Phalaenopsis and Denbrodium Nobile repotting and after care

[chantrelle]

Originally Posted by D_novice

EVERYONE else says water first, then fertilize. Everyone! That's what I thought, anyway. Ray's advice is the diametric opposite of that.

Here is one modest version of the usual advice: "Prior to fertilization, the plants are watered generously with regular water to flush accumulated salts from the potting media and to pre-wet the plant roots. The fertilizer mixture is then applied a few minutes later."

However, after reading on Ray first : Don’t Water First, Then Feed It just makes so much sens to do so as it recreates as closely as possible what occurs in the plant natural environment.

As said by Ray when it's rain the nutrients get flush first when it rains. And as explained the velamen on the roots traps the nutrient ions immediately and hold onto them. Therefore, if you If you water first, you saturate the velamen.

I'm so glad I found that information out because it is what I'm doing to do from now on.

---------- Post added at 04:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:29 AM ----------

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

I prefer unglazed terra cotta pots, and the azalea-pot shape is preferable to a deeper pot.

Light-wise, Phals like relatively low light, though they can adjust to a slightly higher level. An East or West window should be ideal, or a South facing with mid-day shading. Between waterings allow the media to dry completely. You can stick a wood cooking skewer into the pot and leave it for 10 minutes, ny minerals which can build up in the pot.

Do you prefer unglazed terra cotta pot because you are in a warm climat and they are better at keeping the root not to hot ? Or you also fell it all breath better ?

I was thinking of using clear plastic pot at first because I feel safer seeing the whole sha-bang. Plus I have to say that 24 hours after the watering I like to put them in the decorative pots.

About the completely dry... To me completely dry is completely dry... I grow succulentes plants.

Is the stick a real good indicator ? I was going by the roots colour and of course the wait and look of the bark.

Thanks

[D_novice]

Originally Posted by chantrelle

However, after reading on Ray first : Don’t Water First, Then Feed It just makes so much sens to do so as it recreates as closely as possible what occurs in the plant natural environment.

Ray's pages are not referenced, so there's no way to know how he came up with this information.

He also says that in nature the plant gets the same concentration of nutrients at every watering, which is patently absurd and doesn't stand up to a whiff of scrutiny.

You think there is always the exact same amount of leaf litter, bird poop, half-eaten rodent fruit dropping, feathers, dead insects above and around the plant?

It might make sense to recreate the natural environment, but it also makes sense to not take someone at their word simply because it's written in glowing pixels on the internet. Try comparing sources, and getting a number of different opinions, rather than relying on what sounds intuitive. That is how to research something.

Many people growing thriving award-winning orchids are watering first, estacion seca and Ray's scientific knowledge aside. It doesn't mean one way or another is right or wrong, but the "feed first" isn't so logical as to make everyone doing it a different way a backwards idiot as E.S. implies.

[chantrelle]

Originally Posted by D_novice

Ray's pages are not referenced, so there's no way to know how he came up with this information.

It might make sense to recreate the natural environment, but it also makes sense to not take someone at their word simply because it's written in glowing pixels on the internet. Try comparing sources, and getting a number of different opinions, rather than relying on what sounds intuitive. That is how to research something.

Thanks for the advice. However while I may be very juvenile with orchids I fell I'm very capable to know when to trust information that are not referenced and when I fell I should need referenced information.

That does not mean I don't respect the fact that you fell different about this.

Regards,

[D_novice]

Originally Posted by chantrelle

Thanks for the advice. However while I may be very juvenile with orchids I fell I'm very capable to know when to trust information that are not referenced and when I fell I should need referenced information.

That does not mean I don't respect the fact that you fell different about this.

Regards,

I enjoyed a visit to your province this past summer. Someday I'd like to head north and see the wild country of Northern Quebec. It must be amazing.