I just now watched ur interview with Paula & was so pleased to hear all ur good advice. How nice of Paula to get the interview process started. I look forward to the next one. I still use the fertilizer method I learned from you. You were terribly missed by so many people. You are in my prayers always. Thank you Rick.
Rick, I feel blessed to hear your voice throughout this garden tour this Friday morning. 🙌 As always, thank you for sharing the planting elements you use to pot your orchids. You are a treasure.🙌🏆🙏I pray that God blesses you and our YT family.🙏
Hi Rick! I have one of the variegated phals and the yellow one with the pink center! Omg! It’s the most precious yellow blooms I’ve ever seen. Mine is currently in bloom and takes my breath away every time I look at it!
.......I have 2 of the variegated phals......they are new to me......neither had good roots when purchased.....but will see how they respond and grow......the yellow one is a favorite.....love the blooms too...
@@rickl.orchids my variegated was a rescue from trader joe. The manager gave it to me for free . 🥰 yes the blooms on the yellow one make my heart sing. Def my fave yellow ever!
Hi Rick! So glad to hear you're doing well and back at home with your orchids. They all look fantastic...you have some beautiful blooms there. I think I'm going to go buy a fake snake...lol. My squirrels would flip out! 😅 Thanks always for your insights and tips. Blessings to you and Jan! Amy
Rick … I have been watching your videos and enjoy them immensely! I bought 5 bag babies to use as experiments in lava rock. Thanks to your videos I feel like they may just do fine. Wishing you health and happiness.
........the secret to using lava or any inert media......is to soak them......let them,.. pot and all,... soak for 15-20 minutes........then they are good for several days....
Oh! We used to do the fake snake thing in Kenya to deter the monkeys! 😅 the only major pest that I had to deal with when my orchids were up in the trees. They would take the pseudobulbs as bananas. Funny how other common pests were not an issue once I had attached them. Potted orchids no monkeys, but other pests, orchids in trees, monkeys but no other pests 😅 Exciting to see your beautiful blooms! My rescue orchids in lava rock are desperate for warmer temperatures, but I know for a fact that, if they had not been in lava rock during the past winter, I would surely have lost them. Wishing you and your lovely camera lady a beautiful rest of your day 🫶🏼❤🌸
.....thanks Nina, so very kind.....we have chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and the occasional armadillos, to deal with ....but no monkeys in Alabama.......yet......
I just finished watching the interview with you and Hillbilly Orchids. It was very informative. Can you post the link of Professor Wang on Texas A&M , I can not find it. That’s is my old college!! I find him but not the link with Orchids. Praise the Lord you and your wife are doing good Rick.
First glance of that long thing there was a real snake OMG!!! I have a coral snake roaming around my grow spaces. I did not kill it when I saw it. My husband was asleep. He told me I should’ve killed it because it’s dangerous. I told him “how?”, I could not even kill a worm. But anyway, I am so glad you and Jan are both in good health. That is the most important news to hear. Your orchids and plants are just sooo lusciously beautiful. I can’t help myself to get jealous, Lol. Thank you so much for sharing them beauties. Can’t wait to see that interview with Hillbilly Orchids. Stay safe and healthy y’all. We love you both. 🤗🤗🤗
I'm excited for the interview with Hillbilly orchids. I've learned a lot from you two as well as Ed from Ed's orchids. Glad you and Jane are well. Plants look great, it brings me so much joy seeing those roots do their thing.
Golly - your plants are SO healthy and vibrant. I'm very pleased to hear how well you are doing, despite the bruises; but very worth it no doubt. I'm looking forward to the tips on 'nutrition' when you speak with Hillbilly orchids. I sure can do with as many tips as possible.
How exciting to see all those beautiful amaryllis. Your onion and potatoes are wonderful. You are going to have a great harvest. And oh my goodness, those orchid roots on lava rock, they take my breath away. So gorgeous 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Good to hear your voice! I love the Trader Joe’s phal and the beautiful pink phal. You have such a long outdoor growing season that I envy. I didn’t know that calcium deficiency causes the leaves to twist. Thanks for the information.
