shadytrake
AOS, MOS member
Recently at our MOS show, (May 17-19), I had a chance to sit down with Rick to discuss his article "What do Orchids Eat?" from the March issue of ORCHIDS. I had been experiencing the same declines he mentioned in the article and I was really struggling with my collection.
He was patient enough to walk me through the local water quality report and my fertilizing regimen. Based on our discussions, I decided to discontinue the fertilizer and supplement my watering with Epson Salt initially and to add Kelp and some Calcium later on.
I am specifically monitoring 5 orchids that have been frustrating me:
Cattleya luteola - has done nothing for 4 years.
Neofinetia falcata - has grown but never bloomed (and we have tried everything).
Dendrobium lindleyi - blooms erratically (last year 11 spikes, this year 2 and not much new growth)
Phragmipedium Wossen - every time it is fertilized, leaf tip burn. Have had it for 4 years and it still looks like a BS seedling.
Sophronitis cernua - have had for 4 years and it has bloomed once.
So far I have taken before pictures of C. luteola last weekend and I have new pictures as of tonight showing aggressive new growth. I haven't seen this type of growth ever. I am pleased with the results so far. :clap:
I would really like to thank Rick for taking the time to speak with me.
He was patient enough to walk me through the local water quality report and my fertilizing regimen. Based on our discussions, I decided to discontinue the fertilizer and supplement my watering with Epson Salt initially and to add Kelp and some Calcium later on.
I am specifically monitoring 5 orchids that have been frustrating me:
Cattleya luteola - has done nothing for 4 years.
Neofinetia falcata - has grown but never bloomed (and we have tried everything).
Dendrobium lindleyi - blooms erratically (last year 11 spikes, this year 2 and not much new growth)
Phragmipedium Wossen - every time it is fertilized, leaf tip burn. Have had it for 4 years and it still looks like a BS seedling.
Sophronitis cernua - have had for 4 years and it has bloomed once.
So far I have taken before pictures of C. luteola last weekend and I have new pictures as of tonight showing aggressive new growth. I haven't seen this type of growth ever. I am pleased with the results so far. :clap:
I would really like to thank Rick for taking the time to speak with me.