They have large jars of activated charcoal at most pet, and aquarium shops, at a reasonable price. The kind that I like is the one that comes in rabbit food pellet size. Small and easy to mix in.
@@Orchideria Hey, I love your videos. I've been into Orchids off and on since I was 7 and found them blooming on trees wild, in South Florida. I collected wild species from burn piles of cypress when they were developed the land down there, and put them on the trees in our yard. Then 15 yrs ago I was buying them cheap from Hawaii and resold them on Ebay. Back then I was selling them pretty fast and didnt have to learn all the new stuff that has come out on the care and fertilizers to use. So I am glad to find you and miss orchid girl channels, and one other. The thing about RUclips is there are a few who really know their stuff and a lot of others who are learning as they go. You and the others I watch are not a waste of time. The clear plastic pots for example, no one used those when I was young, and it's a great way to fast check the roots and moisture level without yanking the plant. We used a stick to check moisture levels, but it lacks a lot compared to what you can see with your own eyes in the clear pots. I am watching every video you have.
Hi ... your video is quite apt, as I've recently started using charcoal as part of my potting mix (not the store bought, BBQ kind). The charcoal I can get in my neck of the woods is made from a special hard wood tree (don't know the name) found in the tropical rainforests. Charcoal is really part of our cultural DNA, and is used mostly for cooking fuel, as it burns for a really long time. Our charcoal has no odour, and is a staple for agricultural growth, BBQ's and fuel for fire in "coal-pots" (a clay pot specially made for charcoal, on which one can rest a cooking pot). So far, my orchids do not seem to suffer from using this (organic?) charcoal as I have noticed the roots latch on to it. I use my thumb to measure an approximate size (width) of the charcoal. I've only just started using the charcoal for the past two months or so - as the local sphagnum moss was "ugh"! So far, so good. Thanks a lot for your video.
Hi Lyn, The charcoal you described is excellent since it's natural. Its actually a lot better than the processed store-bought charcoal we can buy here. Orchids love it. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Mia, Thank you for your comment! :) What's funny is that I never noticed I did that as bad as do but when I started editing my videos, I was like, wow... That's awful!!! I'm glad it doesn't stop people from watching the videos. So I really appreciate your comment. God bless you too 🙏
I found you only recently I also only grow indoors and in my covered lanai, can you share on growing oncidiums and dendrobiums,including getting rid of pests and fungus I find you very personable with wonderfully important information
Hi Liam, Thank you for the comment. Midinight loves to be on camera and now every time I turn he camera on, here she comes. At first, she just happened to appear and I edited her out and redid the video. Now I'm learning that she helps me a lot, so I leave her in the videos.
I am thinking of using Charcoal and Rockwool combo work as a long term media. Pine bark and sphagnum are relatively costly at my place, and their quality is not guaranteed. Charcoal costs 5x cheaper than woodchips in my location. I'll wash both before use, and will take care to avoid any dust inhalation.
Helpful info, thank you :) We happened to have some good grilling charcoal that fits the description - it's a basic hard wood charcoal called Royal Oak that we always get from the big box home improvement store. No additives, etc. The chunks are pretty big so I have to break them up. It's not expensive and makes that fizzing sound when rinsed. Fishtank charcoal can be expensive when you're dealing with a lot of orchids, so this is just an idea to look into. Edit - fishtank charcoal pellets are pretty small, also. I'm not sure if they make bigger pellets than what I've bought for my tank filters, but what I have is about the size of rodent food.
Hello. I'm a new subscriber. Your videos are great. I'm learning so much as a beginner orchid grower. Thank you so much for sharing them. Warm greetings from the southern Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago.
Thank you mam, for sharing your video on charcoal, very interesting, nicely explained, However I live in the tropics in Trinidad , I'm not sure what type of media I should use here. Please help my orchids. Thank you for your time. God bless you 🙏💕
Will there be any side effect of planting 3 or 4 cattleya seedlings in a rectangular shaped planting pots with charcoal and evenly spaced each young plants. Any advice on this way of planting orchids? Thank you.