Hey Brother 👋 glad to hear all is well and your home. Everything looks great! They are definitely responding to your care. Most of those cattleya like that have curled leaves. They dont get the best care like you said. I have the interview set for this sunday May 5th. Im going to announce it on my channel soon. Thanks dear brother. I couldn't do it without you! Hugs from West Virginia! 🤗🌹🩷
Everyone is looking phenomenal! New roots are the best. I started transitioning my collection into lava rock this spring and I’m mind blown at the amount of roots I’m seeing. It’s unbelievable. Of course Miss Paula got me using the Jacks two part and it’s incredible how quickly things have turned around. I also put some Oncidiums and Miltoniopsis into tree fern fiber and that’s been a success also but I prefer lava rock.
Lovely Amaryllis. What a nice harvest you'll have from the onions, potatoes and garlic. And of course, your orchids look amazing; all that satisfying root growth🤩. Great orange and yellow colors on the two Phals. Very nice update.
I am back to watching again. Happy to see more videos from you, Rick Orchids' roots are very healthy... I wish my orchids are too. I lost a lot this winter.
Oh I definitely intend to watch that Interview. You may not have been growing orchids for very long, but you came to the hobby with two green thumbs and the ability to speak plant. Consequently, your opinion carries a lot of weight for me and you've got all of my respect for it.
Thanks for the tour Mr. Rick! Everything looks so healthy and lush. Happy to hear you’re home and in the garden 💕 Looking forward to the interview with Paula.. very grateful for all you share. It’s about 58 at night here in Mid Tennessee tonight-almost full time outside. Seems to get a little chillier at night here in the holler though. Have a lovely day and all the best to you and yours -Bett😊
lookin good Rick. Glad your hospital stay was not too invasive. Always nice to not need surgery. Keep up the good spirits and hooray for your spring coming....fall here in Perth.
So happy to hear everything went well at the hospital. You sound well and positive. Love, love, love your video's. I always learn something. Thanks to you my orchids are flourishing. Autumn here in New Zealand. I was given a phal with twisted leaves - wondered why. You just solved it thanks.
Welcome home, Rick. Thanks for the calcium deficiency tip. I have a new and an old orchid with curling leaves like that. I need up use my cal-mag more consistently. I look forward to hearing you talk more about nutrients in the future.
Everything looks so healthy and beautiful! The food plants are going to be delicious. Very glad to hear you did so well with your trip to the hospital. Sorry you had to go at all but very happy it went well and that you’re home. My best to both you and Jan. See you soon. Take care. 🌺🌷🪻🌹🌸
It's a treat whenever your video notification pops up, Rick. Your plants are thriving and it's a testament to your methods & what's possible when growing orchids. I always learn and feel inspired to keep improving my growing routine when I see your videos. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Q: which brand of calcium additive are you using? Is Calcium Nitrate more beneficial than Calcium Carbonate? I hope one day you'll have time to speak on products and formulas you like to use. Would love to hear about your feeding & care regiment. Wishing you blessings of good physical and spiritual health. 🙏
......Reese, thank you.....very kind words.......calcium carbonate... like what is in our tap water, needs to be broken down for the calcium to be available......when we drink tap water....our stomach acid breaks it down so we can absorb the calcium ........calcium nitrate is in a pre-broken down form.......the plants can absorb it very easily...I use Calmag or CALiMAGic....all the time........my orchids are headed outside this weekend.......and I willl start talking about nutrients then......
@rickl.orchids Thanks, Rick. I noticed CaliMagic has calcium carbonate so I'm thinking of switching to a Calcium Nitrate derived product like Botanicare's Cal-Mag Plus. Have a lovely weekend.
@@reeseb8520 .....yes it does.....but....its chelated with Iron....should say on the bottle label.....by doing that,... it breaks the molecule down into a easily absorbed form of calcium.....calcium nitrate is a great source of nitrogen with calcium.....totally different product.......but used as well for strong growth.
