We recommend doing this over a kitchen sink so the fertilizer can drain through as it's being applied. Its not commercial potting soil, its not mulch. It doesnt seem to be producing new stems from which flowers can come? Your expert advice would be greatly appreciated. Your method is very realistic and true. Homemade Weed Killer - Roundup vs Vinegar vs Salt, Baking Soda in the Garden - Hacks that Work and Don't Work, Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Society. Hello, I live in Miami , Florida is very hot here, i would like to know how encourage reeblooming in my phall, because I dont had temperature changes (always 84*! I am conducting an experiment now to test this (Ill post results in a couple of months). They need very little fertilizer if a bird poops on them once a month thats lots. A 1/2 hour soak works well, but 10 minutes is enough time. My roots and leaves are very healthy, but I swear, I missed a spike this past fall. HELP!! Here is a quick fertilizing guide that will help you to keep your orchid in tip-top shape. yikes! I have forgotten them for several hours will no ill effect. It is probably the change in light or temperature. Just water normally. The flowers are almost done, but there is more growth getting ready to go at the end of the spikes. Flower stems do not have velamen. probably in Asia. Besides that there is no such thing as blooming fertilizer that is a marketing myth. It turns out that the cold does not harm the roots, nor does it shorten the flowering season. Warning: ice does not damage roots, but it will damage the leaves. The fact that your orchid is blooming well has nothing to do with ice cubes. I just want to know why old potting medium kills orchids. and The orchid is better completely dry for a few days than watering too much. See http://www.gardenfundamentals.com/repotting-orchids/ for more details. I know it requires more water and space. Plants with smaller flowers tend to have smaller leaves. I found this recommendation on the internet Some growers like to give the plant a boost of blooming fertilizer in September or October to provoke a flower spike. A healthy plant does not need a boost of fertilizer, and extra fertilizer will not induce flowering, unless you have not been fertilizing. This can be purchased at retailers and garden centers that carry orchids and orchid supplies. I do have a question..does my orchid need to be in a pot with drain holes in the bottom? Repotting should be done every two years. Hi Robert, I always wanted to know how an orchids can produce 2 or more new healthy spikes with lots of branches of new flowers just like the orchids I see from the store? You can repot it in flower, but you can also wait. I am getting sick of the flowers! West did not work (no direct sun due to tree outside) I will label all my pots and repot every two years. Once they land here, they get potted up. I need help caring for this orchid, because I do not want it to die. Though your Just Add Ice Orchids do not require regular fertilizing, doing so from time to time can help the orchid maintain optimum health and bloom. There are several things you can do to prevent this. Aim to keep leaves as large as when you buy them. I got this plant on Friday (yesterday). Here is info on http://www.gardenfundamentals.com/repotting-orchids/. I bought the fertilizer for Orchids, should you do full strength or half strength and should you dilute it? Orchid soil is called media and is made up of large bark chips. (ive killed two) but got a third for mothers day and i really really want to do better. Im so excited. Kitty. Orchid roots like to be watered, and then allowed to almost dry out, before the next watering. Under low light that may not be possible. Earthworm Myths Are Jumping Worms and Giant Worms Real? I have a question. Save 15% on your first order when you sign up to receive the latest offers, promotions and news. Then report once blooms are done. If you are trying to trigger your orchid to. However, the plants sold around here get potted in sphagnum moss which is very hard to water properly. Until you do use your finger. I knew nothing about orchids but always thought they were beautiful. But I use small amounts just a pinch in each pot at watering time. the right amount of water - not too much or too little. I have a question about crowded roots. Use whatever you give other potted plants. The top roots and the leaves near the top of the media are always terribly damaged by ice. Being dry for an extended period of time will encourage your plant to flower sooner. The point at which to cut the stem depends on the type of orchid and what you want. Then add about 20 mls baby oil. The ice is likely to cause damage to the roots and foliage it comes in contact with. Going to lose the the sphagnum asap and going to repot the one that is over two years old. If you set the pot into water to let it soak up water as I recommend, then you can add fertilizer before