Hi Janelle, Thanks for your comment. It will depend on the orchid, so I assume it's a Phalaenopsis you have. To rebloom, they need a month's temperature drop of 10 degrees at night to induce the plant's enzymes and hormones into thinking it's time to bloom. Usually this resolves most of the blooming problems. If it doesn't start to produce a flower spike, then check the amount of light. It might not have enough. If the light is correct, then it might not be fertilized properly.
Hi last few days I have being watching few of your clips- I have to admit very informative and very true to what you say I am no orchid enthusiast as you but trying to be one specially with lock downs stay orders . Thanks again keep up the good work. Stay safe.
Hi Sampath, Thank you for commenting. I apprecaite it. As for the orchid enthisiast, it wasnt planned... Once you start growing one orchid, soom you'll have lots and lots of them. It's a hobby that can't be controlled. 😊
I used to use charcoal when used to grow in bark... one thing I did not appreciate, was, getting dirty hands 😬 i trued wearing gloves... but they just aren't for me... charcoal is great media though
Hi Tia Pius, Thank you! I bought the cups online in some store I had seen on Instagram, but when I got them by mail, they were really small. So I use them as decoration now. 🤣😂
Hi! It depends on the humidity. If you have very high humidity, which I assume you do, then maybe every other day would be better. It's all about trail and error.
Hi Fantastica, yes, Midnight is a real video lover. 😊 Sad news... She has been banned this month from my home office though because I found her sleeping on top of my plants. So she might not be in the next few videos. LOL. Thank you for watching my videos. I appreciate it.
How much charcoal do you put in the pot like as a percentage please with the orchid bark? Do you mix all together or just put a little bit of charcoal at the bottom of the pot?
Hi Danny, Thanks for watching my video. I mix it in with all the other potting media, so it's spread out in different places. I don't have percentages, but I usually use half sphagnum moss, half bark, and through in little charcoal and perlite. Not much. If the orchid is larger/older and has larger roots, I use more charcoal since the pieces I have are bigger and it gives the orchid stability.
Hi Mark, I have used lava rock in combination with other potting media, but not by itself. So I don't have anything written about it. Sorry. One thing I would consider though is using lava rock with thicker rooted orchids, not the tiny, fine roots.
Hi Ronald Chew, I’m sorry it took so long for me to write you back about your comment. I was on vacation and didn’t log onto my RUclips. Thanks for commenting on my video. I appreciate it and was glad it helped. I am testing coconut husks now from Sri Lanka that is better, but I have no idea about the coconut charcoal. My guess would be that it is good, but I really can't tell you. Sorry.
Hi Rosemary, Some orchids prefer to be bare-rooted, with no potting medium at all. Vandas are an example. If your orchids are growing well, and it looks like they are from what you said, I'd leave them alone and continue the same care that you have provided up until now. Whatever you do, don't touch them with spikes and buds. They are consuming an extraordinary amount of of energy to produce and develop those buds, so any change now really hurts them.
@@Orchideria ok thank you. I just want to do what’s best for them. I am a newbie. Some of my leaves were purple, pretty and firm but purple. I read to spray with epsom salt solution so I’m going to give it a try. It’s so nice to be able to ask a pro questions. Thank you for your time!
Hey, one more thing... Purple leaves could be a variety of things, and due to this cold front that just rolled in, it might be the cold. I'm not sure where your from, but if you are in the US, make sure they are warm. 😉
@@Orchideria I’m in South Fl 10a seems to me two of mine always keep one purple leaf. There not the pretties orchids but I’ve kept them alive for a year so far lol. I’m sure they are lacking something. They all how one or more spikes on them. I wanted to send a pic but not sure how to.