@rickl.orchids Thanks for explaining the role of chelated iron--I really appreciate it. I didn't know it helped with the effectiveness of calcium carbonate. You saved me $23. 😄
Hi Rick! So happy you're back, great to hear your voice and am looking forward for more of your content. Your plants look amazing. Thank you for sharing 🙏☺️
So happy to see you back in your element❤How do you keep bugs at bay on your outside plants? I love to see your 😊home made metal plant holder, to hold the plants with leaves upright? Love hearing your great lessons!!! Welcome back! MANY HAVE MISSED YOU
Hi Rick. It’s such a pleasure to have you back and see your beautiful orchids, and amazing garden. did watch Miss Paula and your video. I really enjoyed it. Where do you get that beautiful lava rock? I would like to try it out. Thank you so much. Glad you’re better now. 🙏🏻👏🤗🥰
thank you......and I had fun speaking with Paula she is a great grower and friend....The lava rock I get at lowes...hope depot....etc......usually in the garden center.....used in flower beds as mulch as well as for Bar-BQ Grills
Thank you Rick for another informative video. Now that it is getting closer to bringing the orchids inside, can you review the process of bringing them in as far as nutrients go and the transition to a different environment? If you have already made this video, I apologize. I thought I have seen all of your videos :) God bless and thank you for your time and knowledge.
Thank you for your beautiful orchids. They are growing well temperature here today is 14 and 8° at night not very warm for me. Very cold seem to be struggling to come into flower at the moment because of the temperatures. My almost old orchid is coming out in flower White one seems to grow for me every year. Don’t know if it’s anything to do with the. Lava rock but I think it’s because of the cold temperatures. Glad you feel okay. Speak to you soon.❤
......cold temps will slow any plant down....the lava wont make any difference.....as it warms Im sure they will start actively growing again........thank you!
Lovely! I'm happy to see that you and your growing cast of characters are doing so well. For some reason I've been drawn to Alabama - in what region do you live? Do you have a video tutorial about making those boxes, I love them!
Hi from Australia,those cedar boxes you make do you slat the bottoms,you have inspired me in so many ways on my orchid journey,I'm battling health problems as well and the orchids help take me out of myself and keep me moving forward,thank you for all your great content❤
Jonathan....Thank you, very sorry to hear of your struggles,....keep doing what you can.....I use gutter gaurd mesh over the bottom of the boxes.......its a heavy black plastic mesh, comes in a roll 6" wide.....stapled in place......allows lots of air flow, and roots to expand......also any debris falls thru....
@@jonathanhodgkin6546 .....tip....drill the holes after you cut them to length......keep another piece of scrap wood under them as you drill.....will keep the drill bit from tearing out the back......
.......about every 4-5 days............the pots and media soak up moisture, and stay wet then damp for several days.....then they get a few days of dry......then I repeat......Thank you
Soo glad you and Jan doing well. Have you ever tried to grow a Vanilla Orchid? It grows like a Ivy but the foliage is so beautiful and thick looks healthy. eBay and mercari have them sometimes established, and cuttings.
Hello my friend, Very happy for your health and doing great. Long time ago you recommended to me some type of micro nutrients, (I think it's was from Foxfarms), do you remember which one was it? Thank you
Good Morning Norma....Ive used many types of micros nutrients..... Jungle Juice by Advance Nutrients...General Hydroponics Micros.....Fox Farm Micros....etc......most are around 5-0-1 NPK .....any will work.....and are a great source of good Nitrogen and micro nutrients....currently Im using General Hydroponics.....thank you.
Don't know what I love more, the fake snake, the gorgeous amaryllis (what do you do for winter protection?), or how wonderful your orchids are doing. Gives me hope for the restart of my own collection. Just need to see where to get lava rock. Not that easy to come by here in Germany, it seems. Anyhow, happy growing!
