Category: Orchid Doctor

WATER (GENERAL): Alkaline From a Well

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago If your water tests 470 prpm soluble minerals, you will gradually kill all your plants; "softened" water is worse; the pH can be tested with kits available from tropical fish stores, or with test t... Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Alkaline From Well

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago So long as there are no excessive salts content, it can range from a pH of 4 to 9, but water with a high calcium content should be kept off the leaves. A83-816 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): All-wet Culture

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago When some plant supports sagged the pots were lowered so the bottoms were in 1.25 inches of water continuously and they developed perfectly so were not damaged by the immersion. AU85(l)-35 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Bath Water Used on Plants

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago It can be only if the detergent used was mild baby shampoo; soaps might be harmful, joined with calcium and magnesium would result in precipitates in the rooting media. A77-527 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Best Range

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago The pH range should be 5 to 7 (or 4 to 9 for cattleyas, and the soluble salts should be less than 500ppm. A87-515 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Cold Weather Means Less Water

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Plant metabolism is reduced in winter to low levels and less water is required. F81-17 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Contains 11 Grains of Sodium Per Gallon

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago But at recharging the same water contains 2 grains, which is equal to 34 ppm, a small amount for watering. A81-1093 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Electrical Conductance

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Many water departments in municipalities supply the rates of electrical conductance in their analyses; less than 25 X 10-5 Mhos is excellent quality for growing orchids; 25 to 75 X 10-5 Mhos is goo... Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Excess Take-up

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Cattleyas and cymbidiums can both show signs of too much absorption when cut and placed in water and they become water-marked; removed from water the marks go away for reasons unknown. OA80-143 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Fluoridated Water

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago No effect from it has been noticed in culture; A62-485; it is not detrimental; A70-725 Read More