I just wanted to say, I tried to figure out fertilizing my orchids before and was always confused and intimidated with what I learned. It wasn’t intill I found your channel that I finally understood nutrients for my orchids. Also, I grew up collecting rocks. Growing orchids is new to me and when I found out I could grow them in rock, I was hooked. You are an invaluable source of information, breaking it down and explaining it in a way many more people can understand. Thank you for all your videos.
Oh my goodness Rick, you made several comments that you have confused people with ur talks on fertilizing & it’s just the OPPOSITE! You are very clear in ur explanations & easy to understand. I could watch these videos over & over & still find a good piece of information that I might have missed prior. So thank you, thank you for going over fertilizing again. It’s just wonderful to have you back. I truly appreciate all ur videos. God bless you & Jan.
What an informative video! As someone said, rewatching Rick’s videos is always productive. We, as watchers might not fully understand the technical side of things, Rick most definitely puts things in plain English. Thanks Rick! I mistreated my plants last winter, had to trash quite a few. Started following Rick’s advice, moved everything over to river rock and lava rock, also started his feeding regimen. Well, my plants took off! After about a month while cleaning up my plant room I found four cattleyas I had thrown away. They were still green, no roots but I potted them up anyway. After about a month, using Rick’s recipe those plants now have at least 3 shoots and roots.
Hi Rick, thank you for this great information, I love learning about orchids and how they grow and what the nutrients do for them. I fertilize with CalMag and Seaweed along with my fertilizer every time I water. I recently found seaweed in power form that I can make up as I need it and not have to worry about the liquid losing its strength before I use it up and I don't have to keep it in the fridge!! Looking forward to your next video, take good care and God Bless.
Thanks so much for the video, Rick...excellent information as always. So glad you're growing orchids again...your enthusiasm for them makes me smile. Sending blessings your way! 😇
And I can listen to this discussion over and over. We are in the desert of NM now so I can't leave most plants outside anymore, but gosh Rick, I'm always amazed at your grow operation, how vigorous and healthy your plants do in your care. Its fun to see!
Another absolutely fantastic video Rick with all the information one needs to be positive that they are growing their orchids in the correct way. How would you deal with your orchids in the weather I get in the NW of England where we have at least 9 months of poor climate. In the remaining three months we are lucky to get a week when the temps are above 20c......or would you continue the way you are doing with less watering because of the difference in climate. Ed. I ask this not only for the benefit of me but for all the newish growers......thanks Rick, Ed.
Thank you Ed....I hope your hand is healing well after surgery....thats a great question......and thats a very rough climate. ..obviously outdoor growing isnt possiple......In the past, Ive grown indoors in warehouse sized grow rooms, and outdoors in greenhouses and poly tunnels...commercially and for my self ...with very large hydroponic set ups, and soil beds also...., supplemental heat and light would be about the best way to provide what the plants would need. ....Ive used LED, Flourescent, and my preferred....metal halide / high pressure sodium, lighting for many years, .......my suggestion would be get a proper heater, and some very good lighting. We cant change mother nature, but we can mimic it with additional heat and light.......If you remember, I built an indoor orchid room a few years back, with my previous collection.......they grew wonderfully. Heal quickly my friend.....Rick
Hey Brother 👋 Awesome! I saw it pop up and i stopped what i was doing! When my brother talks nutrients nothing else matters! 😂 i must admit as my count of orchids go up, it gets harder nad harder to flush and spray the plants. I need to get back to doing it more frequently. Do sections at a time so eventually it all gets done. That would probably be best way to tackle it. Your so lucky that mother nature rains on yours! 😊 Hope your having a wonderful evening you and Jan. Big hugs from West Virginia 🤗 🌹🩷💚
Guess what I'm doing? Im repotting 2 of my orchids in lava rock. They are already in pebbles and a little bark. I got them 2 years ago as seedlings. I can't wait to add lava rock and charcoal to my orchid mix. Mr. Rick, you are my go to for growing orchids. I was so happy to see a new post. I stopped what i was doing to watch.
@@beanoto2879 ......some growers grow in charcoal by itself....big pieces and small pieces.....you can add as much as you want.....its great stuff......it resists rot, it keep other medias from breaking down quickly, and it will save weight when mixed with lava....
Rick, Thank you again for the great information. You reinforced my fertilization methods. I use MSU with CalMag and kelp every time I water. I also soak my orchids, because of how dry it is here. Outdoor conditions in the high desert of New Mexico are horrible. We have very low humidity (8% right now), almost no rain, very high UV, no trees, and very high winds most of the year. Therefore, I grow inside and run a humidifier 24/7, but I'm rarely ever able to reach 40% humidity. I use a lot of self watering pots with leca, lava, and pumice. I don't seem to have any problems with them, but I have only grown orchids for about 4 years. I currently have 76 orchids from Angraecum to Zygopabstia. A few are rescues that have been handed off to me. I would be so very grateful for any tips you are willing to offer. Bless you, Sherrii
......Sherrii......thank you very much......I love to answer questions here, and its the best way to learn.........Feed your orchids small amounts often, ....make sure they get plenty of calcium.....flush them often, ....give them warmth and light and they will grow like jungle plants for you.......it sounds like your doing fine.
😊 Thank you again for the refresher course. I believe we all need this and thank you for those kind words you gave me on the cattleya I gave Amy on her channel. Brought a tear to my eye coming from you. I'm the one growing orchids in the desert of Arizona 🎋 🌵 Blessings dear friend. 😇
Ahhh yes! The rain … how I wish I had more of it during times of the year when it’s warm enough. It happens so rarely that my orchids can be outside when it rains, that, on those rare occasions, I have to do a video about it! 😅 appreciate your time, Rick! Thank you 🫶🏼 have a lovely rest of your evening and a beautiful day with your lovely camera lady ❤
Im down to 220 ppm or so except the Catasetum types which are 550 ppm ....all nutrients combined. Ill cut in half in a couple of weeks. Three Catasetum types i bought from Equagenera in the spring are just out of dormancy. Shortly ill feed thpse at 500 ppm Im feeding about every 4- 5 days... Thanks Rick.. im using Peters Excel cal mag special with black iron.
Hi, Rick! You never caused confusion. On the contrary, your videos are very informative and helpful, and I am very thankful. God bless you and your wife!
Just found your channel. Great information. I've been growing orchids for years but have never heard someone talk about tds or mobile and immobile nutrients. I've got a lot to learn. Thanks Rick.
......Thank you and welcome John......TDS /PPM is a easy accurate way of feeding your orchids........and understanding Mobile and Immobile nutrients.....helps us diagnose nutritional issues and help the plants grow........and not just your orchids.......all plants, house plants, vegetables, etc.
Great video, thank you! So much info out there, especially regarding Phals, that’s incorrect. I’ve tried bark mix and water culture in the past with no luck and became very frustrated. I’ve switched to lava rock after watching your videos and my plants are so happy. New roots, new leafs, and gorgeous blooms. Love your videos and the info you provide; very clear and concise.
Great talk, Rick. Thanks. I don't think you confuse us at all. You only make us think. You offer great food for thought! I wonder what plant symptoms/characteristics lead you to use calcium nitrate vs. cal-mag? Maybe the nitrate during the active growing period? Or does the Jacks have a decent amount of magnesium, so you opt for the nitrate... Maybe you can address that in your next video. Enjoy your week.
..Thanks my friend..a great question....CalMag and calcium nitrate are 2 different things.......CalMag is a calcium / magnesium supplement..........and calcium nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer that has calcium also.....I dont use them together.......If my plants are growing strong with lots of new shoots, canes, bulbs, etc......I will give them Calcium Nitrate, along with macro and micro nutrients.......If I'm flushing with water only I will add CalMag......that way they are always getting calcium.
@@rickl.orchids Thanks, Rick. I appreciate the reply. I have both, but haven't used the CN for a couple years. I forgot about it. I'll have to use it instead of the CM next time. Calcium is going to be my best friend this year!
@@zazelda .....thanks Amy.....your orchids will love it.....remeber to use CN in small amounts....and use a good fertilizer that has micro and macro nutrients as well......or you can get some tall weak spindly growths that have trouble standing up.
Great information RickL. I learned about lava rocks with your channel. "An orchid that moves is an orchid that dies" (Una orquidea que se mueve, orquidea que se muere") This is a Spanish saying for orchids to be well grounded and not move. I feed differently sometimes as you say, a little more one week and a little less the next. Be blessed and enjoy your day.
Rick is at it again - what a pleasure to watch & hear you (even the same stuff over & over) 😊 i am also moving gradually to lava rock. Your holed wooden baskets are a great idea!
The way you explained the nutrition and care of orchids was fantastic. I know you have always pointed to how they grow in the wild but many people here in UK will advise doing all the things that couldn’t possibly happen in the wild. I thank you so much for the clarity of your information & im so pleased you are still able to make these videos. I know that your health brings challenges you could do without but when you can, please know your knowledge & experience is invaluable to us. Wishing you all the best. ❤️💫⭐️💜✨
Your explanation and step by step fertilizing not only saved my orchids, but I got them blooming in no time! Thank you! Keep posting your videos! And you are right about media for orchids! It makes sense the way you put it !
Valuable information as always Rick. I've also begun soaking my orchids nowadays. And thanks to you began experimenting with lava rock. I'll let you know how it goes. .. Never loose that smile . It really suits you 😊. Have a great day!
I love the way you make your videos about orchids. You make it so educational and interesting. Thank you for sharing and explaining in how to grow your own orchids. Like always you have beautiful healthy orchids.
Hey Rick, I already wrote a similar comment but again. You taught me so much about orchids for the past 3 years. My collection is constantly growing and blooming following your advices. I will even try lava rocks in the coming days. Your explanations have always been clear to me. Thanks to you, I understand better how plants grow in general. "ask yourself how orchids feed in nature" was probably the key to better understand them. I even experiment myself now. I am trying Fulvic Acid (I think you can find it in seaweed). So far the root growth response is amazing. Best regards from France.
Great video with much needed reminders /information about our “ home grown “ orchid 🌿, 👍🏻😃. Always find something new to learn . Appreciate you sharing all your knowledge, tips and advice. Thank you ! 💐🦋😊
Hi Rick. Glad you are back. Love those orchid boxes. Which Jacks fertilizer you use could not quite understand. I grow orchids year round in south Florida attached to trees so I use a hose end sprayer plus have a lot of orchids (it’s an obsession). According to what u just stated in this video I fertilize quite heavy once a week. Doesn’t seem to hurt them but will try using less fertilizer. I use 1tsp cal mg, 1/8 superthrive, 1tbsp maxicrop and 1tsp 20/20/20 jacks per gallon at each feeding. I do water sun vandas twice daily and everything else every other day. It keeps me busy. Thank you. Keep well
.....lol... yes obsession.......If i was in S. Florida.......I would probably do the same thing....The Jacks 20-20-20 is more of a soil nutrient......but with your warm temps all the time I bet it does fine......keep up the great work.
@@rickl.orchids so typically do you use both of those Jack’s with Calmag and seaweed in your container of water & then once a month add a little Epsom to the water as well?
@@crystalclear7369 ......good question.....I use the calcium nitrate and the 5-12-26...at a 1:1 ratio...usally 80-100ppm of each......The 5-12-26 has 6.7% magnesium so I only add epsom salts if a plant shows signs of needing it......The kelp/seaweed I use often almost every feeding.......I back down on it in the fall, when they are not growing so strong......Calmag I only use when flushing, or after a good rain flushes the pots.....The calcium nitrate is 18% calcium so I dont mix calmag with it.....
I have used calcium/magnesium and have noticed a difference. What is the advantage of using calcium/nitrate instead? Thanks Rick for another great video.
.....a great question....CalMag and calcium nitrate are 2 different things.......CalMag is a calcium / magnesium supplement..........and calcium nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer that has calcium also.....I dont use them together.......If my plants are growing strong with lots of new shoots, canes, bulbs, etc......I will give them Calcium Nitrate, along with macro and micro nutrients.......If I'm flushing with water only I will add CalMag......that way they are always getting calcium.
