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.

Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Sulphuric volcanic ash on orchids

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Real Name
    angela parris
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Vanda, Dendrobium, Oncidium
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Barbados. Caribbean
    Posts
    1,456
    Member's Country Flag

    Question Sulphuric volcanic ash on orchids

    Dear friends at OT, I have not contributed in quite a while but now I am in urgent need of some feedback.
    As some of you might remember, I live on the island of Barbados in the Caribbean. Over the last 3 days a volcano on another island (St.Vincent) has been erupting and sending lots of ash and fine grit high into the air. The wind is then blowing it on to our island. All the vegetation is covered with this stuff.
    My question to whoever might know, or experienced something like this, is, how will this sulphur laden stuff affect my orchids ?. I have taken the pots and washed off all the leaves etc but I am sure that a lot of that stuff has gone into the pots.
    I am dealing with potted Catts. Dens. and a few Phals.
    Please let me have your thoughts.

    Cheers
    Angela

  2. #2
    Real Name
    Ray Barkalow
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Oak Island NC
    Posts
    2,103

    Default

    I - thankfully- have no first-hand knowledge, but I would flood the daylights out of the plants to wash as much off of the plants and out of the medium as possible, then take them indoors to avoid further exposure.

  3. #3
    Real Name
    Kirk
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Paphiopedilum
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,531
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    No personal experience but based on academic knowledge, the only major concern from the ash is probably the acidity. The minerals it carries are otherwise mostly nutrients or inert. And Ray is correct - lots of water to rinse the ash off the leaves and out of the medium, and protect them as much as possible. I believe more ash fall is predicted if the wind is in your direction. The ash is probably far more dangerous for your lungs than for the plants. Be careful, and good luck.

  4. #4
    Real Name
    Zachary
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Pennsylvania / Williamsburg, VA
    Posts
    138
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    If you have any native orchids, I'd say leave them outdoors, if a volcanic eruption is spewing ash, any native plants should be well adapted to deal with this, I would think. But any non-native species you have growing should probably be washed off and brought inside until the fallout is no longer coming down. Like a previous poster said, the acidity can be a real potential problem!

  5. #5
    Real Name
    Bruce Brown
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleyas & Slippers
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    35,133
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Hi Angela, I'm so sorry to hear about this worry, but so glad to hear from you again. I too would be cautious and flush out the pots and clean the surfaces of the orchids. Then, if possible bring them inside to avoid further contamination. Good luck to you!! And, please keep us posted.

    Cheers,
    BD

  6. #6
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Vanda
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Hawaii
    Posts
    818
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I was at Subic Bay when Mt. Pinatubo erupted back in '91. The eruption dumped about 10 inches of ash on us at the location I was at. The plants just sprouted up through it, and it eventually was washed away by the rain water or became incorporated into the soil. It did not seem to harm them, but as far as sulpheric gas is concerned, I wouldn't know about that.

  7. #7
    Real Name
    Zainal Abidin Bin Othman
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Huntleya, Bollea, Cochleanthes
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Melaka, West Malaysia
    Posts
    14,968
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I do believe the trace of sulfuric acids is not good for the plant so acidic and agree with the above need to wash up accordingly.

Similar Threads

  1. orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioideae (Slipper Orchids)
    By Ron-NY in forum Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium Info.
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: March 24th, 2013, 04:49 PM
  2. cattleya in volcanic rock
    By espranch in forum Cattleya Information
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: July 17th, 2012, 04:30 AM

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.