Charcoal reduces the bacteria by absorbing nitrates? Interesting I'll have to look into this. It makes sense as a thought experiment but it also does not appear to be so good at this that it causes problems in the aquarium.
Hi Victor, Thanks for your comment. The aquarium debate of whether or not to use charcoal in the filters is a heated one. Lots of people like to use it, swearing by the benefits while others prefer to stay away from it saying it does nothing. Since I don't have an aquarium, (I had a beta fish once...poor thing) I can't really say which side I support. I can only state what I've read about it from various perspectives.
@@Orchideria Oh this is a heated topic in the aquarium world no doubt about that. Personally I find it uses in the aquarium to be limited. But not being prejudice it's use in an orchid pot with the medium well there it might really come into its own. The only drawback I can think of would be if it mask the odor of breaking down media. Even if it does mask the odor a little bit of breaking down media if you're aware of that there are other ways to test if your media is breaking down so not hard to deal with that insignificant drawback.
Sorry I know you put effort into this video but I have to point out some things. In the last few years there's been scientific studies published on bio-char (NOT CHARCOAL) on ways it benefits the soil and it gets real technical on some deep levels but confirms it helps in quite a few ways in soil if its properly charged first. Also bio-char for orchids should be in the chunky style not the processed smashed down kind. Charcoal dust gets into the air easily, and black lung is a real thing. Chunky style that's been charged in compost isn't dusty unless smashed. There's no better feeling than seeing your orchid root grow right through the big chunks of bio char and networking their way to the other side. Last thing, bio char made from hard woods lasts 100+ years so you do not have to worry about using it with sphagnum moss whatsoever. If done properly the bio char will be very much attached to the orchid root system for its entire life. Charcoal is first made into powder and then compressed into chunks so that's why it breaks down like your saying, also soft wood bio char breaks down as well as you said but hard wood bio char will outlive us.
They have large jars of activated charcoal at most pet, and aquarium shops, at a reasonable price. The kind that I like is the one that comes in rabbit food pellet size. Small and easy to mix in.
Hi Tally, I love your comments!
@@Orchideria Hey, I love your videos. I've been into Orchids off and on since I was 7 and found them blooming on trees wild, in South Florida. I collected wild species from burn piles of cypress when they were developed the land down there, and put them on the trees in our yard.
Then 15 yrs ago I was buying them cheap from Hawaii and resold them on Ebay. Back then I was selling them pretty fast and didnt have to learn all the new stuff that has come out on the care and fertilizers to use.
So I am glad to find you and miss orchid girl channels, and one other. The thing about RUclips is there are a few who really know their stuff and a lot of others who are learning as they go. You and the others I watch are not a waste of time.
The clear plastic pots for example, no one used those when I was young, and it's a great way to fast check the roots and moisture level without yanking the plant. We used a stick to check moisture levels, but it lacks a lot compared to what you can see with your own eyes in the clear pots. I am watching every video you have.
Is that activated carbon though not charcoal. Any difference?
Hi ... your video is quite apt, as I've recently started using charcoal as part of my potting mix (not the store bought, BBQ kind). The charcoal I can get in my neck of the woods is made from a special hard wood tree (don't know the name) found in the tropical rainforests. Charcoal is really part of our cultural DNA, and is used mostly for cooking fuel, as it burns for a really long time. Our charcoal has no odour, and is a staple for agricultural growth, BBQ's and fuel for fire in "coal-pots" (a clay pot specially made for charcoal, on which one can rest a cooking pot).
So far, my orchids do not seem to suffer from using this (organic?) charcoal as I have noticed the roots latch on to it. I use my thumb to measure an approximate size (width) of the charcoal. I've only just started using the charcoal for the past two months or so - as the local sphagnum moss was "ugh"! So far, so good. Thanks a lot for your video.
Hi Lyn, The charcoal you described is excellent since it's natural. Its actually a lot better than the processed store-bought charcoal we can buy here. Orchids love it. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Lyn, I just realized I answered you on the wrong line. I thought I had hit the reply button but it posted as a new message....