Hi Rick. Thank you for another wonderful video. What I pay attention to is that you grow your orchids in clay pots or mounted, or in your beautiful boxes. I don’t see them in plastic pots. I thought well in nature they are not growing in plastic. I’ve been moving more of my orchids into clay pots. Could you cover this subject sometime ? Thank you and God bless .🙏🏻🥰
So great to have you back making videos again. I have so enjoyed your past videos and have watched most of them - some more than once. I have a repotting question - do you repot as soon as you get an orchid home or do you wait for new growth or a sign of new roots? And do you always repot a new plant straight into rock or do you transition it with a mix of rock with the type of media it has been growing in? Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos. I know you are helping a lot of people as I see your name often mentioned in orchid forums and by other RUclipsrs.
Thank you for the kind words....I dont wait.......I plant when I can....I dont transition them either, ....I haven't had any orchid not like being repotted in lava or stone, they all seem to take off with rapid growth soon after.......good question.
@@rickl.orchids Thanks so much. That has given me the courage to repot into lava rock right away. I have already done a couple of my old phals a couple of months ago and they seem to be adapting well.
@@sdetube .....Susan....the trick to using media like stone or lava rock is to let them sit and soak for 15-20 minutes.......the orchids get a good feed that way and well hydrated....have a great day.
Wise words on everything Rick, especially about Ca and its role overall. My focus changed heavily to Ca based on your passed videos - and (Yes), I did notice a difference. I have recently introduced (triple phosphate) to the mix. It seems to have prompted more than normal new growth (especially roots and new growth tips), but some research said to be careful of Ca uptake blocking from too high of both mixes (mainly phosphate and how it can block Ca intake). Happy mixing!
......thanks George.......I agree 100%.....to much phosphorous can block Ca absorbtion.....the 12% in my mix is almost to much.......I would prefer 1/2 that.....Being a 2 part mix,... it allows me some adjustment on the ratios of N. P. K...... ..Because orchids dont see much Phos. in the wild....I dont believe they have a good self regulation of it......like they do N or Ca.....If exposed to high Phos, they can absorb toxic amounts of it.......Use a mix that has low Phos for best results........With orchids...research has shown that N plays a bigger role in blooming than P......bloom fertilizers dont work on orchids.....
Hi Rick. Thank you so much for the very informative info, as usual! I have implemented calcium nitrate regularly into my watering routine with impressive results. I understand what you are saying, try to replicate Mother Nature. It works for you! Why do other growers, for example, fertilize at much higher value? Once again, you sound very well, wonderful! Take care of yourself and your camera lady.
.......thank you so much......Im not sure why others feed so high.....it could be the directions on most fertilizers say to use higher amounts.....but they want you to use it up and buy more....also there is alot of misinformation out there........I try and mimic mother nature......she is by far the best grower out there.
@@rickl.orchids NO We are... and should be... Thanking YOU You were the First One offering Honest info attainable for any Orchid lover ..... Trustable , to the point , and no nonsense ,...... Wish I found You Sooner ?!?!!!! Obliged , big Thank YOU 🌞😘 Well Wishes coming from Europe for You and Your Family 🌻🍀🌞😁👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I grow all my novelty phal all year around in house. I used haft lavar rock fill the bottom and haft x-larger bark fill haft top and feeding them twice a week, all the other day if it dry i will give a water only that way it may flush the media. All of them now in bloom. Thank you Mr Rick without you i may struggle some, because i was pick up some tip and learned something from you.
Hey Rick: I am so happy to see you back on here again. I live in south central Kentucky. I don’t at present have a way to collect rainwater. My tap water, from a County water system, typically runs about 150 to 170 ppm on my tds meter. I use cal mag, around 50 ppm, and better gro up to anout 230 total ppm. My plants seem to do ok. However I would really appreciate any recommendations you could give. Thanks
......Thank you, and a great question C.B.......your tap is just like mine.....runs about 165ppm......I dont use tap over 50ppm on my orchids.......you can, but over time they will struggle, and never grow to 100% of thier potential.....If you have a few orchids get a zero pitcher, and make a few gallons of pure water, if you have many orchids get a R/O filter and make a lot of pure water.... ...Here is why........I feed about 175-200ppm total to my orchids......I dont want to start out using 170ppm water that is mainly anti foaming agents, sodium, chlorine, etc.....and and then adding another 170ppm of fertilizer to it....its to much for orchid roots.....I use rainwater or R/O water because its around 2-4 ppm....very low pure water.....so it gives me room to add the fertilizer with out overwhelming the orchids.....Hope that makes sense.......you can use the tap water, I just wouldnt use it for the long term......you will notice a big difference in your orchids growth with good water......
I just found you last night & I’m so glad that I did! I’ve watched several of your videos now and love how you explain things. I have followed many Orchid RUclipsrs for years but I really think I learned more from watching a couple of yours than all the others put together! I started out with growing Phals over 42 years ago and for years followed the ice cube instructions, although none died they didn’t thrive either 😢 that’s when I started to learn more about them. For the past 25 years I branched out to different varieties of Orchids, hand carrying them back from visits to Florida back to SE Oklahoma. Our summers can run well over 100 degrees sometimes with long stretches of no rain. I try to collect rainwater but often don’t have any, I know some Orchids are sensitive to chemicals in tap water so for most I distilled, spring water or sometimes warm up filtered water from the refrigerator. I’m wondering what your thoughts are when rain water isn’t available? The other thing I was wondering about is that I use ground egg shells (not store bought) and let it soak in a bucket of water and use this periodically in my garden, would I be able to use that to soak my Orchids in as well? Thank you so much for making these videos & sharing your knowledge!
......what a great comment to start the day with.....thank you, and welcome to the channel, I love your orchid growing story.......Orchids do best with very pure water......I collect rainwater, and when that gets scarce, I use my R/O filter to make pure water........you can also use a Zero pitcher to make pure water.....Egg shells are great for adding some additional calcium to your plants.....but remember, the egg shells need to break down some, before the calcium they contain can be absorbed.......in soil that happens faster than with orchids......I give mine calmag, ... its a readily available and absorbable form of calcium.
@@rickl.orchids thank you for your welcome and response. I am ordering all the products you are using and will look into a R/O filter. Some of my orchids are in leca and some in a mix of bark, leca and sphagnum. My sister uses just Leca in Florida and swears by it but I’ve been hesitant to switch to just that on some of them. I did go out and buy some red lava rock which I am excited to try! Thank you again for sharing your knowledge 😊
Just love your videos which are so interesting. It's quite a revelation to realize that the media just 'holds the orchids up' 😎 We live in a condo now, so it's not easy to get the rain water. We've not had rain in Florida for ages 😮 It usually arrives when there is thunder & lightening and this is when my husband, poor guy, goes outside to stick a bucket under a drain to get nice, fresh rain water for my orchids 😊 One question; how do you buy the dry Calcium Nitrate you used and how does it differ from the liquid Calimagic?
thank you......your husband is a real trooper........to answer your question,....Calcium nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer.......and CalMag is a calcium supplement.....I use calcium nitrate when my orchids are growing strong with lots of new shoots, canes, leaves, bulbs, etc.......Calmag I add to my flushing water to make sure they always have calcium around them. Calcium nitrate is easily found on line and at some garden centers......hydroponic stores sell it as well........Remember to always add macro and micro nutrients to your mix if you add calcium nitrate.......or you can get tall spindly weak growths that have trouble standing on their own.
Rick - stop it!! Lol. You haven't confused me at all, and I know I speak for others. So just shush about that lol. We continue to learn loads from you in a way we can understand because you explain the "why" the "what" and the "how".
Would definitely recommend trying out fantasy flower fertilizer. Made in Colorado and has high calcium and mag. Have not tested the ppms on my solution but use it with every watering now. And growth and flowers have increased tremendously
thanks for the name......I tried to see/read labels but not much on the internet on it.....do you know what the calcium and Nitrogen #s are?.......always looking for good fertilizers to share with other growers.....
@@rickl.orchids it is a 13-3-9 with 8%Ca and 2%Mg. Going to start giving my plants more in depth showers as well from your videos as I believe you are 100% right with calcium and pets and natural rainfall and see how they react
@@ianbayus5185 .........thank you for the information......it looks to be a very good mix.....I like to match my calcium to my nitrogen.....so I would probably still use some calmag in my flushing water......but thats looks to be a very good fertilizer......My orchids just went thru 4 days of heavy rain.....and they look great, thick green and roots popping out all over......I have sprayed them with extra calmag due to being flushed so much......I dont ever have pest issues of any kind......I think you will have the same success....
Rick Hello!, so my seaweed is still full 😅 after a year and half of growing orchids i didnt know you can put seaweed everytime you water hahahha ok so i will put more seaweed now!!!! why am i so happy watching your vids??? 😅😅😅 it’s like listening to my father actually ❤❤❤
Hi Rick, is there a way to send you some photos? I was watching one of your videos on magnesium last night from 6 years ago and it made me think that my browning/yellowing leaves might be deficient in something. It’s the oncidium types and some of the novelty phals that have issues. If it’s not possible to send pics (or even if it is) maybe a video on diagnosing leaf issues. Thanks so much for doing these videos. I’m learning so much!
go to my channel heading.....where it has my channel description.....there is an email there.....or you can describe it to me.....Im sure we can fix your issues.......happy to assist.
....good question.....yes you can use calmag with tap water.....about 6-10 drops in a gallon (25-30ppm)...you can use more or less if you want..but if you use it all the time....thats plenty...Its important to know the TDS of you tap water if your going to use it....good question
Wonderful video. Again! I love how you also feed your plants often with not too much feed! But just keep feeding them, this approach works wonders for my plants too. I do have no building up salts in the pots at all. I did a lot of testing how much ppm the plants do leave behind in the reservoir after a week. The results were the start of my low feeding schedule. I love these tests, it’s like the plants telling us what they want!
@rickl.orchids I have a fair amount of plants given the space I have for them. Losing all of my phalaenopsis really set me back. But I don't think it was me. I think it was the cold snap, then the move. The newest root really helps my confidence. Now all that plant needs to do is bloom. Maybe after growing some more roots and maturing the three babies first. Mmm, maybe four... now that you've made me look, it looks like two babies are growing out of each node.
I must add, that what hinders pests in nature are predators. I grew in my previous place a garden that attracted critters that ate thrips, anything really that tried to munch my orchids. Additionally, I had companion plants that were much juicier. It’s a combination. Nature is a combination of different things and if it gets off balance, we have issues.
@@harrymyhero ......yes they do have drain hole in the bottom......they are azalea pots.....and come from Lowes or Home Depot......very common pots in any garden center...
I have another question. You measure the TDS after adding nutrients and then reach a final concentration that is right for your orchids. My question is what is the final TDS concentration range that you feel is correct to use? Thanks for your help.
.....a good question......it varies.....when they are outside growing strong and temperatures are high.....I feed 175-220ppm......when they are inside with cooler temps, and growth has slowed down.......100-135ppm.....and it varies with different orchids.....Frequency of feeding plays a part also....
You’ve mentioned folier feeding Dendrobiums. Do you cover this any videos or can you link to any articles??? Thank you and also huge thanks for your sharing of information in all your videos!!!
....Debbie......there are lots of studies on Dendrobiums......here is one where they mention it....."Nitrogen Sources and Its Uptake in Dendrobium Orchid by 15N Tracer Study"
It's good to have you back. I grow my phaleonopsis orcids in clay pots with orchiata bark. Some of my phals have outgrown their pots and there is nothing left but roots and a few pieces of bark. It would probably destroy the roots if I tried to move them to a larger pot. At a loss as to what to do. Can you help? Also, I just started using MSU fertilizer and my orchids look much greener and stronger.
