Orchids Epiphytes
Orchids Epiphytes
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BIN-Pot. Alexia Williamson ‘Waiakea’ NEW! MUST SEE! Award Quality! Stunning! $18.99 |
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Masdevallia erinacea orchid species – RARE Miniature $22.50 |
Orchid Feeding Tips and Guide by Moses Wright
Some people will have you believe that orchids are hard to care for, and in some cases, that’s true. The old saying ‘feed weakly, weekly’ comes to mind when dealing with these unique flowers, but what do you feed? Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are vital ingredients for orchids, just like any other plant. The air and growing medium will provide some of this, but most orchids are pot grown, and will need supplemented. This is even more important for orchids since, instead of soil, they are planted in bark, rocks or sand.rnrnPellets, liquid and mulch are just a few forms that these supplements come in. Whichever type you choose, your objective is to maintain the proper balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.rnrnFertilizers and soil treatments will usually be labeled 30-10-10 or 15-5-5 and sometimes 20-20-20. These numbers indicate the percentages of the three elements that we discussed earlier. Do not be alarmed that the numbers don’t add up to 100%. The remaining percentage consists of whatever else the compound is made up of.rnrnSome will allow orchids to grow on the bark of their trees, which is similar to how some (epiphytes) are found in the wild. These types will respond well to the stronger mixture (30-10-10). A medium mixture (20-20-20) is sufficient for those that are grown in pots. These levels may need to be adjusted at different times of year.rnrnTry using a 10-30-20 mixture at the end of Summer to strengthen those last blooms of the season. It’s also a good idea in the spring, before the first blooms, to provide some extra nutrients to get them started.rnrnGreat care should be taken when fertilizing since orchids are such sensitive plants. You will risk fertilizer burn if you over do it. Fertilize your plants once a week, with the first one of every month at full strength. Then, for the next three weeks, dilute the mixture to one quarter of that. It’s also a good idea to rinse out any unwanted salt residue with water once a month.rnrnThe elements in the fertilizer will react with the elements already present in the soil to create salts. These salts will prevent water absorption, and cause other harmful biochemical reactions as well. It should not be much of a problem in small amounts, but letting it get out of hand will harm your plants.rnrnIf the label on your fertilizer lists something called ‘potash’, this is merely another name for the element called potassium.rnrnSince it dissolves well in water, potash will usually need to be provided often and in different forms. Liquid potash comes in a convenient spray that can be used on the leaves or directly on the soil.rnrnIf you’re not sure of how much fertilizer is necessary, remember that you will do more damage by applying too much than too little. Start with a small amount and adjust it up from there. Usually your fertilizer will come with easy to follow directions that should help you get the mixture just right.rn
Moses Wright loves to work in his garden. He started this web site to help fellow gardening enthusiast. You can find more free resources on orchid gardening and Vegetable Gardening on his site.
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Orchid-Feeding-Tips-and-Guide/459866
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Epiphyte Mounting Supplies Kit $49.95 Mount small to medium sized orchids, Tillandsias, small bromeliads, ferns and other epiphytes. Contains enough materials to individually mount up to 12 epiphytic plants, includes: Natural Cork Bark pieces, Cedar disks, Coconut Chunks, Tree Fern plaque, and moss. Photo for Demo purposes…. |
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2 ORCHID EPIPHYLLUM CACTUS NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS CUTTINGS QUEEN OF THE NIGHT PLANT GRANDIFLORUS SELENICEREUS EPIPHYTES $49.99 THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT CACTUS COMES FROM THE TROPICAL AMERICAS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY FROM THE WEST INDIES, WHERE THEY LIVE PARTLY AS EPIPHYTES (i.e. THEY GROW CLINGING TO OTHER PLANTS, BUT NOT AS PARASITES). THE SCENT IS NEARLY OVERPOWERING, AND IS REMINISCENT OF VANILLA. WATCHING THE FLOWER BURST INTO BLOOM IS A MAGNIFICENT SIGHT! WE WILL SEND OUT INFORMATION THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR GROWING T… |
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Ortho’s All About Orchids $6.00 Helps beginning orchid growers develop the skills necessary to progress to more difficult ones.Plenty of information to inspire more advanced orchid growers.Provides a basic understanding of optimum environment for growing orchids.Helpful hints for creating that ideal environment.Explains potting, staking, and dividing orchids.Teaches about orchid growth patterns, and shows how to handle plants ba… |
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Growing Orchids II: The Cattleyas and Other Epiphytes $22.95 … |
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Tropical Orchids: Periplus Nature Guides $3.99 Tropical Orchids is the latest title in Periplus’ series of Nature Guides, which cover diverse subjects of tropical flora and fauna. This volume is a handy field guide that provides an excellent introduction to over 120 exotic orchid species found in Southeast Asia, many unique to the region. Included are full-color photographs of their extraordinarily beautiful blooms and a wealth of expert bot… |