Wunderschönen Guten Tag nach Deutschland! Etwas Heimweh!! Frag nach in deinem Gartenzentrum. Bin mir sicher dass es dort Lavastein gibt und wenn nicht, mit Sicherheit wissen sie dann wo es Kostengünstig zu finden ist! 👍🏼 Ich benutze es seid Jahren, mit Erfolg vor allem, wenn Orchideen gerettet werden müssen👍🏼
@@NinjaOrchids ich hab online tatsächlich 3,6 Kg Beutel gefunden, im lokalen Baumarkt mit Gartenzentrum. Ich wäre im Geschäft selber wahrscheinlich nicht drauf gekommen beim Grillzubehör zu gucken. Bei meinen 7 Orchideen würde die Menge wahrscheinlich reichen. Habe da gerade keine genaue vorstellung. Werde mir morgen gleich was davon besorgen und dann geht's demnächst ans Umtopfen. Liebe Grüße aus Berlin :)
......thanks Nina for helping .....great info!..... .As for the Amaryllis,.....in the fall when frost wilts it leaves......I cover with armful of tree leaves........usually with in weeks leaf tips will start to poke thru.....they will sit there till spring...it has taken temperatures in the single digits...with no issues....thank you
Rick, you are giving me hopes to do well on my orchids in Louisiana, and lava rocks actually made difference on some of my cats. I will try to mount my tolumnias as well since I can’t figure out their happy medium. How many times a week are you feeding them potted in rocks?
.........I water/feed them about every 5-6 days.....my routine is ...I feed 3 times then flush them.......once outside mother nature will flush them with rainwater for me.....Tolumnias love being mounted......I believe...they do better with out media round them.
......thank you....a great question......pea gravel/ river rock creates a tighter space between the pieces vs a larger space with lava rock...some of the lava pieces are size of a hens egg....the bigger root orchids like cattleya, phals....I use lava rock......the thinner root orchids like oncidiums, I use the pea gravel/river rock........hope that makes sense.....either will work though.
I am sure you have shared your regimen already. So excited to see your plants! I am a newbie with orchids and have a lot to learn. Can you share with me your frequency and what you use? I use the Cal mag with another product can't remember the name. every 15 days super thrive, 20-20-20, epsom salt, sea kelp. Can I use the sea kelp and the 20-20-20 together? I want to get a hoya also, gorgeous leaves the flowers ae amazing.
Hi Rick! What’s the reason for the fake snake on the brick wall when you first started touring the garden in this video? I’m sure it’s a deterrent, just wondered for what? So happy your tests were all good 👏🏻. Love to you and Jan, from Tuscaloosa - Lynn
....lol.. I never see them anymore.........there are several of them in the garden........since I put them out......the squirrels and chipmonks have about dissapeared
WooHOO!!! I love to see that you've put out a new video!!! Would you give us a refresher on how you use the Calcium I recently bought some and I don't see any difference in the growth of my plants. I really need to get it dialed in, so I can get them the food they need. I have orchids but my main plants are succulents (Haworthia). TIA
Rick just found your site. I see(I have been following Ed) your doing lava rock… I would love to know the type or if all red lava rock is the same? Love your yard and your orchids. Oh the onions.yum..take care
......thank you.....I get my lave rock at Lowes.....its used for landscaping and also for grills.....as long as its not treated it will work.....big or small
I’m so glad that you’re out of the hospital and doing well and are back home enjoying your garden! Your orchids are absolutely thriving! It’s amazing what the right nutrients will accomplish even after just a short period of time, huh? Love your beautiful Amaryllis! I have some that I planted inside in clay pots before Christmas. (First time I ever tried to grow them!). I want to plant the bulbs outside but I think I need to wait until the fall to do so? Is that correct? The bulbs are outside in the pots now and have lovely green foliage! Looking forward to your interview with Paula! Love, Caro. :)
@@tobiesmom .....Caro, .....bulbs need a lot of nutrition to keep them healthy and for good blooming.......I feed mine in the spring before I see the foilage start to grow.....and again in the fall for muliplying bulbs.....I use a 13-13-13 for that
@@rickl.orchids Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I guess we should get back onto the subject of orchids, huh? How often are you watering your orchids now? They ones that are outside on the table?