adding water or after both ways result in a plant sitting in water with fertilizer in it. Hi there, I live in Mozambique (Southern Africa) and have three orchids. I will do my best to grow the best orchids. i now have just bark chips and shes sending up her first spike in 4 years. If the flower stem starts to go brown, just cut it back. Thank you for your advice on watering. If you do, use a paper towel to dry the leaves. Ice might work, kind of, when orchid is potted in chunky bark where the roots are not feeling the cold directly. This experiment might help convince customers to water less: Orchids Do They Need Water? As for the myth, its hard to believe someone would even think to associate orchids with ice, in any form, but I believe you. Fill out the form to download your guide now. It said to water with ice cubesso glad I didnt! They do it because it is a slow way to water the orchid-as the ice melts, and prevents people from overwatering. 2) Store your orchid in a room between 55 - 65 degrees F until a new flower spike pushes through. In nature, phalaenopsis grow in warm jungles. Any advice would be appreciated thank you everyone. Sadly, though it may be given with the best of intentions, this advice is problematic and has caused a lot of misinformation to be spread online and through social media. The kernel of truth in the Just Add Ice myth/marketing gimmick is that most people who kill orchids do so by over-watering them. But its not the amount of water people use when watering orchids that leads to over-watering, its how long the roots stay wet. Im an expert at killing roots because of the moss that they come in, Ive been using hydroponic clay pebbles now and they seem to be surviving because even when I used the bark mix and watered sparingly the roots seemed to rot before the As the media breaks down it tends to settle, it stays too wet and it keep out the air. Why not teach people to do it properly? I know that doesnt help you very much so Ill give you a simple way to water properly. I appreciate your advice. I have a questionIve had an orchid for some time and it has never put up a new spike, what am I doing wrong? Hi Robert,things are going from bad to worse for my Phal. I have never given them that much. Ive only had my beautiful moth since Mothers Day. I am quite sure it will be fine for another month or two without water. 1) spray on some rubbing alcohol so it gets into the cracks and small places. Thats good info about watering thanks. I just bought a grocery store one on sale a few days ago, of course in sphagnum. I am going to quit this ice cube nonsense & try your method. The correct amount of water is critical, and to try and simplify watering someone came up with the bright idea that if you put an ice cube in the pot once a week, the orchid would prosper. Sphagnum is hard to use for an orchid medium, and any container without holes is probably a death sentence. This is the most important step. It is in a glass fish bowl in spagnum moss,no drainage. That is what I wrote when I first made this post. Orchid roots are covered by something called velamen, which is a spongy material. You have to introduce them to it slowly. Actually, it looks like the roots are coming out of the media and pot, how much space or how crowded to they like their roots to be? From where does a new stem grow? Ice wont kill it just dont do it in the future. Can Commercial Muck Reducers Clear Pond Muck? Only water your orchids on the weeks you dont fertilize your plant. Having been born and raised on a fruit & vegetable farm I feel really dumb that I cant figure this out! Yes it works couple weeks but then after flowered they started not doing well. Thank God there is someone speaking sense about orchid care. Like any plant, you should water when the plant needs water. I was careful not to have the ice directly on top of the roots. Now I now why I killed many orchids. The problem with orchids is that they want to be treated different than most other house plants. 3) Once the new flower spike appears, place the orchid in its original location and water as usual. http://www.gardenfundamentals.com/blooming-orchids/. If you want more flowers right away try this. I dont know Ive had my Orchids on the kitchen windowsill for years and read they shouldnt be in full sunshine which they were so moved then onto a shelf next to the window in another part of the room, since doing this the blooms have died very quickly and they dont look to happy! It looks magnificent. I have always water them where I let them soak for 15 min and then dump out the water but now they are drying out super super fast. Right on the instructions that came with the orchid, it stated to feed the plant 3 ice cubes weekly. It might start growing a side branch, making a new root tip. What does the size of the leaves mean on a Phil if anything? When brown cut it off. Once all the flowers have fallen off, you can give your orchid the nutrients it needs with