Thank you.....MSU is a very good mix...... your orchids should love it.....If it was my pots with no media......Id leave them alone......it shows you did a great job feeding them and giving them good care......The media is only to anchor the plant till they grow roots and anchor themselves........after that you can dump the media out if you want......Remember, ...they grow on trees with no media .....or if you want something to hold some moisture then maybe add some pea gravel or lava rock....in the spaces among the roots....
I think my biggest takeaway from this video is the fact that I don't have to be precise in my PPM measurement. For instance, if I'm shooting for 80 PPM in CN, it's okay if it ends up being 83, 85, or 87 PPM. I think that's what was stressing me out. So, a big THANK YOU from Caro for pointing this out! A quick question: is it okay to use the leftover fertilizer mix in my garden? Is it too strong for plants growing in soil? Like tomatos?
......you guys are great......and you get what Im trying to say....you can be off 20-30ppm or more and your still fine......just dont get too carried away......also Yes......I take the left over solution and give it to my vegetables, and flowers....The tomatoes, peppers, my iris, lillies, hostas...and even my fig trees love it.....works great on bare spots on my lawn as well.....I sometimes will dilute it with more water before using.
@@rickl.orchids Wow I’m so glad that I asked. I won’t have to mix up separate fertilizer for my veggies anymore! How often would you recommend that I fertilize a pepper or tomato plant that’s growing in a container? We do get a lot of rain where I am this time of year so the nutrients are being washed out pretty frequently.
@@tobiesmom ....every other week while they are grwoing strong is more than enough.....everyones conditions are different....feed them.....watch them.....and go from there. Mine are 6' tall and loaded with tomatoes......so im backing it down a bit, since they are where I want them.
Hi Rick. Thank you for sharing your nutrient mix. I have been following your advice and my orchids have more new growth and thicker greener foliage than I ever had before so thank you! Did you make you shade house? What kind of wood did you use? Did you buy the plans somewhere? Would you be willing to share where you got the plans? Thank you and God Bless!
thanks Paula.....Im so happy your orchids are responding well for you. Yes I built the shade house.....its made of pine....not pressure treated....The idea and design I thought up in my head.....and sorry, I have no plans available... Its very simple to build......basically a shelf with lattice around it.
I had a question for were you grow in your state the question is do you leave your orchids outside at night time temperature at night I grow indoors until spring to summer outside but the temps are still a little cool at night out temps are running 58 to 62 roughly but I know on some orchids the cells start dying around 50 to 55 degrees I need the temperature around 70 then I know they will be safe to leave them outside.
.....great question James......Im in mid Alabama, just south of Birmingham......usually our night temps rise above 60* in first or second week of May......thats when I put mine outside.....usually around first week of October we get below 60* and I bring them inside for winter.....
Hello from the Huntsville area. Many many thanks for your informative videos. I am fairly new to orchids, so please forgive my elementary questions. (1) Currently I am using 1/2 t CalMag per gallon of water at each feeding with a clear water flush every 4th watering. After listening to this video (twice) I am wondering if I need to back off on CalMag and use Calcium Nitrate instead. (I am near the end of my huge Calmag bottle so now is the time to switch.) I grow indoors under grow lights - mostly Cattleyas. (2) A few of my Cattleyas have twisted growths. One of your videos mentioned what to do for that. (I cannot find the vid, so please let me know what I need to do.) Thanks millions & millions!
.....great questions Mel....Remember Calmag is a calcium supplement.....and Calcium Nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer....very different uses for each one......Your flushing schedule is great, add 10-12 drops per gallon of calmag to your flushing water....to keep your orchids growing strong, pest resistant, and prevent any dieback issues. Calcium Nitrate is usually 15% Nitrogen and 18% calcium.....so you dont need to add any calcium or calmag to it.....But it is super important to add all the other micro and macro nutirents along with it or you can get tall, weak, spindley growths that wont stand up on thier own...Dont use Calcium Nitrate by itself.....it can damage your plants. ....Twisted growths can be from several things, calcium has a big influence on that.......are the twisted growths older, or is it happening on newer growths?.....are the older growths lighter in color than then newer growths....if so it can also be magnesium.....check your fertilizer label and see what % it has in it.
Aha moment. I've been fertilizing on a regular schedule this spring and the leaves on my new catts have all come up black. It will be interesting to see how the addition of the CalMag will do. I hope the plants survive me. 😅
.....so sorry to hear Betty.....new shoot die back is common if they dont have enough calcium around them......its mother nature way of keeping them strong and resitant.......let me know if I can help in any way.
Thank you so much for such great information. I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to have found your channel. Your philosophy on water in the crown and pests has blown my mind😂. I gather you also don’t worry about sharing water between your orchids, ie spreading any issues. I guess because you don’t get any issues. I tried collecting rain water and found it to be quite dirty with little particles in it. Is that an issue? Should those particles be filtered out? Thanks for all your patience in answering my multitude of question!
your welcome....and I love your questions.....my rain water comes off my roof with the same bits and pieces......lots of trees near my house.....I use a small pet store fish net with fine mesh to pull it out......works great. as for sharing water.....thats a great question too....in my media it isnt as much of an issue.....also, and more importantly... with my feeding style, I think it keeps the plants strong and resistant to those issues......all growers need to be observant and cautious, but if you choose your plants carefully, feed them correctly, give them planty of calcium, ......those issues never appear..... .......is sad that every so often someone says the fusarium word.....and for weeks Utube growers suddenly have a wave of fusarium infections.....with all the cutting of roots, and canes showing purple rings....certain nutrients which are absorbed by the plants will show up in the tissue as purple discoloration.....Fusarium is a common fungi thats all around us.....it only attacks a plant when it is weakened....
@@rickl.orchids you have certainly started me thinking in a different direction and I’m really loving it. I’ve ordered my first bag of lava rock. Do you have a suggestion on which variety of orchid to start with? I have phals, cattleyas, oncidiums to choose from. My phals are in growth and my cattleyas are really doing well. Lots of new growths. For some reason, I have the most issues with the oncidiums.
@@LizE2654 .......Ive grow all of those in lava rock with very good success.....If your starting out.......get an inexpensive phal from the store and see how it does......Im sure you will do fine......The oncidiums I have grown.....loved lava rock as well as pea gravel.......remember the media is just to hold the plant in the pot......once it grows roots and anchors itself.... you could dump the media out even.....
Hi Rick! Lynn from Tuscaloosa. So, you’re not using MagSulfate with your mix like you used to? And, do you still use the dolomitic lime as a top dressing every 4-6 weeks? Love hearing you sounding so strong, to God be the Glory! Thanks for another great video. Tell Jan ‘Hi!’ from an old RN - I worked in the cardiac field for 50 yrs! Now retired and bored, except for my orchids.
Thanks Lynn, 50 yrs.....wow.....I love nurses!....and will pass it on to Jan....and yes God is great.....his hands have been on me for a while.....to answer, Im not using any additional magnesium sulfate at the moment....The Jacks mix has 6.3% magnesium and the calmag has 1.2%.....total of 7.5% magnesium.......which is fine. If I had a plant showing some signs of a magnesium deficiency I would had some extra.
So great to see you back!!! I was rewatching an older video and wanted to look for more on nutrition and was very pleasantly surprised to see this relatively new one! Thank you. Question for you. I stopped watering this way due to fear of virus, I did have an issue with a plant I brought in. Do you think sharing water like that is safe, or have you tested your orchids, or is something you just don't worry about?
....Thank you for watching....thats a reasonable question......Im not saying I dont concern myself with virus's.......but....I feed my orchids properly, and they get lots of calcium, micro, and macro nutrients,.... they are strong and growing well Roots are filling the pots, new canes, leaves, bulbs and spikes growing from them all... ..Fusarium is a fungi, its very common,..and is all around us, its in our lawns, gardens, on trees, in soil,..etc....it mainly attacks sick or weak plants.....In all my time growing orchids.....Ive never had a fusarium or any virus issue....not once ...Your correct being careful....Every grower should be observant, take caution, and if you have a sick looking plant...keep it away from your collection till you feel safe its ok....Any time I see another orchid grower cutting a plant open to look for a red or purple ring claiming fusarium....I look at the rest of thier collection... .....Do they have good roots on thier orchids, do they flush thier pots well, do they provide enough calcium...is the media broken down, are they feeding them correctly, do their plants look well taken care of?.....usually its no to most of those things. Also, many nutrients, such as seaweed/ kelp products will discolor tissue and give the same ring as fusarium.......true virus infections are much more rare than many think........sorry for the long answer.......but a great question and concern!
@@rickl.orchids Thank you, Rick! I admit I was hoping you'd say it can't transmit that way, as I was more successful when I watered that way, but with a known problem likely not fully rooted out of my collection, I guess I'm sticking to one at a time for now. It's a shame, it wastes a ton of fertilizer and is a lot more work. If all of mine looked as good as your, I might worry so much. Robust plants can fight things off so much easier. I'm still learning though, so maybe someday it'll be less of a concern. Thank you for all the time you spend teaching, it's incredibly helpful and you're a big part of why I continue to improve.
What a great video! Just what I was looking for. I live in Florida, and I'm planning to repot all my orchids in lava rocks. After seeing your video, im definitely going to do it. Do you recommend adding charcoal? Thank you 🌸
thank you and thats a good question......I dont use charcoal, .......lava rock on its own, or sometimes I may add some other stones, or cedar /cypress pieces. Charcoal acts like a filter absorbing excess nutrients, and other things, which is good......but it can also, hold on to those excess nutrients, etc, and build up toxic levels.....If you use it, flush often....
.....if you let them sit and soak.....then you will see moisture or a darker color on the clay pot.....even after several days I can still see it...once it disapears then i give them a few days of dry.....then I repeat the process.....with lava rock you should be able to see the roots thru the openings in the rock....green roots are hydrated and fine.......once they turn grey, time to water again.
I love listening to you and learning from you , you are truly one of a kind! so heres my problem at the moment.I have a huge mostly cattleya collection in a greenhouse and after 15 years of growing I have a bush snail issue thats become bad enough to be concerned about. do you have bush snail issues, i mean all orchid growers do just wondering if you had any advice for these. they are the worst orchid pest that exists. I want to use metaldehyde granules as this is a sure kill but am concerned about safety and safety of the plants . I keep hearing this type of snail doesnt care for snail bait so that isnt very effective.
.....thank you.....im not sure if I can answer the snail question.....the only snail issue Ive had was when I purchased orchids from a vendor in Hawaii.....after repotting them it went away....I think a spray vs granules would be better for coverage....and keeping them away.... ......I love the Jacks 20-20-20.......and I use it in my garden currently.....due to it being a soil type fertilizer......it has zero calcium....because..calcium is plentiful in soil.....but with orchids, which dont grow in soil.... you will definetly need to add some form of calcium.......calmag is fine....add it to your nutrient mix and also your flushing water. ... ..another suggestion would be....sprinkle some dolomitic lime around your pots.......it will give them a slow release form of calcium as well....
......another great question.......I dont ever repot....I only up pot....when they outgrow the container.......you can do it several ways.......just place the pot into a bigger pot and place more lava around it.....they will gow into the new pot......and I sometimes tap the old pot with a hammer....it will break, and what drops off.....drops off.....then I place the plant, roots and what media its holding onto in the new pot.......hope that makes sense.....it never breaks down....so never a need to remove its roots from the lava .........its one of the reasons I love growing in it....
Hi Rick, thanks for another great video. Let me tell you that what you say has never been confusing to me. Always crystal clear. BTW, my usual fertilizer already has calcium nitrate in it and what I have been doing is supplement calcium nitrate on its own once and a while. What I want to ask you if it is ok to add some more calcium to my usual fertilizer without messing up the balance of nutrients. Thank you so much 💖💖💖💖
.....thank you my friend......adding extra calcium isnt ever an issue.....and ...it shouldnt cause any problems.......it is important to make sure if your adding addition calcium nitrate,... you need to add additional macro and micro nutrients as well.......or you can get tall, spindly weak growths.....that have trouble standing up on thier own.