@@tobiesmom ......they are enjoying the warmth and the indirect light........and waiting for the shade house to be finished.......Im watering about every 4-6 days.......In lava....if I water on a Monday....they are still damp for about 3 days....then a couple of dry days.....and I repeat......have a great weekend.
Thank you Rick for this video, it is amazing to see all the root growth in a relatively short time for these plants! I’m sorry you were in the hospital- hope you wont need to do that again and will continue to feel better and enjoy your plants and your days 🙏🙏 I watched your earlier video about fertilizers and felt a little bit overwhelmed. I am a brand new plant enthusiast, have a couple of orchids and I bought a fertilizer but I don’t know how to tell if it has enough calcium in it. Wondering if you would mind recommending a way to supplement calcium if what I use doesn’t have enough.. I use MSU liquid fertilizer that I bought online, it’s orchid specific. Well anyway many thanks for your wonderful videos and have a blessed weekend!
.......welcome and thank you for the kind words......I love great questions.......I prefer my calcium to match my nitrogen or a bit more......check your MSU label....see what it has for its calcium and for its nitrogen source.....check the % of them.......let say you have 15% total nitrogen and your calcium is 8%.....I would use some calmag to help boost it up.....MSU is a fine fertilizer.....very good choice.....use a TDS meter to measure your nutrient solution to make it easier to feed and to really make your orchids grow better.......using spoon measurements use up your MSU faster, and causes build up of salts in your media....
@@rickl.orchids oh my goodness thank you for responding, that is really helpful!!The label on the MSU fertilizer says Nitrogen is 3.15% (0.15%ammoniacal nitrogen and 3% Nitrate Nitrogen). Calcium is 1.90% and Magnesium is 0.475%. Do you have recommendation for which cal-mag to use? There are so many out there, and maybe they all do the same thing, I don't know. I have also never used a tds meter but will get one. Thank you so much again!!🙏
@@idpiano ......TDS meters are cheap.....under $15.....and dont be intimidated by them.......if you can use a thermometer you can use a TDS meter....it will open your eyes....allow you to dial in your feedings....and quickly take you to the next level of orchid growing....Once you get into a routine of feeding and caring for tour orchids .....you wont have to keep checking things....cause you will already know. ......any Calmag product will work....I like General Hydroponics CALiMAGic .....if you have any questions about your meter.....let me know....ask away!
@@rickl.orchids Thank you! Both TDS meter and CaliMAGic were easy to find online, so I bought them. Still not entirely sure how much of the CalMag to use along with my fertilizer but I"ll start with a low dose and go from there. Appreciate you and hope you are having a wonderful day :)
@@idpiano ......measure your orchid water....my rainwater was around 5ppm this am.....I added 50ppm {3-4 drops per gallon}of calmag and then I added another 125ppm of my fertilizer.[..around 2.5ml or 1/2 tsp]....my mix was now 175ppm..... I use pipettes to add nutrients to my water.....a straw with your finger over the end will work also.....it takes very little to mix up alot of nutrients......I will show how I do it in a video soon...........good luck.
Hello Rick, I'm glad you are doing well. I was just wondering if you live in the North East, can you use lava rock if you grow indoors under grow lights.
