all is well. I don't have a problem with the beads drying out so fast this way!!!
I have my 3 phal mini orchids in sphag moss only because I like them to retain moisture for longer as I am not one to religiously water a plant every 3-4 days. So I only water once a week since that's how long it takes before all the medium in the orchids is bone dry. How I usually do this is put the plant's pot in a slightly bigger one that has no drainage holes in it, and I take tap water and pour water into the pot. Then I let the orchid pot sit in the water for about 15 minutes before I take it out and let it drain. The one thing I'm concerned about is if, by doing this, I am overwatering or making the medium too wet. Last week I watered one orchid a day earlier than I usually do. I think I upset the plant's root system with this since one of the roots went mushy, perhaps from too much retained moisture?
A tips when it comes to watering Phalaenopsis orchids. If you have a see true pot, watch the colour of the roots. If there is any kind of green (except on growing root-tips) on the root, wait with watering. If you want you can mist the air-roots. When the roots are silver/gray, then you can soak the plant for maybe 20 min. Also, if you grow in sphag, learn the weight of the pot when it's dry, then you can pick it up and feel when you need to water.
cool....that helps. it felt "right", and seemed logical to me....but after (gasp!!!) throwing away what I thought were dead orchids, I don't trust my instincts anymore. note to other noobs: orchids are not spiderplants....and the 4 phals I have left are as forgiving as reputed to be. my teenagers are to be credited with their salvation....they introduced me to you tube. cool site....I subscribed.
I have a Phal. Tetraspis - medium size seedling. It's in a 2" ventilated clay pot, the bottom third of the pot is wine work bottles, the top 2/3 is a mixture of medium bark and moss, ration 2:1. I tend to keep humidity at about 65-70% with two fans going (sometimes summer days are humid, so I dispense with it, but generally my humidifiers and especially fans are running 24/7. To me it"feels" like it needs watering every 2-3 days. Does that sound logical?
Antonia Orchids These plants don't want to dry out completely, just like the Paph's. the trick with these is to lower the PH a bit. they seem to prefer a slightly acidic soil. a PH of 5.5 - 6.5. I know that in my area the PH my tap water is 8. these plants will also prefer clean water.. ie.. rain water, R/O water or distilled. if you use tap water you might want to invest in a PH meter or the PH strips. I find that many plants plant respond better in a media that has a PH of 6.5 - 7.
Hi Bill! I have an orchid which seems to be a bulbophyllum. My uncle bought it from thailand and he kept it on a plastic tupperware container for 3 days. When he gave it to me, the roots where brown and damaged and the PBs are all shriveled. What should I do? Should I keep it moist to rehydrate the PBs or should I keep it in the dry side to dry the damaged roots? Sorry for the long comment but I just wanna save this orchid :(
Tien Ramos Bulbo's like it constantly moist. If they are mounted they will require regular misting and watering. in your case I would keep it on the dryer side for a week or 2 to let the roots heal... then I would up the moisture..
:) I want to know is it ok for me to place my cactus in a different pot . ?? I got my cactus a few days ago . how do I know when to water it .?? I know that I have to water it once a week.
Yes you can pot your cactus into a different pot. Make sure the pot has drainage.. Cactus will require full sun. watering is easy. water it well when you water it... and then let it dry out completely before you water it again. in the summer when its hot and dry it will get watered more often than in the winter when its cooler. Good luck with your Cactus :)
+Carmelita Jones Yes They will grow... do you have an area that gets a little cooler in the Fall/Winter? that would help with spike production... it should be cold... it just requires a temperature fluctuation at night.
I have been around for 63 yrs. and have watched and read a lot of information about plants. I place you in my top five people who have the knowledge and are great to watch. You appear very relaxed.
+rutherebud Thank you :) That was very kind of you to say.
Ohhhhh, Bill! Thank you for your thorough discussion of the types of orchid media. Your common sense coverage narrowed the information to the most essential points for each media. You helped me realize more about the importance of using a little sphagnum moss with (lava) rock. I appreciate this lesson VERY MUCH, THANK YOU!