Could you share which of the Jack's fertilizer and the other one in tub your using . Repotted nadosa in River Rock. Had to rethink securing a portable shelf in between speaker shelves to accommodate my plant collection inside in front of window with dappled light.
........they are both Jacks products.....thier Calcium Nitrate 15-0-0....and thier 15-12-26 fertilizer.....usually used together, ....the 2 part mix is to allow you to adjust your nitrogen.....thanks Shirley
The only difference with media is the frequency of watering and in your case it's more labor intensive because it takes 20 minutes per plant (it would take me 60 hours to water mine that way 🤣Also ! your outside conditions are more humid then other places (deep South versus Holland) I'm still at once a week because my humidity is tropically high (85 %) come summer it still won't be more then twice a week, even with indoor temps of 35 degrees C
.......I understand what you are saying.......usually I will fill several containers.....then I can soak 10-12 or more at a time........also I dont need to sit with them while they are soaking.......I can do other things......for my mounts.......nothing better than to soak them.......If I was your neighbor......or lived up north in a colder climate........I would still grow this way......
....good question.....I add maybe a pinch...30ppm of epson salts once a month.....The Jacks I use has 6.3% magnesium already.....so I dont need to add much or very often.
The only thing I am still confused about has nothing to do with you, and that is the role of PH when fertilizing. I don't see you adjust for that and wonder if it's not necessary. Thanks for all the great info!
......Carolyn, thats a great question.....ph is important for absorbing nutrients...some nutrients are absorbed at different ph ranges....".but."...once you know the ph of your water there isnt any real need to continue to check it.... ..some people have tap water that has a very high ph and it keeps nutrients from being absorbed...and some have very low ph well water......even rain water can be acidic if its from industrial areas.......or very alkaline like in south florida.... .Knowing the ph is important in growing any plants....in your garden, your lawn and your orchids......my rainwater is around 6.8-7.0 ph.....and after I add nutrients it drops to 5.6-6.3ph.....which is almost perfect for orchids.... Most nutrient mixes are designed to lower the ph to put it in the proper range for absorbtion....if your orchids are struggling and your feeding them correctly...ph is something that should be checked......I hope I havent confused or made things worse....please ask more questions if I can help....
@@rickl.orchids Thanks so much for responding! You haven't confused me. My water on the western gulf of Florida is quite alkaline (10.2). Once I add nutrients it is in the 8 range. Is adding a touch of vinegar a bad way to go to acidify it? Just a few drops at a time till I get to the 6 range.
@@carolynrose5795 ....10.2....thats very hard water....have you checked the ppm of that water?.....ph and water hardeness are 2 seperate things.....to answer you yes... you can use vinegar to drop the ph.....use white instead of apple cider vinegar..... ......water hardeness is usually from chlorine, fluoride or sodium present in the water .....you may want to consider switching water sources or possibly buying a water filter...like a zero pitcher or a R/O filter set up....if you have a lot of orchids get a R/O system....they are not expensive and they produce very good water....if you have only a few orchids a Zero pitcher may be better.. ...I take my R/O filter outside and I can fill a 40gallon Brute Trash can, from my hose... in a few hours with water that is 2-5 ppm....and around 7.0ph....from my tap water that runs 165ppm at 7.8ph......I hope that helps you.....these are great questions!......please let me know if I can further assist.........Rick L.
......a great question.....I use dolomitic lime on mine......they seem to respond well to it......oyster shell I have never used but always wanted to try it......sprinkle it on a few and watch them for a few months.......I bet it works great for giving them additional calcium........please let me know how they respond.......
Generally I'm finding the soaking very successful, but I have lost a couple of orchids to rot. Procatavola Golden peacock and a psychopsis. I'm wondering if the soaking is more problematic for me in South Florida where the humidity this time of year is ranging from 50 to 80%. Also do you have any qualms about sharing water and therefore sharing disease? I know a lot of orchid growers consider sharing water a major sin.
.thats a great question....Im not sure what media you use...in bark or moss could be....but...in my media it isnt as much of an issue.....also, and more importantly... with my feeding style, I think it keeps the plants strong and resistant to those issues......all growers need to be observant and cautious, but if you choose your plants carefully, feed them correctly, give them planty of calcium, ......those issues never appear..... .......is sad that every so often someone says the "fusarium" word.....and for weeks Utube growers suddenly have a wave of fusarium infections.....with all the cutting of roots, and canes showing purple rings.....Fusarium is a common fungi thats all around us.....it only attacks a plant when it is weakened....I also dont sterilize my tools.......never an issue. Orchids are very strong hardy resistant plants.......
@rickl.orchids I've put most of my orchids in lava rock this past month. Maybe I'm getting rot from orchids weak from my previous mistakes in care. Trying to figure orchids out is certainly a fascinating adventure in plant care. Considering how many orchid experts insist on sterilizing everything and not sharing water, the obvious health of your plants show us how well your methods work.
@@invzbldog Anita, Im so sorry your orchids have been struggling....I'd love to assist you....I talk about calcium all the time....I push calcium over and over with my talks.......how many of those other orchid growers have you heard mention calcium?.....my point is,....if you feed them correctly and make sure they have plenty of calcium around them.....those issues dont seem to occur..... In the wild, every time it would rain....orchids would have calcium dripped on them, the trees they grow on have calcium on thier bark, they never are with out calcium around them.....It makes them strong, it makes thier leaves thick, and pest resitant, it makes thier roots grow fast and thick....and thier growths cant grow correctly with out calcium....You can give them lots of nutrients ....but with out calcium they struggle......Most root rot / loss issues are calcium related...or from to much nutrients without flushing them.....If I can answer any questions for you , please dont hesitate to ask.....Rick
.....Naomi, thats a good question......I love the Jacks Nutrients......and Ive used them for years....but.....MSU, First Rays, Better Grow Orchid Food, General Hydroponics nutrients, are also very good......my point is there are many very good nutrients available........its more about understanding the nutrients and how your orchids use them vs using a specific brand.. ....feed small amounts often ....flush them often, and give them good light and warmth.....and they will grow and bloom well for you.
.....good question....pumice isnt easily available here...or cheap......lava rock is, ...and the sharp edges dont matter to orchid roots, but it does allow them to lock together in the pots and provide a good anchor......the lave absorbs some moisture, cause mine stays damp for several days even at high temps.
@@rickl.orchids : yes, pumice is not cheap, but is available here. we have loads of lava rock (scoria) but just about all is landscaping grade, not that nice.
Hey Rick, What do you think of using organic fertilizer like Neptune's Harvest on Phalaenopsis orchids? Are the NPK numbers too low? Neptune's Harvest is 2-6-4. Thank you.
I have heard good things abut that fertilizer, from some friends that garden....but have never used thier products myself....Its more of a soil fertilizer that needs some microbial action to break nutrients down for the plants to absorb.......You could use it on orchids, but you may not get the results your hoping for.....Orchids roots are more hydropnic in thier feeding......Also keep in mind organic nutrients added to natural media, like moss, bark, coco, etc.....will hasten the decay time , and can build up.
@@ROlson-dx2jc ....it is a gentle type of nutirent....just more soil based.....One big thing that stuck out was the middle #....the P%......if you look at orchid fertilizers most of them have very little P%.....
@rickl.orchids Noted, the Neptune's Harvest is made for the flowering phase of roses. Since Phalaenopsis Orchids are non- terrestrial it makes sense that Phosphorus is not required in very high amounts. I so appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions .
Dear rick im from Greece and i wanna thank you for your useful advices .i have a question ...i use lava rock too but i have it in glass vase without holes and i wonder if its better to leave 2cm water down like semi hydro or if its better to full water for 15 minutes and drop it out? Pls thx and waiting u thought's
Thank you my friend....a very good question....Im not a fan of leaving any roots in water all the time.....they need a dry cycle between waterings.....Better to soak them, ..the lava rock and roots, will stay damp for several days, then allow them a few days of dry time....and then water again.......Air flow around the roots is also important...
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I hope that you know that SO many people are so happy to hear your voice as you share your knowledge and your joy of growing orchids.
thank you Tess.......means a lot.
I just wanted to say, I tried to figure out fertilizing my orchids before and was always confused and intimidated with what I learned. It wasn’t intill I found your channel that I finally understood nutrients for my orchids. Also, I grew up collecting rocks. Growing orchids is new to me and when I found out I could grow them in rock, I was hooked. You are an invaluable source of information, breaking it down and explaining it in a way many more people can understand. Thank you for all your videos.
......thank you so much.....I struggled when I started growing orchids, and found it easier to put things into simpler terms.
Oh my goodness Rick, you made several comments that you have confused people with ur talks on fertilizing & it’s just the OPPOSITE!
You are very clear in ur explanations & easy to understand. I could watch these videos over & over & still find a good piece of information that I might have missed prior.
So thank you, thank you for going over fertilizing again.
It’s just wonderful to have you back.
I truly appreciate all ur videos.
God bless you & Jan.
.....thank you so much Georgia......means alot.
What an informative video! As someone said, rewatching Rick’s videos is always productive. We, as watchers might not fully understand the technical side of things, Rick most definitely puts things in plain English. Thanks Rick!
I mistreated my plants last winter, had to trash quite a few. Started following Rick’s advice, moved everything over to river rock and lava rock, also started his feeding regimen. Well, my plants took off! After about a month while cleaning up my plant room I found four cattleyas I had thrown away. They were still green, no roots but I potted them up anyway. After about a month, using Rick’s recipe those plants now have at least 3 shoots and roots.
.........such a big smile you gave me......love hearing of your success!
Hello from Nova Scotia. Really great information for newbies like me.❤
Thank you,,,,
So WONDERFUL to hear your voice.🥰
thank you
Yes
Hi Rick, thank you for this great information, I love learning about orchids and how they grow and what the nutrients do for them. I fertilize with CalMag and Seaweed along with my fertilizer every time I water. I recently found seaweed in power form that I can make up as I need it and not have to worry about the liquid losing its strength before I use it up and I don't have to keep it in the fridge!! Looking forward to your next video, take good care and God Bless.
......Thanks Wanda.....thats a great idea .....that I will share with the viewers.
@@wandashaw3551 where did you find seaweed in powder form if you don’t mind me asking?
Thanks so much for the video, Rick...excellent information as always. So glad you're growing orchids again...your enthusiasm for them makes me smile. Sending blessings your way! 😇
Thank you Amy......have a very blessed day my friend.
Oh yeah, and I love the thumbnail pic!!🫶
And I can listen to this discussion over and over. We are in the desert of NM now so I can't leave most plants outside anymore, but gosh Rick, I'm always amazed at your grow operation, how vigorous and healthy your plants do in your care. Its fun to see!
......thank you my friend......
Another absolutely fantastic video Rick with all the information one needs to be positive that they are growing their orchids in the correct way. How would you
deal with your orchids in the weather I get in the NW of England where we have at least 9 months of poor climate. In the remaining three months we are lucky to get a week when the temps are above 20c......or would you continue the way you are doing with less watering because of the difference in climate.
Ed.
I ask this not only for the benefit of me but for all the newish growers......thanks Rick,
Ed.
Thank you Ed....I hope your hand is healing well after surgery....thats a great question......and thats a very rough climate. ..obviously outdoor growing isnt possiple......In the past, Ive grown indoors in warehouse sized grow rooms, and outdoors in greenhouses and poly tunnels...commercially and for my self ...with very large hydroponic set ups, and soil beds also...., supplemental heat and light would be about the best way to provide what the plants would need.
....Ive used LED, Flourescent, and my preferred....metal halide / high pressure sodium, lighting for many years, .......my suggestion would be get a proper heater, and some very good lighting. We cant change mother nature, but we can mimic it with additional heat and light.......If you remember, I built an indoor orchid room a few years back, with my previous collection.......they grew wonderfully. Heal quickly my friend.....Rick
@@rickl.orchids Thanks Rick ....I hope many new growers will read your reply.....take care,
Ed.