fertilizer. Love it . I was double-checking if the outer pot is ever filled first and the plant takes water from the bottom. Many of you think orchids are difficult plants to keep in the home they are not! it is a post on my GardenFundamentals.com blog. Report Orchids every two years. omg you are so informative. This post on my other web site should help. im also in the planning stage of developing a campsite and hope to include some natural ponds in the landscape!! Sure does sound crazy. By letting the orchid sit in water, the spongy velamen soaks up a lot of water, and then roots can use this water for days. That I have right. I was about to give up and just repurchase my orchids to have blooms. What is it? Take your orchid out of its decorative pot and put it in the sink with the clear grower pot still on. Some people run water through the pot for a while, letting the excess run out the bottom. See Orchids Do They Need Water? There is another plant surrounding the orchid. A balanced fertilizer should contain equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (this is often labeled 20-20-20). Here is how to water and fertilize: https://youtu.be/sfo8JIjtkH0. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Orchids are very tough plants. Also thank you for your honest advise how to take care of our orchids.. They still need small amounts of fertilizer. A warm air plant. Write the repot date on a small plastic label, in pencil, and stick it in the pot that way you know when to report again., Ive never tried growing orchids but I am fascinated with their beauty.so I just might! I would replace that stuff as soon as the orchid stops blooming. They are not all the same no surprise there. I cut mine back just above the eye or so I thought. Hi quick question, will sitting an orchid next to a scent diffuser with essential oils in it harm the orchid? b) water very carefully. but ive noticed two new leave sprouting so maybe its still a go! The leaves on my mothers day orchid all seem to be falling off. Non-flowering plants should be fertilized once a month with a 20-20-20 fertilizer diluted to half strength. Any idea why the Orchids decided not to grow a flower spike? Water your Orchid with three ice cubes a week and it will be happy as can be!. May 2017. Till vs No-Till Which Is Better For Your Garden. Make the watering procedure as simple as possible, so people can follow it. Only water your orchids on the weeks you dont fertilize your plant. After i did extensive research to make sure Id have a spike come back. The right fertilizer can maintain your orchids health and help to ensure a strong and vibrant bloom. I actually have a question that I cant seem to get a straight answer on. Well my fish did a pretty good job of cleaning up most of what was there, its just places that my fish cant get to on the plant. It certainly does. Orchid soil is called media and is made up of large bark chips. The intent here was good. Im thinking they have bulked out with it to use less moss? Normal potting soil lacks proper drainage and airflow that is required for Just Add Iceorchids. It only looked at Phalaenopsis which tend to have a thicker velamen coating. Do you have to wait until the orchid is finished flowering before you repot? You dont need to add anything else to the potting medium. I noticed the roots starting to climb out of the pot more, so i repotted my orchid and since have been feeding it 5 ice cubes weekly. Ill show you a much better way to water your plants a method that keeps my orchids blooming all year long. I like the soaking idea. The problem with orchids in the store is that they have been grown in some warm, humid country. DO NOT POUR THE FERTILIZER OVER THE LEAVES. Do I need to change the pot, do anything with the roots, or fertilize it at all? Then repot every 2 years with no exception. Orchids use the same nutrients as all other plants. i think i may need to do the repotting. None of mine need more than a 6 pot. I repotted my orchids a year ago in a glazed clay pot but left a little of that sphagnum with the orchid before I added the bark mix. Its probably a phalaenopsis because they flower for a long time. Any way I can keep it in this container and keep it healthy? It is a way to get people not to overwater I agree. This morning when we looked it was almost completely clean of these bugs but not in the main places like where the new growth is coming in and some of the roots. For a more in-depth guide to orchid reblooming, download Your Personal Guide to Orchid Reblooming today. They reside in a south window thats low E maybe I should move them to a southeast window. if the orchid is 3 years old it should have been repotted at least once since you got it. They can take quite a bit of sun but not all at once. But you can certainly get one flower spike. Step 1 Take your orchid out of its decorative pot and put it in the sink with the clear grower pot still on. I agree with yu my orchid does