You are a gem. Thank you for all of the information on charcoal.
I love your coffee mugs!!
Thanks for giving us the benefits of the charcoal I learned something new thanks for sharing
You're welcome
your so cute when you stuttered while talking! 😄☺️☺️☺️
thank you I like your videos... God bless
Hi Mia, Thank you for your comment! :) What's funny is that I never noticed I did that as bad as do but when I started editing my videos, I was like, wow... That's awful!!! I'm glad it doesn't stop people from watching the videos. So I really appreciate your comment. God bless you too 🙏
I found you only recently I also only grow indoors and in my covered lanai, can you share on growing oncidiums and dendrobiums,including getting rid of pests and fungus I find you very personable with wonderfully important information
Amanda, keep your cat in your video's, he or she? is so cute and funny!
Hi Liam, Thank you for the comment. Midinight loves to be on camera and now every time I turn he camera on, here she comes. At first, she just happened to appear and I edited her out and redid the video. Now I'm learning that she helps me a lot, so I leave her in the videos.
I am thinking of using Charcoal and Rockwool combo work as a long term media. Pine bark and sphagnum are relatively costly at my place, and their quality is not guaranteed. Charcoal costs 5x cheaper than woodchips in my location. I'll wash both before use, and will take care to avoid any dust inhalation.
Hi Man Mohan. I'm interested in hearing your results with this combo. Please keep me updated. 😀
Thank You so much for posting these video's . I would be lost ...
I'm glad they help!
Helpful info, thank you :) We happened to have some good grilling charcoal that fits the description - it's a basic hard wood charcoal called Royal Oak that we always get from the big box home improvement store. No additives, etc. The chunks are pretty big so I have to break them up. It's not expensive and makes that fizzing sound when rinsed. Fishtank charcoal can be expensive when you're dealing with a lot of orchids, so this is just an idea to look into.
Edit - fishtank charcoal pellets are pretty small, also. I'm not sure if they make bigger pellets than what I've bought for my tank filters, but what I have is about the size of rodent food.
Hi CeeTee McDee, Thanks for that info!
Hello. I'm a new subscriber. Your videos are great. I'm learning so much as a beginner orchid grower. Thank you so much for sharing them. Warm greetings from the southern Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago.
Hi Nicole, Oh wow! Trinidad and Tobago! What an awesome place! Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it!
I'm loving this information
Thank you!
Hi thank you for a great information about charcoal..
Hi Menchie rey, Thank you for the comment!
Love your cat and orchid videos. ❤
Thank you
Excellent video! Thank you :) How much charcoal should I put in if I am repotting a 4" phal?
Thank you mam, for sharing your video on charcoal, very interesting, nicely explained, However I live in the tropics in Trinidad , I'm not sure what type of media I should use here. Please help my orchids. Thank you for your time. God bless you 🙏💕
Wonderful presentation. You got a sub from India👍👍
Thank you!
coal for fishtank filters works good for me mixes good with the bark
Hi Amanda , i have only just discovered your orchid videos and noticed they are 2 years old . Have you stopped doing videos ? Cheers .
This video was referred from your orchid bark video..THANK YOU..great info
Hi peacemaker, thank you for your comment and support. I apprecaite it. :)
I had always thought that New Zealand spagnum was the best. And it doesn't last longer that two years. Can you clear this up please.
Will there be any side effect of planting 3 or 4 cattleya seedlings in a rectangular shaped planting pots with charcoal and evenly spaced each young plants. Any advice on this way of planting orchids? Thank you.
Thank you again for more great information.