Hey Brother 👋 Awesome! I saw it pop up and i stopped what i was doing! When my brother talks nutrients nothing else matters! 😂 i must admit as my count of orchids go up, it gets harder nad harder to flush and spray the plants. I need to get back to doing it more frequently. Do sections at a time so eventually it all gets done. That would probably be best way to tackle it. Your so lucky that mother nature rains on yours! 😊 Hope your having a wonderful evening you and Jan. Big hugs from West Virginia 🤗 🌹🩷💚
thanks Sis.....hope your feeling better.......
Guess what I'm doing? Im repotting 2 of my orchids in lava rock. They are already in pebbles and a little bark. I got them 2 years ago as seedlings. I can't wait to add lava rock and charcoal to my orchid mix. Mr. Rick, you are my go to for growing orchids. I was so happy to see a new post. I stopped what i was doing to watch.
.......thank you for the very kind words......charcoal is a great addition to your media mix, whether its lava rock, bark or moss....
How much charcoal is best to be added to the lava rock/river rock or pebbles?
@@beanoto2879 ......some growers grow in charcoal by itself....big pieces and small pieces.....you can add as much as you want.....its great stuff......it resists rot, it keep other medias from breaking down quickly, and it will save weight when mixed with lava....
Rick, Thank you again for the great information. You reinforced my fertilization methods. I use MSU with CalMag and kelp every time I water. I also soak my orchids, because of how dry it is here.
Outdoor conditions in the high desert of New Mexico are horrible. We have very low humidity (8% right now), almost no rain, very high UV, no trees, and very high winds most of the year.
Therefore, I grow inside and run a humidifier 24/7, but I'm rarely ever able to reach 40% humidity. I use a lot of self watering pots with leca, lava, and pumice. I don't seem to have any problems with them, but I have only grown orchids for about 4 years.
I currently have 76 orchids from Angraecum to Zygopabstia. A few are rescues that have been handed off to me. I would be so very grateful for any tips you are willing to offer.
Bless you,
Sherrii
......Sherrii......thank you very much......I love to answer questions here, and its the best way to learn.........Feed your orchids small amounts often, ....make sure they get plenty of calcium.....flush them often, ....give them warmth and light and they will grow like jungle plants for you.......it sounds like your doing fine.
Do you add supplemental cal/mag like CaliMagic in addition to the MSU?
@ROlson-dx2jc Yes, I add CalMag in addition to the MSU fertilizer. I use the General Hydroponics brand.
😊 Thank you again for the refresher course. I believe we all need this and thank you for those kind words you gave me on the cattleya I gave Amy on her channel. Brought a tear to my eye coming from you. I'm the one growing orchids in the desert of Arizona 🎋 🌵 Blessings dear friend. 😇
thanks Sharon......blessings to you also.
Rick, you are an invaluable source of information! It’s wonderful having you back.❤
......thank you so much for the kind words.
Ahhh yes! The rain … how I wish I had more of it during times of the year when it’s warm enough. It happens so rarely that my orchids can be outside when it rains, that, on those rare occasions, I have to do a video about it! 😅 appreciate your time, Rick! Thank you 🫶🏼 have a lovely rest of your evening and a beautiful day with your lovely camera lady ❤
thank you
Im down to 220 ppm or so except the Catasetum types which are 550 ppm ....all nutrients combined.
Ill cut in half in a couple of weeks.
Three Catasetum types i bought from Equagenera in the spring are just out of dormancy. Shortly ill feed thpse at 500 ppm
Im feeding about every 4- 5 days...
Thanks Rick.. im using Peters Excel cal mag special with black iron.
.......excellent Richard.......I havent used that mix......keep me informed as to how they grow for you.....
Hi, Rick! You never caused confusion. On the contrary, your videos are very informative and helpful, and I am very thankful.
God bless you and your wife!
such kind words.......thank you
Just found your channel. Great information. I've been growing orchids for years but have never heard someone talk about tds or mobile and immobile nutrients. I've got a lot to learn. Thanks Rick.
......Thank you and welcome John......TDS /PPM is a easy accurate way of feeding your orchids........and understanding Mobile and Immobile nutrients.....helps us diagnose nutritional issues and help the plants grow........and not just your orchids.......all plants, house plants, vegetables, etc.
Great video, thank you! So much info out there, especially regarding Phals, that’s incorrect. I’ve tried bark mix and water culture in the past with no luck and became very frustrated.
I’ve switched to lava rock after watching your videos and my plants are so happy. New roots, new leafs, and gorgeous blooms. Love your videos and the info you provide; very clear and concise.
......thank you......I love hearing of your success.....
Hi Rick. Thank you so much. You explain everything so clearly!! Have a wonderful day😊
thank you
Thank you Rick for always giving great and important informaton, be blessed. 👏👏👏❤️🌞🌷🌸
aww.....blessings returned.....thank you
Great talk, Rick. Thanks. I don't think you confuse us at all. You only make us think. You offer great food for thought! I wonder what plant symptoms/characteristics lead you to use calcium nitrate vs. cal-mag? Maybe the nitrate during the active growing period? Or does the Jacks have a decent amount of magnesium, so you opt for the nitrate... Maybe you can address that in your next video. Enjoy your week.
Interested also.
..Thanks my friend..a great question....CalMag and calcium nitrate are 2 different things.......CalMag is a calcium / magnesium supplement..........and calcium nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer that has calcium also.....I dont use them together.......If my plants are growing strong with lots of new shoots, canes, bulbs, etc......I will give them Calcium Nitrate, along with macro and micro nutrients.......If I'm flushing with water only I will add CalMag......that way they are always getting calcium.
@@rickl.orchids Thanks, Rick. I appreciate the reply. I have both, but haven't used the CN for a couple years. I forgot about it. I'll have to use it instead of the CM next time. Calcium is going to be my best friend this year!
@@zazelda .....thanks Amy.....your orchids will love it.....remeber to use CN in small amounts....and use a good fertilizer that has micro and macro nutrients as well......or you can get some tall weak spindly growths that have trouble standing up.
Great information RickL. I learned about lava rocks with your channel. "An orchid that moves is an orchid that dies" (Una orquidea que se mueve, orquidea que se muere") This is a Spanish saying for orchids to be well grounded and not move. I feed differently sometimes as you say, a little more one week and a little less the next. Be blessed and enjoy your day.
YES !!! Let's talk nutrients ! I love it ! Thanks Rick !
Yes!.....thank you
I never knew this about seaweed. Thank you for your patience.
my pleasure.....thank you
Rick is at it again - what a pleasure to watch & hear you (even the same stuff over & over) 😊 i am also moving gradually to lava rock. Your holed wooden baskets are a great idea!
thanks.....a refresher is sometimes helpful......lots of new viewers too.
@@rickl.orchids so glad to have you back 😊😇
The way you explained the nutrition and care of orchids was fantastic. I know you have always pointed to how they grow in the wild but many people here in UK will advise doing all the things that couldn’t possibly happen in the wild. I thank you so much for the clarity of your information & im so pleased you are still able to make these videos. I know that your health brings challenges you could do without but when you can, please know your knowledge & experience is invaluable to us. Wishing you all the best. ❤️💫⭐️💜✨
your words touch my heart and are the main reason I wanted to come back and do more videos......thank you so much.
Your explanation and step by step fertilizing not only saved my orchids, but I got them blooming in no time! Thank you! Keep posting your videos! And you are right about media for orchids! It makes sense the way you put it !
thank you so much.....
Valuable information as always Rick. I've also begun soaking my orchids nowadays. And thanks to you began experimenting with lava rock. I'll let you know how it goes. .. Never loose that smile . It really suits you 😊. Have a great day!
aww.....very kind thank you.
I love the way you make your videos about orchids. You make it so educational and interesting. Thank you for sharing and explaining in how to grow your own orchids. Like always you have beautiful healthy orchids.
........such kind words......thank you so very much.
Hey Rick, I already wrote a similar comment but again. You taught me so much about orchids for the past 3 years. My collection is constantly growing and blooming following your advices. I will even try lava rocks in the coming days.
Your explanations have always been clear to me. Thanks to you, I understand better how plants grow in general. "ask yourself how orchids feed in nature" was probably the key to better understand them.
I even experiment myself now. I am trying Fulvic Acid (I think you can find it in seaweed). So far the root growth response is amazing.
Best regards from France.
.......thank you and I love hearing about your success......
Wish I have a raised bed like that. I will not have a problem growing my squash for sure. Heheheh. Thanks Rick for the tips. 🤗
thanks Leah........my back loves those raised beds.....
A great review of everything! You are genius! Thank you. You’re looking and sounding great! We are so lucky to have you back.
.....thank you my friend.
Thank you for the nutrition recipe. Im willing to tweek mine a little. 😊
Great video with much needed reminders /information about our “ home grown “ orchid 🌿, 👍🏻😃. Always find something new to learn . Appreciate you sharing all your knowledge, tips and advice. Thank you ! 💐🦋😊
thank you.......
Looking good Rick.
thanks Richard...have a great day!
Rick, thank you for sharing the informative video! May God bless you. Ralf
......thank you
Hi Rick. Glad you are back. Love those orchid boxes. Which Jacks fertilizer you use could not quite understand. I grow orchids year round in south Florida attached to trees so I use a hose end sprayer plus have a lot of orchids (it’s an obsession). According to what u just stated in this video I fertilize quite heavy once a week. Doesn’t seem to hurt them but will try using less fertilizer. I use 1tsp cal mg, 1/8 superthrive, 1tbsp maxicrop and 1tsp 20/20/20 jacks per gallon at each feeding. I do water sun vandas twice daily and everything else every other day. It keeps me busy. Thank you. Keep well
.....lol... yes obsession.......If i was in S. Florida.......I would probably do the same thing....The Jacks 20-20-20 is more of a soil nutrient......but with your warm temps all the time I bet it does fine......keep up the great work.
Hi Rick which is the Jacks fertilizer u use. I could not make out what u said. Thanks
@@AnaEiseman ......The Jacks I use is Calcium nitrate 15-0-0....and the 5-12-26 macro / micro mix......
@@rickl.orchids so typically do you use both of those Jack’s with Calmag and seaweed in your container of water & then once a month add a little Epsom to the water as well?
@@crystalclear7369 ......good question.....I use the calcium nitrate and the 5-12-26...at a 1:1 ratio...usally 80-100ppm of each......The 5-12-26 has 6.7% magnesium so I only add epsom salts if a plant shows signs of needing it......The kelp/seaweed I use often almost every feeding.......I back down on it in the fall, when they are not growing so strong......Calmag I only use when flushing, or after a good rain flushes the pots.....The calcium nitrate is 18% calcium so I dont mix calmag with it.....
I have used calcium/magnesium and have noticed a difference. What is the advantage of using calcium/nitrate instead? Thanks Rick for another great video.
.....a great question....CalMag and calcium nitrate are 2 different things.......CalMag is a calcium / magnesium supplement..........and calcium nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer that has calcium also.....I dont use them together.......If my plants are growing strong with lots of new shoots, canes, bulbs, etc......I will give them Calcium Nitrate, along with macro and micro nutrients.......If I'm flushing with water only I will add CalMag......that way they are always getting calcium.
I’m so happy to see you doing this, I personally think this is a great way to fertilize. Thanks Rick.
thank you......they love a good soak and a feed......makes them grow like crazy.
Hi Rick. Thank you for another wonderful video. What I pay attention to is that you grow your orchids in clay pots or mounted, or in your beautiful boxes. I don’t see them in plastic pots. I thought well in nature they are not growing in plastic. I’ve been moving more of my orchids into clay pots. Could you cover this subject sometime ? Thank you and God bless .🙏🏻🥰
.....thanks Shirley.....thats a great topic for a chat.