......Hey Lisa.......yes you can.....in fact if I lived up north I would still use lava..Moss and bark are great medias...time proven...however they dont dry out very fast......With stone, rock, lava, or other inert medias....they stay damp, but not soggy and wet.....alllows the roots that wet dry cycle that orchids need.
my grow room is in full summer mode, night time temps are a steady 20c and during the day I already topped at 28c 😁Cymbidiums are out side (thanks heaven) Stuff is just exploding. I have a question, since you are the resident nutrient expert. Why doesn't seaweed increase the TDS (I use a powdered seaweed lime and that should increase the TDS)
......Ynse, my friend....your collection is incredible.....especially your mounts....thats a great question........kelp and seaweed powdered or liquid...usually 0-0-1 npk....is mostly hormones, enzymes, etc..with 1% potassium......they dont measure out with TDS meters.....Example....you can take 0 ppm water,... soak wood in it and it will turn darker.....from the tannins or tannic acid.......it will still measure close to 0 ppm.......it will however effect or lower the ph
Glad to hear you’re doing well. The orchids look awesome. Did you keep any of your African Violets? I recall an old video where you showed how you spray Bio-Advanced 3/1. You also were wanting to know what could be making the centers so tight. Well I used the same product after a thrips infestation. Thrips are gone but my plants have developed really tight centers and the leaves hard and brittle, blooms look poorly. I caught the thrips early. No obvious damage but could these later symptoms be a result of the insecticide? How did your violets do?
Miriam......I am sorry to say I gave them all away as well.....health issues didnt allow me to keep them. I miss them very much.......Tight centers can be several things....#1...to much light....which usually causes the plants to dome over...leaves will droop downward trying to move away from the bright light... .....#2 or Broad Mites, sometime called Cyclamen mites....these mites are horrible, they transfer from other plants and can decimate a collection.....they are very hard to get rid of.......they feed on the newest growth, ....which is the center of a violet....they will cause the plant to literally stop growing......the centers will get very tight, and turn brittle.....leaves will crack and blooms are distorted and shaggy looking.......look up broad mites on violets.....Best way to rid yourself of them is to pull leaves, clean them, and regrow new plants.... then toss the rest of the plant..........my wife loved the violets, as I did.......and down the road I may get some more.......they are such beautiful plants.
Hello Rick , can you talk about the "green moss" that are in some of the pots ? Did they grow there naturally ? Or did you place them there ? Also what is thier significance, if any ? Thank you !
.....a great question........yes its live moss from my garden stone and brick walls......I peel off a piece and lay it over the rocks.......it grows onto it very fast......Ive never found any ill effects on the orchids.......it will act a an alert for me......if there is any salt build up or nutreint build up they will start to die back......like a pre warning something is wrong.......I also love the look of an orchid with moss around it......and it acts like mulch some what.....keeps the pot moisture longer.....
......thats a great question.....I use the big bags from Lowes or Home Depot....and your right it has some larger pieces in it.....I use the very large pieces in the bottoms of the pots and the smaller pieces over the top and tucked in between the big pieces.....locks it all together and holds the orchids very snug.....The roots of the orchids will grow into all those spaces between the rocks......Remember the media is just to hold the plant into the pot till it grows roots and anchors itself...They really will grow fine even in a bare pot with no media......
I’m new to orchids (about a year and a half) and found your channel only since you returned. I’m enjoying it. Do you use calcium on a regular basis or when you feel necessary? How much and how often do you apply? I haven’t used calcium and am interested in whether I should. I use an MSU fertilizer 1/2 tbs./gal of distilled water whenever I water with a flush every 4 or 5 times. Thanks
welcome.....thank you.....great question.......I never give them any water without calcium in it......there is calcium in in my fertilzers ....and I also add calmag to flushing water....the only water they get without calcium.... is when it rains on them.......soon I will be adding dolomitic lime to them....or crushed oyster shells......they should always have calcium around them........especially during strong growth.......MSU is a great fertilzer.........check your label for calcium %....probably around 8%......I like mine to be higher than the nitrogen % by a bit.......Calcium is what makes them turn into jungle plants.......and grow like mad
@@LizE2654 ......calmag is great supplement....orchids love it......I might add 3-4 drops in 1/2 gallon water..... ...Liz....to really help your orchids.....get yourself a TDS meter(...under $15}.....then you can fine tune your feeding......and know exactly how much your giving them.....spoon measurements will just use up your mix faster....and build up lots of salt in your medium....keep asking great questions........I love info seeking growers!
