Early K-lite results

[dodidoki]

I don't know, if it is because of K-lite or not... I use this method for 2 months.
Because of it or not but root systems are growing significantly more vigorously.
Few pics: hirs. album, hookerae, kovachii, phil. album, roth. rex X mm, roth. tiger march, stonei.

 

[dodidoki]

Bessae:

 

[wjs2nd]

I too, believe, I have seen some growth improvement. It's, also, been close to 2 months for me.

I have noticed my new growths seem to be growing faster and stronger compared to last year.

 

[gonewild]

I don't know, if it is because of K-lite or not... I use this method for 2 months.
Because of it or not but root systems are growing significantly more vigorously.
Few pics: hirs. album, hookerae, kovachii, phil. album, roth. rex X mm, roth. tiger march, stonei.

Did you repot the plants into fresh media when you started using K-lite? Or did you simply change the type of fertilizer and the pots continue growing in the old media?

 

[Ray]

Holy crap! Everything turned pink, too!

 

[The Orchid Boy]

Holy crap! Everything turned pink, too!

:rollhappy::rollhappy::rollhappy:

 

[NYEric]

I was trying to figure out what media you were using until I saw the close-up.

 

[dodidoki]

Did you repot the plants into fresh media when you started using K-lite? Or did you simply change the type of fertilizer and the pots continue growing in the old media?

Some was repotted, some was not. ( kovachii and roths are in the same mix for 6 months)

 

[dodidoki]

I was trying to figure out what media you were using until I saw the close-up.

It depends on plant. Some are in pine bark, some are in mix of clay balls and bark, others are in mix of akadama, bark and clay balls ( phrags), others are covered by NZ sphagnum ( eg. hookerae)

 

[dodidoki]

:rollhappy::rollhappy::rollhappy:

I'm afraid that one day police will come for cannabis....(GH has nice pink light in night)

 

[gonewild]

Some was repotted, some was not. ( kovachii and roths are in the same mix for 6 months)

Do you observe any difference in the ones that were repotted or not?

Is your observation that all plants are doing very well since using K-lite?

Have you noticed any plants that look like they are doing worse?

 

[wjs2nd]

I'm not sure about dodidoki, but for myself the plants a doing better. A few are in new mix (just because the old mix needed changed, breakdown) and the rest are in old-ish mix. Both new and old mix plants are showing positive results with k-lite. I haven't seen any negative reactions. In fact, one plant that was showing Nitrogen issues (reddening around the leaves) is getting better with the newest leaves not showing any reddening.

 

[dodidoki]

I left in old mix my plants, what grow fine ( eg. kovachii), this case I couldn't see reason for repotting. Others, I noticed that doesn't grow well, I repotted ( eg. another kovachii, what produced 5 new fat root during this period.

In all I can see mainly improvement, I can't see negative signs till this moment. This period I think is too short for conclusions but first sings are good, anyway.

 

[wjs2nd]

Is this your normal growth season?

I'm just starting to have things warm up, a little, around here and growth should start picking up. The sunlight is, also, lasting longer.

 

[dodidoki]

Is this your normal growth season?

I'm just starting to have things warm up, a little, around here and growth should start picking up. The sunlight is, also, lasting longer.

Don't know...I keep them around 17-18 C, 16 hours artef light, 75-80 % humidity, once/week watering. Is 18 C too much, maybe?

 

[wjs2nd]

In the winter I keep all my orchids at 16.1C at night and 20C in the day. During the summer everything is warmer.

Do you keep your artificial light on 16 hours a day all year? I keep my lights on 12 hours in the winter and 16 hours in the summer. I like to fallow the seasonal changes outside with light.

 

[dodidoki]

In the winter I keep all my orchids at 16.1C at night and 20C in the day. During the summer everything is warmer.

Do you keep your artificial light on 16 hours a day all year? I keep my lights on 12 hours in the winter and 16 hours in the summer. I like to fallow the seasonal changes outside with light.

I try to mimic natural envirionments. These plants live around equator, where sunligh is always around 12 huors/day every day of the year. Summer I use less artef light but in winter I use more for compensation lack of sunlight.

 

[dodidoki]

By the way, my main problem is not haeting, but cooling in summer. Last summer I lost many plants because of unusulal heat, 24-25 C at night, 35-38 C at noon in shade.....some of plants died within one day....at morning nice green plant, in afternoon only a brownish smurf. That was terrible! So I decide to become independent from natural envirionment. I will shade my GH almost copletely with heat reflecting foils and supply my plants with artef light. Now I'm searching the way.

 

[wjs2nd]

Good idea! My first thought was some kind of foil or aluminet (reflective shade cloth).
Have you thought about a evaporactive cooler or some kind of misting system? I know they can really help keep temps down. Strong air movement can, also, help.

 

[dodidoki]

Of course I have, but not enough in a hot summer day. After last summer I decided about subtotal shading of GH.