So great to have you back making videos again. I have so enjoyed your past videos and have watched most of them - some more than once. I have a repotting question - do you repot as soon as you get an orchid home or do you wait for new growth or a sign of new roots? And do you always repot a new plant straight into rock or do you transition it with a mix of rock with the type of media it has been growing in? Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos. I know you are helping a lot of people as I see your name often mentioned in orchid forums and by other RUclipsrs.
Thank you for the kind words....I dont wait.......I plant when I can....I dont transition them either, ....I haven't had any orchid not like being repotted in lava or stone, they all seem to take off with rapid growth soon after.......good question.
@@rickl.orchids Thanks so much. That has given me the courage to repot into lava rock right away. I have already done a couple of my old phals a couple of months ago and they seem to be adapting well.
@@sdetube .....Susan....the trick to using media like stone or lava rock is to let them sit and soak for 15-20 minutes.......the orchids get a good feed that way and well hydrated....have a great day.
Wise words on everything Rick, especially about Ca and its role overall. My focus changed heavily to Ca based on your passed videos - and (Yes), I did notice a difference. I have recently introduced (triple phosphate) to the mix. It seems to have prompted more than normal new growth (especially roots and new growth tips), but some research said to be careful of Ca uptake blocking from too high of both mixes (mainly phosphate and how it can block Ca intake). Happy mixing!
......thanks George.......I agree 100%.....to much phosphorous can block Ca absorbtion.....the 12% in my mix is almost to much.......I would prefer 1/2 that.....Being a 2 part mix,... it allows me some adjustment on the ratios of N. P. K......
..Because orchids dont see much Phos. in the wild....I dont believe they have a good self regulation of it......like they do N or Ca.....If exposed to high Phos, they can absorb toxic amounts of it.......Use a mix that has low Phos for best results........With orchids...research has shown that N plays a bigger role in blooming than P......bloom fertilizers dont work on orchids.....
Is so nice to see you so healthy!!! Thank you for all your knowledge
thank you......
Hi Rick. Thank you so much for the very informative info, as usual! I have implemented calcium nitrate regularly into my watering routine with impressive results. I understand what you are saying, try to replicate Mother Nature. It works for you! Why do other growers, for example, fertilize at much higher value?
Once again, you sound very well, wonderful! Take care of yourself and your camera lady.
.......thank you so much......Im not sure why others feed so high.....it could be the directions on most fertilizers say to use higher amounts.....but they want you to use it up and buy more....also there is alot of misinformation out there........I try and mimic mother nature......she is by far the best grower out there.
Thank You for Sharing!!!
Good stuff❗❗❗
Happy You're Back🙌🙌😁💨🍀💨☀️🙋
thank you...
@@rickl.orchids NO
We are...
and should be...
Thanking
YOU
You were the First One
offering Honest info attainable for any Orchid lover .....
Trustable , to the point , and no nonsense ,......
Wish I found You Sooner ?!?!!!!
Obliged , big Thank YOU 🌞😘
Well Wishes coming from Europe
for You and Your Family 🌻🍀🌞😁👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks for the great advice and video!!!! I love the way you think !!! Simple and honest.... Just the way you grow your plants ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
thank you.......simple is best.
20:30 I learned this recently after seeing spider mites and everytime i water my orchids i give them a shower with a side sink hose
......big smiles here.......I love to hear that.
So glad you’re doing okay, miss your videos.
.....thank you so much......I'm really enjoying growing again.
I grow all my novelty phal all year around in house. I used haft lavar rock fill the bottom and haft x-larger bark fill haft top and feeding them twice a week, all the other day if it dry i will give a water only that way it may flush the media. All of them now in bloom. Thank you Mr Rick without you i may struggle some, because i was pick up some tip and learned something from you.
thank you so much......I'm glad I can help
Hey Rick: I am so happy to see you back on here again. I live in south central Kentucky. I don’t at present have a way to collect rainwater. My tap water, from a County water system, typically runs about 150 to 170 ppm on my tds meter. I use cal mag, around 50 ppm, and better gro up to anout 230 total ppm. My plants seem to do ok. However I would really appreciate any recommendations you could give.
Thanks
......Thank you, and a great question C.B.......your tap is just like mine.....runs about 165ppm......I dont use tap over 50ppm on my orchids.......you can, but over time they will struggle, and never grow to 100% of thier potential.....If you have a few orchids get a zero pitcher, and make a few gallons of pure water, if you have many orchids get a R/O filter and make a lot of pure water....
...Here is why........I feed about 175-200ppm total to my orchids......I dont want to start out using 170ppm water that is mainly anti foaming agents, sodium, chlorine, etc.....and and then adding another 170ppm of fertilizer to it....its to much for orchid roots.....I use rainwater or R/O water because its around 2-4 ppm....very low pure water.....so it gives me room to add the fertilizer with out overwhelming the orchids.....Hope that makes sense.......you can use the tap water, I just wouldnt use it for the long term......you will notice a big difference in your orchids growth with good water......
@@rickl.orchids Thank you
Thank you, Rick ❤❤❤❤❤
thank you for watching........
I just found you last night & I’m so glad that I did! I’ve watched several of your videos now and love how you explain things. I have followed many Orchid RUclipsrs for years but I really think I learned more from watching a couple of yours than all the others put together! I started out with growing Phals over 42 years ago and for years followed the ice cube instructions, although none died they didn’t thrive either 😢 that’s when I started to learn more about them. For the past 25 years I branched out to different varieties of Orchids, hand carrying them back from visits to Florida back to SE Oklahoma. Our summers can run well over 100 degrees sometimes with long stretches of no rain. I try to collect rainwater but often don’t have any, I know some Orchids are sensitive to chemicals in tap water so for most I distilled, spring water or sometimes warm up filtered water from the refrigerator. I’m wondering what your thoughts are when rain water isn’t available? The other thing I was wondering about is that I use ground egg shells (not store bought) and let it soak in a bucket of water and use this periodically in my garden, would I be able to use that to soak my Orchids in as well? Thank you so much for making these videos & sharing your knowledge!
......what a great comment to start the day with.....thank you, and welcome to the channel, I love your orchid growing story.......Orchids do best with very pure water......I collect rainwater, and when that gets scarce, I use my R/O filter to make pure water........you can also use a Zero pitcher to make pure water.....Egg shells are great for adding some additional calcium to your plants.....but remember, the egg shells need to break down some, before the calcium they contain can be absorbed.......in soil that happens faster than with orchids......I give mine calmag, ... its a readily available and absorbable form of calcium.
@@rickl.orchids thank you for your welcome and response. I am ordering all the products you are using and will look into a R/O filter. Some of my orchids are in leca and some in a mix of bark, leca and sphagnum. My sister uses just Leca in Florida and swears by it but I’ve been hesitant to switch to just that on some of them. I did go out and buy some red lava rock which I am excited to try! Thank you again for sharing your knowledge 😊
@@rickl.orchids would you mind sharing what kind of R/O filter/system that you are using? I had no idea that there are so many!
@@crystalclear7369......this is the one I use.... www.amazon.com/dp/B01FNAPGPA?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
@@rickl.orchids thank you for sharing the link 😊
Just love your videos which are so interesting. It's quite a revelation to realize that the media just 'holds the orchids up' 😎 We live in a condo now, so it's not easy to get the rain water. We've not had rain in Florida for ages 😮 It usually arrives when there is thunder & lightening and this is when my husband, poor guy, goes outside to stick a bucket under a drain to get nice, fresh rain water for my orchids 😊 One question; how do you buy the dry Calcium Nitrate you used and how does it differ from the liquid Calimagic?
thank you......your husband is a real trooper........to answer your question,....Calcium nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer.......and CalMag is a calcium supplement.....I use calcium nitrate when my orchids are growing strong with lots of new shoots, canes, leaves, bulbs, etc.......Calmag I add to my flushing water to make sure they always have calcium around them. Calcium nitrate is easily found on line and at some garden centers......hydroponic stores sell it as well........Remember to always add macro and micro nutrients to your mix if you add calcium nitrate.......or you can get tall spindly weak growths that have trouble standing on their own.
Rick - stop it!! Lol. You haven't confused me at all, and I know I speak for others. So just shush about that lol. We continue to learn loads from you in a way we can understand because you explain the "why" the "what" and the "how".
Thank you my friend........very kind, I appreciate it.
Would definitely recommend trying out fantasy flower fertilizer. Made in Colorado and has high calcium and mag. Have not tested the ppms on my solution but use it with every watering now. And growth and flowers have increased tremendously
thanks for the name......I tried to see/read labels but not much on the internet on it.....do you know what the calcium and Nitrogen #s are?.......always looking for good fertilizers to share with other growers.....
@@rickl.orchids it is a 13-3-9 with 8%Ca and 2%Mg. Going to start giving my plants more in depth showers as well from your videos as I believe you are 100% right with calcium and pets and natural rainfall and see how they react
@@ianbayus5185 .........thank you for the information......it looks to be a very good mix.....I like to match my calcium to my nitrogen.....so I would probably still use some calmag in my flushing water......but thats looks to be a very good fertilizer......My orchids just went thru 4 days of heavy rain.....and they look great, thick green and roots popping out all over......I have sprayed them with extra calmag due to being flushed so much......I dont ever have pest issues of any kind......I think you will have the same success....
I enjoy your fertilizer mixtures, so educational to me
thank you....
I`m always learning whenever i watch your shows............thx
thank you.....
Rick Hello!, so my seaweed is still full 😅 after a year and half of growing orchids i didnt know you can put seaweed everytime you water hahahha ok so i will put more seaweed now!!!! why am i so happy watching your vids??? 😅😅😅 it’s like listening to my father actually ❤❤❤
thank you for such a sweet comment.......I use kelp seaweed all the time, in the fall when the phals start blooming hard.....I increase it even more.
Hi Rick, is there a way to send you some photos? I was watching one of your videos on magnesium last night from 6 years ago and it made me think that my browning/yellowing leaves might be deficient in something. It’s the oncidium types and some of the novelty phals that have issues. If it’s not possible to send pics (or even if it is) maybe a video on diagnosing leaf issues. Thanks so much for doing these videos. I’m learning so much!
go to my channel heading.....where it has my channel description.....there is an email there.....or you can describe it to me.....Im sure we can fix your issues.......happy to assist.
@@rickl.orchids thanks! I sent them to your email
Hi Rick, Glad you are making videos again!!
Me too!.........thank you so much!
Hi Rick! I’m so glad that you guys are doing fine and that you are back❤
I have a question, can I use the Cal Mag with tap water?
....good question.....yes you can use calmag with tap water.....about 6-10 drops in a gallon (25-30ppm)...you can use more or less if you want..but if you use it all the time....thats plenty...Its important to know the TDS of you tap water if your going to use it....good question
@@rickl.orchids Thank you so much! I will will find out about the TPS
@@lourdesalbellar7973 ...TDS.=total disolved solids.....its measured in PPM. = parts per million...
@@rickl.orchids
Thank you again!
Wonderful video. Again! I love how you also feed your plants often with not too much feed! But just keep feeding them, this approach works wonders for my plants too. I do have no building up salts in the pots at all. I did a lot of testing how much ppm the plants do leave behind in the reservoir after a week. The results were the start of my low feeding schedule. I love these tests, it’s like the plants telling us what they want!
......your so right EJ......little amounts all the time.....like mother nature feeds.
Yep calcium is everywhere. Orchid people don't really work with soil, but apparently it even helps keep soil from compacting.
......great comment Victor.......why are you not growing more plants my friend.......you have a very good growing mindset.
@rickl.orchids I have a fair amount of plants given the space I have for them. Losing all of my phalaenopsis really set me back. But I don't think it was me. I think it was the cold snap, then the move. The newest root really helps my confidence. Now all that plant needs to do is bloom. Maybe after growing some more roots and maturing the three babies first.
Mmm, maybe four... now that you've made me look, it looks like two babies are growing out of each node.
I must add, that what hinders pests in nature are predators. I grew in my previous place a garden that attracted critters that ate thrips, anything really that tried to munch my orchids.
