Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: orchid Fertilizer question

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Real Name
    Traci
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phals, Paphs, Vandas and Dracs
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Lafayette , Louisiana
    Posts
    881
    Member's Country Flag

    Default orchid Fertilizer question

    Because my water is so hard I've started using steam distilled water. I've thought about rain water but worry about pollution and acidity of the water plus algal growth etc.
    My plants are on different watering schedules so I might water one every day or every couple of days. Can the fertilizer be added to a jug if distilled water and kept for a week or two or is it best to mix fresh fertilizer each time?

  2. #2
    Real Name
    Steve
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Paph Roth's
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    400
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Depends on what fertiliser it is , some well break down with a lot of sunlight & possibly be a good place for bacteria etc to grow , if you do keep mixed feriliser for any length i would use a sealed container & keep it in a dark place.

  3. #3
    Real Name
    Traci
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phals, Paphs, Vandas and Dracs
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Lafayette , Louisiana
    Posts
    881
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Ah ok. Thank you Steve. I guess I wot chance it. I've been throwing the rest of the fertilizer water on my outside plants and other indoor plants so I guess I'm technically not wasting it. It isn't worth risking the orchids to save the water.

  4. #4
    Real Name
    Maurice
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Pleurothallis and The Unusual
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    316
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Always hard to answer this. There are elements that will precipitate after they are in solution (like magnesium and phosphates). Let the mix stand for too long the chance you end up without any of these element available for your orchids is big.
    I advise to start fresh every water gift.

    What is steam destilled water?

    Maurice
    Posted via Mobile Device

  5. #5
    Real Name
    Traci
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phals, Paphs, Vandas and Dracs
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Lafayette , Louisiana
    Posts
    881
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Thanks Maurice. I plan to mix fresh. Not with the risk.
    I'm assuming the steam distilled is just the method that was used to purify the water. They must boil water that has been purified and the collect the steam that evaporates and condense it down. The orchids do seem much happier with the distilled.

  6. #6
    Real Name
    lijun
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    exploring and getting greedy
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    north sumatra, indonesia
    Posts
    394
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Traci,.. here said not to use distilled water, but not explaining reason,.
    https://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=77

  7. #7
    Real Name
    Traci
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phals, Paphs, Vandas and Dracs
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Lafayette , Louisiana
    Posts
    881
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Thanks Lijun,
    I read that and can only think that it is because it won't have calcium and magnesium as some fertilizers don't contain those. I understand no softened as sometimes that adds sodium.
    I am going to try to join my local orchid society. Hopefully they can tell me what they do since we all have the same tap water.
    Maybe someone here can help us figure out why no distilled?

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Steve
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Paph Roth's
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    400
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Distilled water can still contain minerals( water is boiled & the steam condensed).
    So it could have minerals in it that are not beneficial to orchids or at least it will add to the TDS of your feeding.
    so it really depends on the water that you start with to how "pure" the distilled product is.
    If you feed lightly i can see how distilled would be better than some tap water.

  9. #9
    Real Name
    Annette
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Slippers, Moth, Psycopsis, etc
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah
    Posts
    256
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Hi Traci,
    I'm in the same boat as you about the 'hard' water and have taken to using distilled water as well - at least until I can get a reverse osmosis system to save money and time lugging the jugs. What I've heard is don't use plain distilled water only as your plants won't get their essential nutrients and minerals. I do know that it's very important that you make sure you are using a fertilizer that is specifically designed for distilled or pure water. Otherwise you can have salts build-up or not enough of certain minerals given to your orchids and they will suffer for it. I also know that there are some fertilizers designed for 'dirty' water - i.e. tap water. It just depends on what you use. I bet your local orchid society could help with that. Earlier I wondered about water type and started a thread that may be of help to you as well: http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...r-orchids.html

    When I fertilize, I have determined how much I need and re-calculated for the amount I'm using so I don't waste as much fertilizer nor water mixed with it; it's using a conversion. For example: If your fertilizer, like mine, says 1/2 tsp per gallon, you can use a conversion to determine a smaller amount you need. There are 16 cups per gallon, so if you take (0.5 tsp/gal) multiply it by (1 gal/16 cups) and then multiply that by the amount you want to make, say 4 cups (as I usually make-up about 4 cups at a time to use with my orchids) that translates to a total of 1/8 tsp per 4 cups, if that makes sense. Then you can decide if you want to fertilize weaker than that more often or only at specific intervals. If it doesn't make sense I can help you convert what your fertilizer says to a smaller amount like 4 cups, just let me know.

  10. #10
    Real Name
    Maurice
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Pleurothallis and The Unusual
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    316
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Just like OrchisAmor I stopped bying all these 20 liter cans of destilled water at the local hortishop. But it is always beter then giving tapwater. I calculated how long ot would take me to earn my investment back if I bought a RO-system at the aquarium shop. Only 3/4 of a year!!! I use my RO system now for 3 years and I check it regularly with a EC meter and I am very happy with this system.

    Build up of salts is prevented by giving low dosages of fertilizer (stay under 0,3 mS) and change it per fertilizer round with pure RO water. Despite all the negatives about this I do it already 3 years like this and works fine. I think it is because you dilute again all the salts on the block and in pots and that you really don't water with 0 uS of water.
    Posted via Mobile Device

Similar Threads

  1. Another fertilizer question
    By Kenner in forum General Orchid Culture
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: August 2nd, 2014, 04:45 PM
  2. Orchid Fertilizer
    By Spiker in forum New Growers: Ask the Senior Members
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: August 7th, 2011, 05:00 PM
  3. Fertilizer question
    By playtime8978 in forum New Growers: Ask the Senior Members
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: May 5th, 2009, 01:14 PM
  4. water and fertilizer question, please
    By brit6v in forum New Growers: Ask the Senior Members
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: February 6th, 2009, 10:15 AM
  5. Question about time release fertilizer
    By Gilda in forum General Orchid Culture
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: June 4th, 2004, 01:06 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.