Using skewers to determine when to water
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

Using skewers to determine when to water
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
  #81  
Old 08-17-2020, 10:37 PM
estación seca's Avatar
estación seca estación seca is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2015
Zone: 9b
Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
Posts: 18,483
Using skewers to determine when to water Male
Default

Assuming it's an orchid that should dry out between waterings.... It depends on where you think the roots are. If you see live roots at the bottom drainage, holes, then I'd wait, even if the top is dry.

Remember if there are large air spaces in the medium you don't need to let it dry out at all.
__________________
May the bridges I've burned light my way.

Weather forecast for my neighborhood
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 2 Likes
Likes dianecty, SouthPark liked this post
  #82  
Old 11-02-2020, 01:41 AM
nuriko1set nuriko1set is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 46
Using skewers to determine when to water
Default

I am very glad to know of the stick method. So we can just leave the sticks in the media then pull it out periodically to check for moisture, is that right?
I'm a new grower and have no idea when to water. I reportted most of my plants when I first got them. Since most of the roots were in very bad condition, I cut off the rotten ones and sprayed the rest with hydrogen peroxide, which I am now finding out is not good. So surprise, I now have mold in all of my potted orchids. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out a watering system that keeps whatever that's left of my roots hydrated, while keeping the core roots from growing mold (which afr still in my pots, the white fuzzy kind and green spotted kind). I'm thinking it's the peroxide, but at least with this stick method it'll tell me when to water, or at least the couple that I haven't reported yet. Ones I've repotted are in 3" pots, since there weren't very much root left. The roots are mostly near the top and middle of my pot, not long enough to be near the bottom. I thought the media dried very fast, since they are not packed tightly, its in a small pot and I had a small fan on everyday, and the pot feels lighter within a day of watering. And the roots at the top are very dry, but the media in the center of my pot are still growing mold.
So this is not a situation that can be remedied by skewer sticks right? I can't just wait for it to dry out, hence waiting out the mold, before watering them again, is that correct?

I'm not sure if this question can be put here or i should put it into another thread. I'm very new to this board, and this being my first board, I'm not sure of the etiquette. But I appreciate any answers to this dilemma. Thank you!!
Reply With Quote
  #83  
Old 04-04-2021, 12:38 PM
Kim in CT Kim in CT is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Mar 2021
Zone: 6b
Location: Connecticut Shoreline, USA
Posts: 62
Using skewers to determine when to water
Default

When/How Much to water are a huge focus as I'm learning about orchid culture. I've killed many African violets and indoor citrus due to overwatering. I don't want to kill my orchids!
Reply With Quote
  #84  
Old 04-04-2021, 12:45 PM
SouthPark SouthPark is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Dec 2018
Member of:AOS
Location: Australia, North Queensland
Posts: 5,214
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kim in CT View Post
When/How Much to water are a huge focus as I'm learning about orchid culture. I've killed many African violets and indoor citrus due to overwatering. I don't want to kill my orchids!
Some nice tips here that could be useful :

Click Here and Click Here and Click Here and Click Here and Click Here and Click Here

The skewer idea is like the oil dipstick method maybe. I've never used that method myself - maybe because it might not be convenient to use when the number of orchids increase, and also probably not great to poke a skewer down into media with orchid roots down underneath somewhere.

I also have never used the 'weight' method.
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes charlesf6 liked this post
  #85  
Old 04-04-2021, 01:54 PM
charlesf6 charlesf6 is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Sep 2016
Zone: 6b
Location: New York
Posts: 1,360
Using skewers to determine when to water
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kim in CT View Post
When/How Much to water are a huge focus as I'm learning about orchid culture. I've killed many African violets and indoor citrus due to overwatering. I don't want to kill my orchids!
Use the skewers for now and after awhile you'll be able to feel the weight difference from when you lift to check them and after they are watered.
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes SouthPark liked this post
  #86  
Old 03-05-2023, 01:18 AM
Theodoreorchidking Theodoreorchidking is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 18
Using skewers to determine when to water
Default

I have been using this and they work great. Pro tip is that if the stick has fine particles of soil/ bark on it, the media might not be getting enough air, which will lead to rot. Myrical grow does this and that is a prime indicator that it is a bad media. Orchiata on the other hand leaves hardly anything and the stick only is wet!!!
Reply With Quote
  #87  
Old 03-05-2023, 09:41 AM
Toadwally Toadwally is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 165
Using skewers to determine when to water Male
Default

Whatever works is best. for me, best is clear or opaque plastic pots.
Reply With Quote
  #88  
Old 05-01-2023, 04:59 PM
Maree's Avatar
Maree Maree is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 225
Default

For the last 20 years I used the skewer method to determine my watering schedule without an issue with mold. Not sure why recently the wooden skewers are getting moldy within 24 hours.
I’ve seen a suggestion to coat the skewers with nail polish and my local orchid guy suggested spraying the wooden skewers w Neem oil prior to using.
Any thought? Or other ideas? Thank you Mel
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
dry, media, moisture, pot, skewer, water, determine, skewers


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Safe water for orchids. cheekma Beginner Discussion 25 01-16-2020 10:56 AM
Expected ppm of RO water? nhman Advanced Discussion 15 09-05-2010 02:57 PM
Doritis in water culture greenbean Semi-Hydroponic Culture 23 04-21-2009 01:06 PM
Rain water collector toxic? JackiBlu Beginner Discussion 1 03-29-2009 08:40 PM
WATER: RO, Rain Water, Misting, Watering HDCochran Greenhouse Gardening 2 01-03-2009 11:27 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:11 AM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.