@@LizE2654 ........very simple......turn it on......place tip in your nutrient solution.....it will give you a reading.......that is in PPM....or parts per million......test several things like your tap water some rainwater....or bottled water.........the lower the number the more pure the water.. ..ex..if your tap water is 100ppm......and you add MSU and it now reads 500ppm.....your actually feeding 400ppm of fertilzer.......I feed my orchids with rainwater....its about 4ppm.......i add nutrients till I get to 125 to 150 ppm......sometimes more sometimes less.......use your meter and after a few times you will be a pro......please dont hesitate to ask for help here.......anytime.......
......about every 5-6 days............the pots and media soak up moisture, and stay wet,... then damp for several days.....then they get a few days of dry......then I repeat......Thank you
I just now watched ur interview with Paula
& was so pleased to hear all ur good advice.
How nice of Paula to get the interview process started. I look forward to the next one.
I still use the fertilizer method I learned from you.
You were terribly missed by so many people.
You are in my prayers always.
Thank you Rick.
thank you so much ....Paula has been a big influence on me comeing back........
Hi Rick!
I enjoy watching your videos, I learn a lot from them. Thank you so much and I wish you the best.
Thank you Diana......very kind.
Rick, I feel blessed to hear your voice throughout this garden tour this Friday morning. 🙌
As always, thank you for sharing the planting elements you use to pot your orchids. You are a treasure.🙌🏆🙏I pray that God blesses you and our YT family.🙏
thank you so very much!
I am so happy you are doing well again! The plants are growing so well! Beautiful. And I am looking forward to the interview. ❤
........thank you my friend....
Hi Rick! I have one of the variegated phals and the yellow one with the pink center! Omg! It’s the most precious yellow blooms I’ve ever seen. Mine is currently in bloom and takes my breath away every time I look at it!
.......I have 2 of the variegated phals......they are new to me......neither had good roots when purchased.....but will see how they respond and grow......the yellow one is a favorite.....love the blooms too...
@@rickl.orchids my variegated was a rescue from trader joe. The manager gave it to me for free . 🥰 yes the blooms on the yellow one make my heart sing. Def my fave yellow ever!
@@rosastakofsky1538 ......both my varigated phals also came from Trader Joes......
Wow, those orchids love that lava rock and look at the roots, amazing! The longer the grow tip he more humidity its getting whoo... hooo.👏
.......thank you......we all love those roots!
Hi Rick! So glad to hear you're doing well and back at home with your orchids. They all look fantastic...you have some beautiful blooms there.
I think I'm going to go buy a fake snake...lol. My squirrels would flip out! 😅
Thanks always for your insights and tips. Blessings to you and Jan! Amy
Thanks Amy......the snakes really helped with my chipmunk and squirrel problem.....blessings to you as well....
Rick … I have been watching your videos and enjoy them immensely! I bought 5 bag babies to use as experiments in lava rock. Thanks to your videos I feel like they may just do fine.
Wishing you health and happiness.
........the secret to using lava or any inert media......is to soak them......let them,.. pot and all,... soak for 15-20 minutes........then they are good for several days....
Oh! We used to do the fake snake thing in Kenya to deter the monkeys! 😅 the only major pest that I had to deal with when my orchids were up in the trees. They would take the pseudobulbs as bananas. Funny how other common pests were not an issue once I had attached them. Potted orchids no monkeys, but other pests, orchids in trees, monkeys but no other pests 😅 Exciting to see your beautiful blooms! My rescue orchids in lava rock are desperate for warmer temperatures, but I know for a fact that, if they had not been in lava rock during the past winter, I would surely have lost them. Wishing you and your lovely camera lady a beautiful rest of your day 🫶🏼❤🌸
.....thanks Nina, so very kind.....we have chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and the occasional armadillos, to deal with ....but no monkeys in Alabama.......yet......
