ssknapp777
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2008
- Messages
- 12
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Hello All,
I’m a new member and I had questions concerning Phrag. Kovachii, S/H and PrimeAgra. I emailed Lance a few questions (OK, actually many questions) privately since it looked like he has posted a lot about kovachii and grows his in PA. He thought they were good questions and asked me to post them so when he replies everyone can see. This will be my first public post anywhere so I hope I do this correctly. If anyone else has anything to add/suggest/recommend please feel free.
Sincerely,
Shayne
____
OK, I noticed that your newer pictures have the crushed oyster shells on the top whereas your older pictures did not. Are your older kovachii from 06 still alive? Did you add oyster shells to them also? Or do you not need to after they reach a certain size?
I emailed Ray and he thought there might be enough calcium in the MSU Pure water formula but wasn't sure. Do you add the oyster shells for additional calcium or to raise the pH? If it is for calcium can you just add a calcium supplement?
That brings me to my biggest question that I hope you can answer. I've searched but can't find anything specific about pH of water and fertilizer solution and PrimeAgra. I can find the pH of the soil/medium kovachii naturally grows in (7.9), and I can find the pH of the rain water kovachii naturally gets (6-6.5). However, I don't know how to apply that to PrimeAgra. I understand the soil/medium will raise the pH of the water and I know kovachii likes more alkaline conditions whereas most other orchids need a slightly acidic environment to absorb nutrients.
I'm assuming that PrimeAgra will not adjust the pH up or down so we can limit/focus just on our water fertilizer mix pH. Since I've read kovachii likes slightly alkaline conditions could I/do you adjust the pH between 7-7.9? But then if so does this restrict the plant in being able to take in needed nutrients?
My thinking is also that maybe in its natural habitat the alkaline soil balances the acid in the water and the sum is slightly acidic and it can still take in nutrients? Maybe the reason why people are adding oyster/calcium chips and lime is to overcome the acidity of the medium and then the fertilizer/water solution they are adding.
It seems like there are so many possible variables and since you have much more experience with kovachii in S/H maybe you have figured out all this pH stuff. I did read that someone asked you about this but you had (I think) left your pH meter in Peru and had not been testing pH. I also read that you were just using the MSU at 50 ppm Nitrogen and then going to 100 ppm when they got a bit bigger. However my own testing of MSU and pH is that even the pure formula drops the pH down to the 5/6 pH range, of course this is using 125 ppm nitrogen.
Well, I hope this makes some sense, if it doesn't please ask for clarification. I guess to sum it up have you found the best adjusted pH value for your water and MSU RO formula mix that kovachii likes? Do you have to supplement calcium chips/oyster shells to the mix for older kovachii plants? If so is there a more elegant way/amount of adding calcium? Am I missing the point entirely concerning oyster shells and they are needed for another reason entirely.
I’m a new member and I had questions concerning Phrag. Kovachii, S/H and PrimeAgra. I emailed Lance a few questions (OK, actually many questions) privately since it looked like he has posted a lot about kovachii and grows his in PA. He thought they were good questions and asked me to post them so when he replies everyone can see. This will be my first public post anywhere so I hope I do this correctly. If anyone else has anything to add/suggest/recommend please feel free.
Sincerely,
Shayne
____
OK, I noticed that your newer pictures have the crushed oyster shells on the top whereas your older pictures did not. Are your older kovachii from 06 still alive? Did you add oyster shells to them also? Or do you not need to after they reach a certain size?
I emailed Ray and he thought there might be enough calcium in the MSU Pure water formula but wasn't sure. Do you add the oyster shells for additional calcium or to raise the pH? If it is for calcium can you just add a calcium supplement?
That brings me to my biggest question that I hope you can answer. I've searched but can't find anything specific about pH of water and fertilizer solution and PrimeAgra. I can find the pH of the soil/medium kovachii naturally grows in (7.9), and I can find the pH of the rain water kovachii naturally gets (6-6.5). However, I don't know how to apply that to PrimeAgra. I understand the soil/medium will raise the pH of the water and I know kovachii likes more alkaline conditions whereas most other orchids need a slightly acidic environment to absorb nutrients.
I'm assuming that PrimeAgra will not adjust the pH up or down so we can limit/focus just on our water fertilizer mix pH. Since I've read kovachii likes slightly alkaline conditions could I/do you adjust the pH between 7-7.9? But then if so does this restrict the plant in being able to take in needed nutrients?
My thinking is also that maybe in its natural habitat the alkaline soil balances the acid in the water and the sum is slightly acidic and it can still take in nutrients? Maybe the reason why people are adding oyster/calcium chips and lime is to overcome the acidity of the medium and then the fertilizer/water solution they are adding.
It seems like there are so many possible variables and since you have much more experience with kovachii in S/H maybe you have figured out all this pH stuff. I did read that someone asked you about this but you had (I think) left your pH meter in Peru and had not been testing pH. I also read that you were just using the MSU at 50 ppm Nitrogen and then going to 100 ppm when they got a bit bigger. However my own testing of MSU and pH is that even the pure formula drops the pH down to the 5/6 pH range, of course this is using 125 ppm nitrogen.
Well, I hope this makes some sense, if it doesn't please ask for clarification. I guess to sum it up have you found the best adjusted pH value for your water and MSU RO formula mix that kovachii likes? Do you have to supplement calcium chips/oyster shells to the mix for older kovachii plants? If so is there a more elegant way/amount of adding calcium? Am I missing the point entirely concerning oyster shells and they are needed for another reason entirely.