I Tested Water Culture for Orchids

[@mysterymccarthy6851]

I've been growing my orchids in glass bowls filled with live forest moss and they are thriving. To water, I fill the bowl with warm water (because nobody likes a cold bath), let them sit for a few minutes, then while bracing the orchid, I tip the bowl upside down and hold until it stops dripping water. I find I don't need to water them as often now because the moss acts like a sponge and really holds the moisture, while at the same time the moss has pockets of air which keeps the roots from rotting. The results are truly wonderful and I feel that the orchids are extremely happy in their mossy homes.

[@yvessautter8592]

The key point is oxygen in water, as roots need that to grow and fulfil their function. If water is stagnant, all the bacterias and other micro bugs will consume that oxygen, and the roots will suffocate and rot. Make sure to change that water every other day, and they should do fine.

[@Tempdoom]

Water culture works if the water is moving. I have several thriving orchids in my aquarium, for example, and I know of others who do as well. I don't change the water at all and rely on fish waste to fertilize. They seem to produce leaves and roots a lot faster in the aquarium than the ones I have in pots!

[@LiamEserda]

It's what You say Robert: "It's fun to do/try." People see here on KZbin how you can do this and they think: "I can do this too." At least; I'll give it a try." Me included. But I do agree: they thrive better in bark and coconuthusk for a much longer period and they are anchored. Thanks for the video! Regards.

[@sunshinetogo4221]

Thank you. I tried the water culture too and it was a failure. Glad to know it wasn’t just my incompetence .

[@jennifergreene8891]

Would love more Orchid videos please? 😊 like what you do for fertilizing etc. Thank you 😊

[@novampires223]

Thank you, very interesting.

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

Thank you. Are leaves getting smaller and smaller a sign of a nutrient deficiency?

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Mr. P. 🎃🍁💚🙃

[@chaalu420]

Sir since you said that true value of N,P,K in 10-10-10 is actually 10-4.4-8.3 So in need for soilless procedure where plants mainly need true value of NPK as 3,1,2. Now if i use 30-10-20, what I'll get in true form is 30-4.4-16.6 but this doesn't make genuine 312. Please guide me through the calculation.

[@chaalu420]

So now if we take 12-10-10 This will give us N - 12 P - 4.4 K- 8.3 Which roughly makes 3-1-2 possible in a true form right?

[@tomfurmby88]

the 3-1-2 rule is just a matter of opinion. I have proven that 2-1-3 in fact beats 3-1-2. So I think you are overthinking it. You cannot get it exactly right. What you have posted looks about right. If like me you use ph down in the form of phosphoric acid to lower the ph of your fertilized water to get it down to 6.0 you will be adding some phosphorous. Basically that will substitute the amount of phosphorous you are missing. Have a look at your ph down bottle. If you haven't got one yet - that is what you are missing and looking for to answer your question. It should contain something like 81% phosphorous. So 0-81-0. Ok? So you make a combo out of 30-4.4-16.6 and 0-81-0 (used in miniscule quantity) and this will result in roughly 30-15-16.6 Like I already mentioned this is still not going to be perfect. It's close enough for what you are after but I would add a further 0-0-30 fertilizer to get the ultimate ratio of 30-15-45 (2-1-3). It is the ratio that has been scienfifically proven in hundreds of trials to be the ratio to aim for so why not go with the scientific formula if you want to get it that precise. Again just what I would do.

[@chaalu420]

@@tomfurmby88 understood thanks

[@sterlgirlceline]

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