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Thread: Do we need to fertilize wild orchids

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    Default Do we need to fertilize wild orchids

    Can any clarify my doubt, do we need to fertilize wild collected orchid species?, If yes means what type and amount of fertilizer to be used ..

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    Poor little buggers!

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    y?

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    Orchids in the wild receive a periodic supply of natural fertilizers. There could be several sources from plant waste to animal waste.
    Some clumps of wild orchids receive more of this supply than others and thus thrive better than those with a scarce supply.

    The best replacement synthetic fertilizer for wild collected orchids should match or nearly match the nutrient contents and schedule of the natural fertilizer that they receive in the wild.
    Any difference will most likely force the plant into an acclimation period as it gets used to the new feeding regimen.

    So the best approach would be to first study the wild orchids in situ for a few years to fully understand their growth and feeding schedule before even collecting them.

    It would be an even better approach to check first with your local government if it is even legal to collect wild orchids.

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    Thanks John,

    I know the basics of wild orchids , but want to know the synthetic ferts effects on wild orchid spices and how long it takes to acclimatize to our environment.

    As of my view all orchid species are from wild only.We trained them to our environment and keeping them in our home.

    @ Andrew
    is there any funny thing in my question ..?

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    No, I just meant it as the poor little guys being taken from there homes. No biggy. Im just an activist. No harsh feelings. Eventually if you get them bigger then they are and if they are scarce in the area you took them from, maybe you can repopulate the area where you depopulated...Just a thought. Good growing. Take care of them. They have prob been around longer then you. Also the legal fact..something to maybe look into. Sincerely, Best Regards, Andrew

  7. #7

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    I am for conservation... Yet if no one collected orchids in the wild there would be no forums on the internet regarding home cultivation of orchids. It all started with collection in the wild at some point.

    Also Raindeepk might have collected orchids from fallen trees.

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    I understand that all species came from the wild at one point. So have cats and after years of breeding we dont have to anymore. Doesnt mean we should still be taking lions and tigers from their home grasslands to make new hybrids or for pets/zoos. When there are so many already being produced/captive. idk....it doesnt matter. Its something people cant understand. I dont even myself. Conservation, in my opinion, is on thing. you can conserve anything cause your taking it. ie. I can conserve oil but whos to say that we should even be using it in the first place. To each their own. Take what you choose, or choose what you take. This is the battle of Godly man and Human.

  9. #9

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    I am just saying if you get it from a fallen tree it would die anyway so somehow you get something that was otherwise condemned. I believe in conservation and circus animals make me cringe.

    Anyway I would consider picking a small keiki from a large plant if I happened on it. If it wouldn't affect the conditions.

    Probably what really contributed to extinction of species is logging, urban development, abuse of resources, pollution of natural habitats.

    But poaching can be bad, for example in the Venus Fly Trap I would never pick it in nature.

    Well I picked up a Ginkgo seedling and some seeds that sprouted from a park here. They would have killed the 3 inch seedling as a weed anyway.

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    @stefpix....i agree with you and that makes sense...

    @Rain...sorry, i should have sent you that last post in a Private message...i dont mean to ruin your thread.

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