Thank you, Ian. I apprecaite the feedback. :)
Thanks for the info God bless you fantastic idea bye
New to your channel 🙂 thanks for the info on orchids l have one two years now any advice on how to get it to flower again
Hi Janelle, Thanks for your comment. It will depend on the orchid, so I assume it's a Phalaenopsis you have. To rebloom, they need a month's temperature drop of 10 degrees at night to induce the plant's enzymes and hormones into thinking it's time to bloom. Usually this resolves most of the blooming problems. If it doesn't start to produce a flower spike, then check the amount of light. It might not have enough. If the light is correct, then it might not be fertilized properly.
How often do you water with charcoal?
Hi last few days I have being watching few of your clips- I have to admit very informative and very true to what you say I am no orchid enthusiast as you but trying to be one specially with lock downs stay orders . Thanks again keep up the good work. Stay safe.
Hi Sampath,
Thank you for commenting. I apprecaite it. As for the orchid enthisiast, it wasnt planned... Once you start growing one orchid, soom you'll have lots and lots of them. It's a hobby that can't be controlled. 😊
I used to use charcoal when used to grow in bark... one thing I did not appreciate, was, getting dirty hands 😬 i trued wearing gloves... but they just aren't for me... charcoal is great media though
That is so true... Charcoal can be messy and gets all over everything! Thanks for you comment. :)
I become crazy to look your hands.,.Your hands are extremely ❤️❤️❤️
Hi... wonderful message...thank you... please tell me from where you bought those lovely tea ☕ s with 🎵...
Hi Tia Pius, Thank you! I bought the cups online in some store I had seen on Instagram, but when I got them by mail, they were really small. So I use them as decoration now. 🤣😂
Isn't orchidiata bark made from pine?
I am in tropical region. Can i water it daily when the medium is charcoal?
Hi! It depends on the humidity. If you have very high humidity, which I assume you do, then maybe every other day would be better. It's all about trail and error.
Your cat is trying to steal the spotlight. What a photo bomber!
Hi Fantastica, yes, Midnight is a real video lover. 😊 Sad news... She has been banned this month from my home office though because I found her sleeping on top of my plants. So she might not be in the next few videos. LOL. Thank you for watching my videos. I appreciate it.
Orchids pot is very good
Hi Nirajan, I liked them a lot when I used them. Thank you for commenting.
How much charcoal do you put in the pot like as a percentage please with the orchid bark? Do you mix all together or just put a little bit of charcoal at the bottom of the pot?
Hi Danny,
Thanks for watching my video.
I mix it in with all the other potting media, so it's spread out in different places. I don't have percentages, but I usually use half sphagnum moss, half bark, and through in little charcoal and perlite. Not much. If the orchid is larger/older and has larger roots, I use more charcoal since the pieces I have are bigger and it gives the orchid stability.
@@Orchideria Thank you that's amazing! Really appreciate the fast response that's so helpful as I have the charcoal ready to add right now. 😊
Amanda have you done a segment on using Lava Rock as the Medium. I would be interested in knowing your thoughts about it. Thanks much.
Hi Mark, I have used lava rock in combination with other potting media, but not by itself. So I don't have anything written about it. Sorry. One thing I would consider though is using lava rock with thicker rooted orchids, not the tiny, fine roots.
@@Orchideria Thank you Amanda
@@Orchideria I notice that you have an interest in Music. Are you a Musician? Just Curious-
Hello...any charcoal or
Hi Meribemo,
Can you please send your comment again? It got cut off and I can't read it all. Thanks.
Love your 😺
😊😊 Thank you
Hi, Orchideria. I have a question, is the coconut charcoal good for orchid?
Hi Ronald Chew, I’m sorry it took so long for me to write you back about your comment. I was on vacation and didn’t log onto my RUclips. Thanks for commenting on my video. I appreciate it and was glad it helped. I am testing coconut husks now from Sri Lanka that is better, but I have no idea about the coconut charcoal. My guess would be that it is good, but I really can't tell you. Sorry.
Instead of throw away my used water filters. I break them apart and use the activated carbon for my orchid.:)
I have three orchids in open baskets with no medium at all. Right now all three have spikes and are forming buds. Should I put medium in them?