P.S. Your oncidium (at time marker 7:50) is so healthy. I see the price was $10. My brain scrambled itself recognizing that low price. How fortunate.
So right about watering. Even in the same Home. Seasonally watering times change. For me here in Indy, IN. We have all 4 seasons. 100s in summer, sub zero in winter. For example 30 days ago furnace running like crazy. Humidity indoors was 27ish. Watering 2 twice a week at least. In just a few short weeks. Spring has sprung. Raining a lot. Opening windows. Its been 5 days and really only need a spot watering. Except a few of the larger plants are really taking off and the love more water.
Just found your channel and found my new passion in plants in the last year.. Thanks for all your passion in your videos and teaching us.. :)..
I love your candor...sometimes my orchids get neglected, too, while I'm working on my African violets.
Just found your channel and subscribed! I like your style... Kind of silly but very down to earth. Looking forward to see more of your was with orchids. (I'm new to them and learning how to get the right conditions for them)
At my orchid society one of the members has his Phrags in semi hydroponic hydro ton beads and he wins awards and ribbons galore. He told me the beads keep the Phrags moist and allow air to circulate. He grows his orchids in a greenhouse. If you wish next time he has tours of his greenhouse I'll take you as a guest. He's a really cool guy who loves to share his knowledge in a really straight forward down to earth way. For that matter, any one who live in the GTA is welcome to come along with me as a guest.?we could meet and have a fun time.
I think it would be fun for any one who lives in this GTA area to meet one another . The forum here is a community after all.
Great video again. I don't own many house plants but it is always interesting to see what you have and how you take care of them. Love your sincerity lol . Thumps up for that !!!!
I have like.... 5 orchids in pure sphag, including all my paphs, a phal, and 2 oncidiums.
I love it and it's perfect for a lazy waterer!! :D
I like using the skewer method to see when the center of my pot is approaching dryness.
Great explanations ... lots of good info. Good job, Bill!
TheH20please Thank you... It's such a popular question.
I've started using Leca beads for several months now, because I go out of town a lot. With the beads I water once a week or sometimes just a tad longer according to my needs. The beads absorb the water from the reservoir which is left on the bottom of the pot. Then when I get home some will still have water and some will be a tad dry. Then I thoroughly water them, fill the reservoirs and all is well. I don't have a problem with the beads drying out so fast this way!!!
Excellent explanation. Easy to understand.
Elona Hartjes Thanks Elona...
I have my 3 phal mini orchids in sphag moss only because I like them to retain moisture for longer as I am not one to religiously water a plant every 3-4 days. So I only water once a week since that's how long it takes before all the medium in the orchids is bone dry. How I usually do this is put the plant's pot in a slightly bigger one that has no drainage holes in it, and I take tap water and pour water into the pot. Then I let the orchid pot sit in the water for about 15 minutes before I take it out and let it drain. The one thing I'm concerned about is if, by doing this, I am overwatering or making the medium too wet. Last week I watered one orchid a day earlier than I usually do. I think I upset the plant's root system with this since one of the roots went mushy, perhaps from too much retained moisture?
you are very interesting!!!thanks for all...great to watch.
A tips when it comes to watering Phalaenopsis orchids.
If you have a see true pot, watch the colour of the roots. If there is any kind of green (except on growing root-tips) on the root, wait with watering. If you want you can mist the air-roots.
When the roots are silver/gray, then you can soak the plant for maybe 20 min.
Also, if you grow in sphag, learn the weight of the pot when it's dry, then you can pick it up and feel when you need to water.
cool....that helps. it felt "right", and seemed logical to me....but after (gasp!!!) throwing away what I thought were dead orchids, I don't trust my instincts anymore. note to other noobs: orchids are not spiderplants....and the 4 phals I have left are as forgiving as reputed to be. my teenagers are to be credited with their salvation....they introduced me to you tube. cool site....I subscribed.
