How I water my orchid (Video 1min)

[risingstar]

https://youtu.be/ojUy3N4aQRY

Not a lot to it but yeah, hopefully others found it interesting, pretty much it

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Do you ever flush the pot? What about fertilizing?

[risingstar]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

Do you ever flush the pot? What about fertilizing?

Yeah I actually just let it soaking for like 15min - 40min, its pretty much all bark, coco husk and bunch of other hard to soak medium, and a little bit of sphagnum

For fertilizer I do like every 2 weeks with a 20-20-20 same

not sure what the recommendation is but feel free to add anything

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by risingstar

Yeah I actually just let it soaking for like 15min - 40min, its pretty much all bark, coco husk and bunch of other hard to soak medium, and a little bit of sphagnum

For fertilizer I do like every 2 weeks with a 20-20-20 same

not sure what the recommendation is but feel free to add anything

If you haven't already, check out Ray's site, First Rays LLC › Using Science & Logic to Advance Orchid Growing , and read through his articles on water and fertilizer. Very informative.

[risingstar]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

If you haven't already, check out Ray's site, First Rays LLC › Using Science & Logic to Advance Orchid Growing , and read through his articles on water and fertilizer. Very informative.

Roger that, science is key to optimizing growth. Love it
One more question what is the optimize light growth? I use a Full Spectrum Growlight, exactly 20watt output (Measured), with 2400 lumens

Nvm they got the stuff I am looking through it, but with your thoughts you can add along

[DeaC]

HI. As Dusty Man suggested, there's a BIG difference between soaking and flushing and a good flush needs to be done as the literature mentions.

[risingstar]

Originally Posted by DeaC

HI. As Dusty Man suggested, there's a BIG difference between soaking and flushing and a good flush needs to be done as the literature mentions.

Where can I learn properly about flushing and the techniques?

---------- Post added at 02:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:40 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

HI. As Dusty Man suggested, there's a BIG difference between soaking and flushing and a good flush needs to be done as the literature mentions.

From what I read, the flushing technique helps remove any build of fertilizer or minerals, so the next fertilizing won’t cause extra concentration to the feeding but I correct me if I’m wrong and you can add more to what I need to know, thank you

[Roberta]

First, what type of orchid are we talking about? (I suspect Phalaenopsis, since they are the most available). They really want "humid air" rather than "wet" so soaking is overkill, they really don't like being that wet. If your medium is something water-retentive like sphagnum, that goes double or triple. Flowing water flushes fertilizer salts and other crud, and also pulls air into the root zone. Bark has bigger air spaces, so it's harder to overwater. But still, flushing is better than soaking, to get that all-important air into the pot. If your plant is in the Oncidium group (that wants to be wetter), the goal is still the same, just use a more water-retentive medium such as small bark, or sphaghnum. Air is still the critical component.

[risingstar]

Originally Posted by Roberta

First, what type of orchid are we talking about? (I suspect Phalaenopsis, since they are the most available). They really want "humid air" rather than "wet" so soaking is overkill, they really don't like being that wet. If your medium is something water-retentive like sphagnum, that goes double or triple. Flowing water flushes fertilizer salts and other crud, and also pulls air into the root zone. Bark has bigger air spaces, so it's harder to overwater. But still, flushing is better than soaking, to get that all-important air into the pot. If your plant is in the Oncidium group (that wants to be wetter), the goal is still the same, just use a more water-retentive medium such as small bark, or sphaghnum. Air is still the critical component.

I am using this brand here

http://https://www.ebay.com/itm/303139062833?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=BwtrQF3DRnm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=TtMh8vkoRN K&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

It’s a bark mix with a bunch of other material
I have a question about flushing, how would you do that?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by risingstar

I am using this brand here

http://https://www.ebay.com/itm/303139062833?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=BwtrQF3DRnm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=TtMh8vkoRN K&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

It’s a bark mix with a bunch of other material
I have a question about flushing, how would you do that?

Take the orchid to the kitchen sink, turn on the water, let the water flow through the pot. Just maybe for 20 seconds or so. If you have more than a few, you can use a watering can or a hose, again water so that it flows through pot.