Additionally, I had companion plants that were much juicier. It’s a combination. Nature is a combination of different things and if it gets off balance, we have issues.
I have two questions: What direction is your shade house facing? and what size are your terra cotta pots?
....great questions......my shade house faces north....the slats on the back face south....and most of the pots I use are 6" azalea pots...
@@rickl.orchids Where did you get the pots with a slit on the side? Do they also have a drainage hole in the bottom?
@@harrymyhero ......yes they do have drain hole in the bottom......they are azalea pots.....and come from Lowes or Home Depot......very common pots in any garden center...
@@rickl.orchids Thank you 😊
I have another question. You measure the TDS after adding nutrients and then reach a final concentration that is right for your orchids. My question is what is the final TDS concentration range that you feel is correct to use? Thanks for your help.
.....a good question......it varies.....when they are outside growing strong and temperatures are high.....I feed 175-220ppm......when they are inside with cooler temps, and growth has slowed down.......100-135ppm.....and it varies with different orchids.....Frequency of feeding plays a part also....
You’ve mentioned folier feeding Dendrobiums. Do you cover this any videos or can you link to any articles???
Thank you and also huge thanks for your sharing of information in all your videos!!!
....Debbie......there are lots of studies on Dendrobiums......here is one where they mention it....."Nitrogen Sources and Its Uptake in Dendrobium Orchid by 15N Tracer Study"
@@rickl.orchids thanks!!!
Wow! That’s rabbit hole. Went from nitrogen uptake to fungi thanks again
It's good to have you back. I grow my phaleonopsis orcids in clay pots with orchiata bark. Some of my phals have outgrown their pots and there is nothing left but roots and a few pieces of bark. It would probably destroy the roots if I tried to move them to a larger pot. At a loss as to what to do. Can you help? Also, I just started using MSU fertilizer and my orchids look much greener and stronger.
Thank you.....MSU is a very good mix...... your orchids should love it.....If it was my pots with no media......Id leave them alone......it shows you did a great job feeding them and giving them good care......The media is only to anchor the plant till they grow roots and anchor themselves........after that you can dump the media out if you want......Remember, ...they grow on trees with no media .....or if you want something to hold some moisture then maybe add some pea gravel or lava rock....in the spaces among the roots....
loving your videos and all you do! Can you show the packaging of the stuff you buy?
.....I can and will in another video......thank you!
Thanks for your informative video.Didnt get the name of the calcium.Blessings
Jacks Calcium Nitrate......thank you......blessings for you as well.
@@rickl.orchids Thanks
Absolutely amazing explanation. Thank you so much.
thank you.......
I think my biggest takeaway from this video is the fact that I don't have to be precise in my PPM measurement. For instance, if I'm shooting for 80 PPM in CN, it's okay if it ends up being 83, 85, or 87 PPM. I think that's what was stressing me out. So, a big THANK YOU from Caro for pointing this out! A quick question: is it okay to use the leftover fertilizer mix in my garden? Is it too strong for plants growing in soil? Like tomatos?
......you guys are great......and you get what Im trying to say....you can be off 20-30ppm or more and your still fine......just dont get too carried away......also Yes......I take the left over solution and give it to my vegetables, and flowers....The tomatoes, peppers, my iris, lillies, hostas...and even my fig trees love it.....works great on bare spots on my lawn as well.....I sometimes will dilute it with more water before using.
@@rickl.orchids Wow I’m so glad that I asked. I won’t have to mix up separate fertilizer for my veggies anymore! How often would you recommend that I fertilize a pepper or tomato plant that’s growing in a container? We do get a lot of rain where I am this time of year so the nutrients are being washed out pretty frequently.
@@tobiesmom ....every other week while they are grwoing strong is more than enough.....everyones conditions are different....feed them.....watch them.....and go from there. Mine are 6' tall and loaded with tomatoes......so im backing it down a bit, since they are where I want them.
Hi Rick. Thank you for sharing your nutrient mix. I have been following your advice and my orchids have more new growth and thicker greener foliage than I ever had before so thank you! Did you make you shade house? What kind of wood did you use? Did you buy the plans somewhere? Would you be willing to share where you got the plans? Thank you and God Bless!
thanks Paula.....Im so happy your orchids are responding well for you. Yes I built the shade house.....its made of pine....not pressure treated....The idea and design I thought up in my head.....and sorry, I have no plans available... Its very simple to build......basically a shelf with lattice around it.
@@rickl.orchids Thanks, I will see if my husband can figure one out. My best to you.
I had a question for were you grow in your state the question is do you leave your orchids outside at night time temperature at night I grow indoors until spring to summer outside but the temps are still a little cool at night out temps are running 58 to 62 roughly but I know on some orchids the cells start dying around 50 to 55 degrees I need the temperature around 70 then I know they will be safe to leave them outside.
.....great question James......Im in mid Alabama, just south of Birmingham......usually our night temps rise above 60* in first or second week of May......thats when I put mine outside.....usually around first week of October we get below 60* and I bring them inside for winter.....
Hello from the Huntsville area. Many many thanks for your informative videos. I am fairly new to orchids, so please forgive my elementary questions. (1) Currently I am using 1/2 t CalMag per gallon of water at each feeding with a clear water flush every 4th watering. After listening to this video (twice) I am wondering if I need to back off on CalMag and use Calcium Nitrate instead. (I am near the end of my huge Calmag bottle so now is the time to switch.) I grow indoors under grow lights - mostly Cattleyas. (2) A few of my Cattleyas have twisted growths. One of your videos mentioned what to do for that. (I cannot find the vid, so please let me know what I need to do.) Thanks millions & millions!
.....great questions Mel....Remember Calmag is a calcium supplement.....and Calcium Nitrate is a strong Nitrogen fertilizer....very different uses for each one......Your flushing schedule is great, add 10-12 drops per gallon of calmag to your flushing water....to keep your orchids growing strong, pest resistant, and prevent any dieback issues.
Calcium Nitrate is usually 15% Nitrogen and 18% calcium.....so you dont need to add any calcium or calmag to it.....But it is super important to add all the other micro and macro nutirents along with it or you can get tall, weak, spindley growths that wont stand up on thier own...Dont use Calcium Nitrate by itself.....it can damage your plants.
....Twisted growths can be from several things, calcium has a big influence on that.......are the twisted growths older, or is it happening on newer growths?.....are the older growths lighter in color than then newer growths....if so it can also be magnesium.....check your fertilizer label and see what % it has in it.
Aha moment. I've been fertilizing on a regular schedule this spring and the leaves on my new catts have all come up black. It will be interesting to see how the addition of the CalMag will do. I hope the plants survive me. 😅
.....so sorry to hear Betty.....new shoot die back is common if they dont have enough calcium around them......its mother nature way of keeping them strong and resitant.......let me know if I can help in any way.
@@rickl.orchids thanks. I sent you an email with pics.
Thank you so much for such great information. I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to have found your channel. Your philosophy on water in the crown and pests has blown my mind😂. I gather you also don’t worry about sharing water between your orchids, ie spreading any issues. I guess because you don’t get any issues. I tried collecting rain water and found it to be quite dirty with little particles in it. Is that an issue? Should those particles be filtered out? Thanks for all your patience in answering my multitude of question!
your welcome....and I love your questions.....my rain water comes off my roof with the same bits and pieces......lots of trees near my house.....I use a small pet store fish net with fine mesh to pull it out......works great.
as for sharing water.....thats a great question too....in my media it isnt as much of an issue.....also, and more importantly... with my feeding style, I think it keeps the plants strong and resistant to those issues......all growers need to be observant and cautious, but if you choose your plants carefully, feed them correctly, give them planty of calcium, ......those issues never appear.....
.......is sad that every so often someone says the fusarium word.....and for weeks Utube growers suddenly have a wave of fusarium infections.....with all the cutting of roots, and canes showing purple rings....certain nutrients which are absorbed by the plants will show up in the tissue as purple discoloration.....Fusarium is a common fungi thats all around us.....it only attacks a plant when it is weakened....
@@rickl.orchids you have certainly started me thinking in a different direction and I’m really loving it. I’ve ordered my first bag of lava rock. Do you have a suggestion on which variety of orchid to start with? I have phals, cattleyas, oncidiums to choose from. My phals are in growth and my cattleyas are really doing well. Lots of new growths. For some reason, I have the most issues with the oncidiums.
@@LizE2654 .......Ive grow all of those in lava rock with very good success.....If your starting out.......get an inexpensive phal from the store and see how it does......Im sure you will do fine......The oncidiums I have grown.....loved lava rock as well as pea gravel.......remember the media is just to hold the plant in the pot......once it grows roots and anchors itself.... you could dump the media out even.....
Hi Rick! Lynn from Tuscaloosa. So, you’re not using MagSulfate with your mix like you used to? And, do you still use the dolomitic lime as a top dressing every 4-6 weeks? Love hearing you sounding so strong, to God be the Glory! Thanks for another great video. Tell Jan ‘Hi!’ from an old RN - I worked in the cardiac field for 50 yrs! Now retired and bored, except for my orchids.
Thanks Lynn, 50 yrs.....wow.....I love nurses!....and will pass it on to Jan....and yes God is great.....his hands have been on me for a while.....to answer, Im not using any additional magnesium sulfate at the moment....The Jacks mix has 6.3% magnesium and the calmag has 1.2%.....total of 7.5% magnesium.......which is fine. If I had a plant showing some signs of a magnesium deficiency I would had some extra.
So great to see you back!!! I was rewatching an older video and wanted to look for more on nutrition and was very pleasantly surprised to see this relatively new one! Thank you. Question for you. I stopped watering this way due to fear of virus, I did have an issue with a plant I brought in. Do you think sharing water like that is safe, or have you tested your orchids, or is something you just don't worry about?
....Thank you for watching....thats a reasonable question......Im not saying I dont concern myself with virus's.......but....I feed my orchids properly, and they get lots of calcium, micro, and macro nutrients,.... they are strong and growing well Roots are filling the pots, new canes, leaves, bulbs and spikes growing from them all...
..Fusarium is a fungi, its very common,..and is all around us, its in our lawns, gardens, on trees, in soil,..etc....it mainly attacks sick or weak plants.....In all my time growing orchids.....Ive never had a fusarium or any virus issue....not once
...Your correct being careful....Every grower should be observant, take caution, and if you have a sick looking plant...keep it away from your collection till you feel safe its ok....Any time I see another orchid grower cutting a plant open to look for a red or purple ring claiming fusarium....I look at the rest of thier collection...
.....Do they have good roots on thier orchids, do they flush thier pots well, do they provide enough calcium...is the media broken down, are they feeding them correctly, do their plants look well taken care of?.....usually its no to most of those things. Also, many nutrients, such as seaweed/ kelp products will discolor tissue and give the same ring as fusarium.......true virus infections are much more rare than many think........sorry for the long answer.......but a great question and concern!
@@rickl.orchids Thank you, Rick! I admit I was hoping you'd say it can't transmit that way, as I was more successful when I watered that way, but with a known problem likely not fully rooted out of my collection, I guess I'm sticking to one at a time for now. It's a shame, it wastes a ton of fertilizer and is a lot more work. If all of mine looked as good as your, I might worry so much. Robust plants can fight things off so much easier. I'm still learning though, so maybe someday it'll be less of a concern. Thank you for all the time you spend teaching, it's incredibly helpful and you're a big part of why I continue to improve.
What a great video! Just what I was looking for. I live in Florida, and I'm planning to repot all my orchids in lava rocks. After seeing your video, im definitely going to do it. Do you recommend adding charcoal? Thank you 🌸
thank you and thats a good question......I dont use charcoal, .......lava rock on its own, or sometimes I may add some other stones, or cedar /cypress pieces. Charcoal acts like a filter absorbing excess nutrients, and other things, which is good......but it can also, hold on to those excess nutrients, etc, and build up toxic levels.....If you use it, flush often....
@rickl.orchids Thank you, Sir
Hi Rick just one question, how do you know when to water orchids in lava rock and clay pots?