I was wonder how to care for my oncidium thanks for sharing
Great info! This helped a lot! Thank you!!
sarahlynne84 I'm happy you found it useful
Hi, I was wondering if you could do a video on how to trim the extra stems.
Very cool Bill Your orchid are very healthy inspite of you being a lazy Gardener
Growing Things it's funny... isn't it...
PlantzNThings it is rather funny lol
Happy day :)
What’s the very first orchid in your video? Thanks…. Found it: Phal Tzu Chiang Balm or Orange variety
LoL. Funny video. Enjoyed as always
BeautyMarked Orchids lol... I loved when the water came out of the pot...lol
That was the funniest part...😀😂😂😂😂
I have a Phal. Tetraspis - medium size seedling. It's in a 2" ventilated clay pot, the bottom third of the pot is wine work bottles, the top 2/3 is a mixture of medium bark and moss, ration 2:1. I tend to keep humidity at about 65-70% with two fans going (sometimes summer days are humid, so I dispense with it, but generally my humidifiers and especially fans are running 24/7. To me it"feels" like it needs watering every 2-3 days. Does that sound logical?
Hello Bill, do you have any advice about when to water a Phragmipedium? Thank you :)
Antonia Orchids These plants don't want to dry out completely, just like the Paph's. the trick with these is to lower the PH a bit. they seem to prefer a slightly acidic soil. a PH of 5.5 - 6.5. I know that in my area the PH my tap water is 8. these plants will also prefer clean water.. ie.. rain water, R/O water or distilled. if you use tap water you might want to invest in a PH meter or the PH strips. I find that many plants plant respond better in a media that has a PH of 6.5 - 7.
PlantzNThings Thank you! I will keep an eye on the PH then and try to water it more frequently
I stil love to have orchid but i dont know if the whether in my contry live in it or not
Hi Bill! I have an orchid which seems to be a bulbophyllum. My uncle bought it from thailand and he kept it on a plastic tupperware container for 3 days. When he gave it to me, the roots where brown and damaged and the PBs are all shriveled. What should I do? Should I keep it moist to rehydrate the PBs or should I keep it in the dry side to dry the damaged roots?
Sorry for the long comment but I just wanna save this orchid :(
Tien Ramos Bulbo's like it constantly moist. If they are mounted they will require regular misting and watering. in your case I would keep it on the dryer side for a week or 2 to let the roots heal... then I would up the moisture..
A loaded subject :P
Gardening at Douentza It is isn't it...
Hey Bill, could you please make an update-video on your colocasia- and banana-plants?
zwicknagel I'll make a video on them when they come upstairs and get ready to go outside.
okay, Bill! Thx!
Hiii,, have you ever had a cactus before. Because I have one and I need information on how to care for it :)
12109babygurl Sure I grow some Cactus and succulents. what would you like to know?
:) I want to know is it ok for me to place my cactus in a different pot . ?? I got my cactus a few days ago . how do I know when to water it .?? I know that I have to water it once a week.
Yes you can pot your cactus into a different pot. Make sure the pot has drainage.. Cactus will require full sun. watering is easy. water it well when you water it... and then let it dry out completely before you water it again. in the summer when its hot and dry it will get watered more often than in the winter when its cooler. Good luck with your Cactus :)
My home is warm. Will it grow ?
+Carmelita Jones Yes They will grow... do you have an area that gets a little cooler in the Fall/Winter? that would help with spike production... it should be cold... it just requires a temperature fluctuation at night.
What is that phal species? The one with the mottled leaves?
amiel polidario It came without a tag. but I've been told it's a Phal. stuartiana
new subscriber here :)
how do i find you on facebook? thank you!!
buy the way nice video :)
PlantzNThings What's Growing Page - facebook.com/groups/544382672307357/
PlantzNThings FB Page - facebook.com/PlantznThings/
thank you so much..
I am a horrible waterer 😂
Too much love? Or not enough
You really shouldn't have uploaded this today, I don't trust anything posted on April first...
Foreseen G. LOL... that's very true...lol