perfectly fine with ice cubes & i think is doing much better now tht i have switched to ice cubes& id alot bigger then when i got it.. Should I just cut the whole thing off and let it grow fresh roots or should I try to keep the little inside root alive until they regrow the velamen or is that just more misconceptions? some look dry. The plant has a card that says add three ice cubes once a week.. . That does not make it a smart idea. If roots die so does the orchid. Why would anyone think they want to be covered with ice water?? My daughter has given me a white Phal. Three ice cubes once a week and you are less likely to rot the roots. I will be on the look out. They are in the same pot because people are trying to sell stuff and they know nothing about plants. Research from The Ohio State University supports this. After 3 months or regeneration a new spike has been growing 1/2 inch daily. See my post called Bloom Booster Fertilizer Nonsense #5. Would it be better to let them soak a bit longer? When the plant is finished with the flower scape it will die naturally. Want to make your shop more inviting while boosting revenue? Soaking longer than 15 minutes will not change much unless your media is not taking up water. The drop in temperature helps with reblooming too. Phalaenopsis in nature grow attached to trees, shrubs or outcroppings with their roots exposed, They are watered frequently by rainfall, but because their roots dont have much around them to hold water, they dry out between waterings. Their roots need humidity but should not stay soggy. Step 2 Pour the fertilizer solution on the orchid until it starts to run out of the drainage holes, Step 3 Make sure all the extra water has drained from the pot, Step 4 Put your orchid back into its pot. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Thank you for that advice. I answer a lot of customer questions about orchids here at a garden centerand I repot customers orchids for them. Old potting medium kills orchids. The mini ones keeps on producing new leaves and roots (covered in velamen). And funny. Orchid fertilizer only exists in the minds of marketing people selling products and in the minds of gardeners with too much money to spend. She would have gotten an A anyway. Phalaenopsis are epiphytes which means that in nature they live in trees and not in the ground. This wet-dry cycle is needed in one form or another for many of the most commonly found orchids. Adding a few cubes to the top of the media does not address the need to thoroughly water the roots and potting media. As the ice melts, some water trickles into the pots, but not enough to really provide humidity or flush the potting mix of any water impurities or fertilizer salts. How well this works depends on the genetics of the plant some work well, others dont. MaryAnn Hardy Water until the medium is wet then leave it alone until it is dry. , This number wont be exact because it varies with the amount of light, humidity and airflow and with the temperature where they are grown. If your plant is staying wet for longer than 10-14 days, then additional airflow may be needed. I think there is a misconception regarding Ice. And I came across your post. If the roots are rotten it is getting too wet. If you use this method of watering, and you fertilize first, you will wash out all the fertilizer. I am definitely taking and using your advice on all three orchids from now on forward. Since then there has been some research to see if ice cubes harm phalaenopsis orchids. I pot in firk bark chunks. They are healthy just wondering if the size means anything like the age of the plant or something like that? Two mini ones and one medium sized one. You may have trouble getting all of them in the aquarium. How does that happen? And are stems initially also covered in velamen? They do need water they dont need ice. You rarely do any harm bu using too little. Water when the orchid needs water. Also going to follow your watering and fertilizing advice. There are more orchid species in the world than any other plant group. This post is written for the person who bought an orchid at the local grocery store, or nursery. Ice cubes may work for some growers for a while, but they are not what your Phalaenopsis needs long term. Ice Orchids fit with the marketing strategy of box stores, grocery stores and hardware stores today that sell orchids as a disposable alternative to cut flowers. The flowers last longer than a bouquet of cut flowers, and since they are usually very cost friendly, if they die in 6-12 months many people are okay with replacing them. We teach our visitors and new customers how to care for Orchids with an eye to the future. Orchids can be a long-term investment that produce a lot of joy. Bringing your well-grown orchid into bloom year after year can be extremely rewarding. Add the fertilizer to a pitcher with a narrow spout, lift the leaves and steadily pour in the fertilizer over the bark.