.....if you let them sit and soak.....then you will see moisture or a darker color on the clay pot.....even after several days I can still see it...once it disapears then i give them a few days of dry.....then I repeat the process.....with lava rock you should be able to see the roots thru the openings in the rock....green roots are hydrated and fine.......once they turn grey, time to water again.
I love listening to you and learning from you , you are truly one of a kind!
so heres my problem at the moment.I have a huge mostly cattleya collection in a greenhouse and after 15 years of growing I have a bush snail issue thats become bad enough to be concerned about.
do you have bush snail issues, i mean all orchid growers do just wondering if you had any advice for these. they are the worst orchid pest that exists. I want to use metaldehyde granules as this is a sure kill but am concerned about safety and safety of the plants . I keep hearing this type of snail doesnt care for snail bait so that isnt very effective.
another question, we use jacks 20-20-20 with cal mag. is that ok?
.....thank you.....im not sure if I can answer the snail question.....the only snail issue Ive had was when I purchased orchids from a vendor in Hawaii.....after repotting them it went away....I think a spray vs granules would be better for coverage....and keeping them away....
......I love the Jacks 20-20-20.......and I use it in my garden currently.....due to it being a soil type fertilizer......it has zero calcium....because..calcium is plentiful in soil.....but with orchids, which dont grow in soil.... you will definetly need to add some form of calcium.......calmag is fine....add it to your nutrient mix and also your flushing water. ...
..another suggestion would be....sprinkle some dolomitic lime around your pots.......it will give them a slow release form of calcium as well....
How do you get the roots to let go of the lava rock when you’re repotting?
......another great question.......I dont ever repot....I only up pot....when they outgrow the container.......you can do it several ways.......just place the pot into a bigger pot and place more lava around it.....they will gow into the new pot......and I sometimes tap the old pot with a hammer....it will break, and what drops off.....drops off.....then I place the plant, roots and what media its holding onto in the new pot.......hope that makes sense.....it never breaks down....so never a need to remove its roots from the lava .........its one of the reasons I love growing in it....
Hi Rick, thanks for another great video. Let me tell you that what you say has never been confusing to me. Always crystal clear. BTW, my usual fertilizer already has calcium nitrate in it and what I have been doing is supplement calcium nitrate on its own once and a while. What I want to ask you if it is ok to add some more calcium to my usual fertilizer without messing up the balance of nutrients. Thank you so much 💖💖💖💖
.....thank you my friend......adding extra calcium isnt ever an issue.....and ...it shouldnt cause any problems.......it is important to make sure if your adding addition calcium nitrate,... you need to add additional macro and micro nutrients as well.......or you can get tall, spindly weak growths.....that have trouble standing up on thier own.
@@rickl.orchids I understand, Thank you, much appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
Could you share which of the Jack's fertilizer and the other one in tub your using . Repotted nadosa in River Rock. Had to rethink securing a portable shelf in between speaker shelves to accommodate my plant collection inside in front of window with dappled light.
........they are both Jacks products.....thier Calcium Nitrate 15-0-0....and thier 15-12-26 fertilizer.....usually used together, ....the 2 part mix is to allow you to adjust your nitrogen.....thanks Shirley
The only difference with media is the frequency of watering and in your case it's more labor intensive because it takes 20 minutes per plant (it would take me 60 hours to water mine that way 🤣Also ! your outside conditions are more humid then other places (deep South versus Holland) I'm still at once a week because my humidity is tropically high (85 %) come summer it still won't be more then twice a week, even with indoor temps of 35 degrees C
.......I understand what you are saying.......usually I will fill several containers.....then I can soak 10-12 or more at a time........also I dont need to sit with them while they are soaking.......I can do other things......for my mounts.......nothing better than to soak them.......If I was your neighbor......or lived up north in a colder climate........I would still grow this way......
Hi Rick, do you still use Epsom salt. You use the calcium nitrate , but the calmag is if growing hydroponicly?
....good question.....I add maybe a pinch...30ppm of epson salts once a month.....The Jacks I use has 6.3% magnesium already.....so I dont need to add much or very often.
😊
The only thing I am still confused about has nothing to do with you, and that is the role of PH when fertilizing. I don't see you adjust for that and wonder if it's not necessary. Thanks for all the great info!
......Carolyn, thats a great question.....ph is important for absorbing nutrients...some nutrients are absorbed at different ph ranges....".but."...once you know the ph of your water there isnt any real need to continue to check it....
..some people have tap water that has a very high ph and it keeps nutrients from being absorbed...and some have very low ph well water......even rain water can be acidic if its from industrial areas.......or very alkaline like in south florida....
.Knowing the ph is important in growing any plants....in your garden, your lawn and your orchids......my rainwater is around 6.8-7.0 ph.....and after I add nutrients it drops to 5.6-6.3ph.....which is almost perfect for orchids....
Most nutrient mixes are designed to lower the ph to put it in the proper range for absorbtion....if your orchids are struggling and your feeding them correctly...ph is something that should be checked......I hope I havent confused or made things worse....please ask more questions if I can help....
@@rickl.orchids Thanks so much for responding! You haven't confused me. My water on the western gulf of Florida is quite alkaline (10.2). Once I add nutrients it is in the 8 range. Is adding a touch of vinegar a bad way to go to acidify it? Just a few drops at a time till I get to the 6 range.
@@carolynrose5795 ....10.2....thats very hard water....have you checked the ppm of that water?.....ph and water hardeness are 2 seperate things.....to answer you yes... you can use vinegar to drop the ph.....use white instead of apple cider vinegar.....
......water hardeness is usually from chlorine, fluoride or sodium present in the water .....you may want to consider switching water sources or possibly buying a water filter...like a zero pitcher or a R/O filter set up....if you have a lot of orchids get a R/O system....they are not expensive and they produce very good water....if you have only a few orchids a Zero pitcher may be better..
...I take my R/O filter outside and I can fill a 40gallon Brute Trash can, from my hose... in a few hours with water that is 2-5 ppm....and around 7.0ph....from my tap water that runs 165ppm at 7.8ph......I hope that helps you.....these are great questions!......please let me know if I can further assist.........Rick L.
Rick thank you for your knowledge. Rick can I use a garden lime with my orchid mix? Can I use oyster shell for chickens with my orchid mix?
......a great question.....I use dolomitic lime on mine......they seem to respond well to it......oyster shell I have never used but always wanted to try it......sprinkle it on a few and watch them for a few months.......I bet it works great for giving them additional calcium........please let me know how they respond.......
@@rickl.orchids Thank you 😊
Generally I'm finding the soaking very successful, but I have lost a couple of orchids to rot. Procatavola Golden peacock and a psychopsis. I'm wondering if the soaking is more problematic for me in South Florida where the humidity this time of year is ranging from 50 to 80%.
Also do you have any qualms about sharing water and therefore sharing disease? I know a lot of orchid growers consider sharing water a major sin.
.thats a great question....Im not sure what media you use...in bark or moss could be....but...in my media it isnt as much of an issue.....also, and more importantly... with my feeding style, I think it keeps the plants strong and resistant to those issues......all growers need to be observant and cautious, but if you choose your plants carefully, feed them correctly, give them planty of calcium, ......those issues never appear.....
.......is sad that every so often someone says the "fusarium" word.....and for weeks Utube growers suddenly have a wave of fusarium infections.....with all the cutting of roots, and canes showing purple rings.....Fusarium is a common fungi thats all around us.....it only attacks a plant when it is weakened....I also dont sterilize my tools.......never an issue. Orchids are very strong hardy resistant plants.......
@rickl.orchids I've put most of my orchids in lava rock this past month. Maybe I'm getting rot from orchids weak from my previous mistakes in care. Trying to figure orchids out is certainly a fascinating adventure in plant care. Considering how many orchid experts insist on sterilizing everything and not sharing water, the obvious health of your plants show us how well your methods work.
@@invzbldog Anita, Im so sorry your orchids have been struggling....I'd love to assist you....I talk about calcium all the time....I push calcium over and over with my talks.......how many of those other orchid growers have you heard mention calcium?.....my point is,....if you feed them correctly and make sure they have plenty of calcium around them.....those issues dont seem to occur.....
In the wild, every time it would rain....orchids would have calcium dripped on them, the trees they grow on have calcium on thier bark, they never are with out calcium around them.....It makes them strong, it makes thier leaves thick, and pest resitant, it makes thier roots grow fast and thick....and thier growths cant grow correctly with out calcium....You can give them lots of nutrients ....but with out calcium they struggle......Most root rot / loss issues are calcium related...or from to much nutrients without flushing them.....If I can answer any questions for you , please dont hesitate to ask.....Rick
I've kept orchids for years and never had pests until recently. Tiny bugs got in the roots of my jewel orchids. What can I use to kill the bugs?
.....what is the media your using?
@@rickl.orchids they're growing in moss
Can you make list what you put
......I use calcium nitrate, my fertilizer, and seaweed......
How long can you keep the solution you made in this video? If it is covered with a lid, can one use it for multiple feedings? Thanks.
yes......I use it for several feedings and then I use it on my garden plants.....
@@rickl.orchids Great, thanks.
Thankyou for your answer. so you recommend the jacks formulation you are using in your videos ?
.....Naomi, thats a good question......I love the Jacks Nutrients......and Ive used them for years....but.....MSU, First Rays, Better Grow Orchid Food, General Hydroponics nutrients, are also very good......my point is there are many very good nutrients available........its more about understanding the nutrients and how your orchids use them vs using a specific brand..
....feed small amounts often ....flush them often, and give them good light and warmth.....and they will grow and bloom well for you.
have you tried using pumice? just wondering. scoria can look pretty but doesnt retain moisture, and tends to have sharp edges until weathered a lot.
.....good question....pumice isnt easily available here...or cheap......lava rock is, ...and the sharp edges dont matter to orchid roots, but it does allow them to lock together in the pots and provide a good anchor......the lave absorbs some moisture, cause mine stays damp for several days even at high temps.
@@rickl.orchids : yes, pumice is not cheap, but is available here. we have loads of lava rock (scoria) but just about all is landscaping grade, not that nice.
@@Chris-op7yt .....Chris if I had pumice available I would certainly use it......I see some great orchids grown in it.....thanks ....
Hey Rick, What do you think of using organic fertilizer like Neptune's Harvest on Phalaenopsis orchids? Are the NPK numbers too low? Neptune's Harvest is 2-6-4. Thank you.
I have heard good things abut that fertilizer, from some friends that garden....but have never used thier products myself....Its more of a soil fertilizer that needs some microbial action to break nutrients down for the plants to absorb.......You could use it on orchids, but you may not get the results your hoping for.....Orchids roots are more hydropnic in thier feeding......Also keep in mind organic nutrients added to natural media, like moss, bark, coco, etc.....will hasten the decay time , and can build up.
@@rickl.orchids Thank you! I use this with success in my garden and was thinking it would be gentler for my orchids. You make some very good points.
@@ROlson-dx2jc ....it is a gentle type of nutirent....just more soil based.....One big thing that stuck out was the middle #....the P%......if you look at orchid fertilizers most of them have very little P%.....
@rickl.orchids Noted, the Neptune's Harvest is made for the flowering phase of roses. Since Phalaenopsis Orchids are non- terrestrial it makes sense that Phosphorus is not required in very high amounts. I so appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions .
Dear rick im from Greece and i wanna thank you for your useful advices .i have a question ...i use lava rock too but i have it in glass vase without holes and i wonder if its better to leave 2cm water down like semi hydro or if its better to full water for 15 minutes and drop it out? Pls thx and waiting u thought's
Thank you my friend....a very good question....Im not a fan of leaving any roots in water all the time.....they need a dry cycle between waterings.....Better to soak them, ..the lava rock and roots, will stay damp for several days, then allow them a few days of dry time....and then water again.......Air flow around the roots is also important...
Thx Rick I appreciate u advise Dimitris .