Bark media and fertilizer

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

No! Hmm that was easy. No, I just mix my fertilizer at 1/4 to 1/2 strength and water with that every time I water. That is fairly dilute fertilizer. If you water weekly or so the velamin (the outer spongy covering on the root) readily soaks in water. I mean quickly. In the proverbial blink of an eye. I'll look for the pics of this. There should be no need to soak the plant for a minute or two or three or half an hour. My club had a well known orchid grower give a new talk for us this past week and his method is to pour 20% more water than the volume of the pot your are watering through the plant. That's it. I like to dip mine. Your choice. Roots quickly soak up all the water they can in a short a time as they can.

Thanks, James!

WO

[Cym Ladye]

The big problem with dipping plants in the same water is the fact you may be spreading pests/infections as well as virus. Communal dipping is the best way to contaminate a collection that I can think of!

[Discus]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

Communal dipping is the best way to contaminate a collection that I can think of!

Other than unsterilised cutting tools, perhaps?