Hi Rosemary, Some orchids prefer to be bare-rooted, with no potting medium at all. Vandas are an example. If your orchids are growing well, and it looks like they are from what you said, I'd leave them alone and continue the same care that you have provided up until now. Whatever you do, don't touch them with spikes and buds. They are consuming an extraordinary amount of of energy to produce and develop those buds, so any change now really hurts them.
@@Orchideria ok thank you. I just want to do what’s best for them. I am a newbie. Some of my leaves were purple, pretty and firm but purple. I read to spray with epsom salt solution so I’m going to give it a try. It’s so nice to be able to ask a pro questions. Thank you for your time!
Hey, one more thing... Purple leaves could be a variety of things, and due to this cold front that just rolled in, it might be the cold. I'm not sure where your from, but if you are in the US, make sure they are warm. 😉
@@Orchideria I’m in South Fl 10a seems to me two of mine always keep one purple leaf. There not the pretties orchids but I’ve kept them alive for a year so far lol. I’m sure they are lacking something. They all how one or more spikes on them. I wanted to send a pic but not sure how to.
I used charcoal on my cattleyas
Hi B, thanks for commenting. :) Cattleyas love charcoal, with their huge roots.
Hi, love you videos, would charcoal dust added to the water be good for orchids ?
Hi John, I wouldn't do that because it tends to make drainage harder over a longer period of time. The larger charcoal pieces are more recommended.
Charcoal reduces the bacteria by absorbing nitrates? Interesting I'll have to look into this. It makes sense as a thought experiment but it also does not appear to be so good at this that it causes problems in the aquarium.
Hi Victor, Thanks for your comment. The aquarium debate of whether or not to use charcoal in the filters is a heated one. Lots of people like to use it, swearing by the benefits while others prefer to stay away from it saying it does nothing. Since I don't have an aquarium, (I had a beta fish once...poor thing) I can't really say which side I support. I can only state what I've read about it from various perspectives.
@@Orchideria Oh this is a heated topic in the aquarium world no doubt about that. Personally I find it uses in the aquarium to be limited. But not being prejudice it's use in an orchid pot with the medium well there it might really come into its own. The only drawback I can think of would be if it mask the odor of breaking down media. Even if it does mask the odor a little bit of breaking down media if you're aware of that there are other ways to test if your media is breaking down so not hard to deal with that insignificant drawback.
When it comes to aquarium filters though isn't that activated carbon rather than activated charcoal? Is there a difference?
Sorry I know you put effort into this video but I have to point out some things. In the last few years there's been scientific studies published on bio-char (NOT CHARCOAL) on ways it benefits the soil and it gets real technical on some deep levels but confirms it helps in quite a few ways in soil if its properly charged first. Also bio-char for orchids should be in the chunky style not the processed smashed down kind. Charcoal dust gets into the air easily, and black lung is a real thing. Chunky style that's been charged in compost isn't dusty unless smashed. There's no better feeling than seeing your orchid root grow right through the big chunks of bio char and networking their way to the other side. Last thing, bio char made from hard woods lasts 100+ years so you do not have to worry about using it with sphagnum moss whatsoever. If done properly the bio char will be very much attached to the orchid root system for its entire life. Charcoal is first made into powder and then compressed into chunks so that's why it breaks down like your saying, also soft wood bio char breaks down as well as you said but hard wood bio char will outlive us.
How can make mace
Hi Sadaf Islam, I'm not sure what you mean. Can you explain?
Good black cat.😃
Hi Diogenes, Hehehe.... Yes, Midnight is my little assistant who loves the camera. Thanks for watching.
@@Orchideria Great assistant! Thanks for your information.♥️
Hi Diogenes, thank you for leaving a comment. I appreciate it.
Charcoal is very valuable for soil. For soil that has life Otherwise its just as useful as a rock
Ok
I love your channel and your voice thx so much😊
OMG AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BLACK MAMBA😂