Rick, I am so happy that you are back. Wish you to be healthy. I am a big fan of you.
......what kind words.........thank you my friend.
I just finished watching the interview with you and Hillbilly Orchids. It was very informative. Can you post the link of Professor Wang on Texas A&M , I can not find it. That’s is my old college!! I find him but not the link with Orchids. Praise the Lord you and your wife are doing good Rick.
First glance of that long thing there was a real snake OMG!!! I have a coral snake roaming around my grow spaces. I did not kill it when I saw it. My husband was asleep. He told me I should’ve killed it because it’s dangerous. I told him “how?”, I could not even kill a worm. But anyway, I am so glad you and Jan are both in good health. That is the most important news to hear. Your orchids and plants are just sooo lusciously beautiful. I can’t help myself to get jealous, Lol. Thank you so much for sharing them beauties. Can’t wait to see that interview with Hillbilly Orchids. Stay safe and healthy y’all. We love you both. 🤗🤗🤗
......such kind words.....thank you so much.!
Thank you for sharing all of your beautiful plants, Rick. I always enjoy seeing them and listening to you talk about them ♡
thank you very much.
I'm excited for the interview with Hillbilly orchids. I've learned a lot from you two as well as Ed from Ed's orchids. Glad you and Jane are well. Plants look great, it brings me so much joy seeing those roots do their thing.
.......thank you
Rick- I admire your tenacity and ability to move through your limitations. Keep shining and focusing on the joy that life can offer 😊
Rafael.....my dear friend.....thnak you for the very heart touching words.....its kind, caring people.. like yourself that keep me going..
So happy to be able to watch your videos again! My husband and I learned soooo much from you about nutrients and watering , cannot thank you enough!!
.....thank you very kind.
I’m glad you are feeling better and getting back into orchids 😊 orchids makes life much better!
........thats a great T-shirt slogan..........thank you!
So good to hear your voice, and to look forward to orchid talk!
.....thank you
Hi Rick, happy to see this video :)
Wish you health and joy!
thank you so much!
Golly - your plants are SO healthy and vibrant. I'm very pleased to hear how well you are doing, despite the bruises; but very worth it no doubt. I'm looking forward to the tips on 'nutrition' when you speak with Hillbilly orchids. I sure can do with as many tips as possible.
........thanks
How exciting to see all those beautiful amaryllis. Your onion and potatoes are wonderful. You are going to have a great harvest. And oh my goodness, those orchid roots on lava rock, they take my breath away. So gorgeous 🥰🥰🥰🥰
.......as always....thank you my friend!
Good to hear your voice! I love the Trader Joe’s phal and the beautiful pink phal. You have such a long outdoor growing season that I envy.
I didn’t know that calcium deficiency causes the leaves to twist. Thanks for the information.
......thank you Judy!
Hey Brother 👋 glad to hear all is well and your home. Everything looks great! They are definitely responding to your care. Most of those cattleya like that have curled leaves. They dont get the best care like you said. I have the interview set for this sunday May 5th. Im going to announce it on my channel soon. Thanks dear brother. I couldn't do it without you! Hugs from West Virginia! 🤗🌹🩷
......Thanks Paula....I really enoyed it.....and I hope you do more......hugs from Bama
I’m such a root nerd too, LOVE to see roots growing 😂
.......same here.....sign of a happy orchid!
Everyone is looking phenomenal! New roots are the best. I started transitioning my collection into lava rock this spring and I’m mind blown at the amount of roots I’m seeing. It’s unbelievable. Of course Miss Paula got me using the Jacks two part and it’s incredible how quickly things have turned around. I also put some Oncidiums and Miltoniopsis into tree fern fiber and that’s been a success also but I prefer lava rock.
.......thank you ....yes root tips are the best!.....I love hearing of your success.
Lovely Amaryllis. What a nice harvest you'll have from the onions, potatoes and garlic. And of course, your orchids look amazing; all that satisfying root growth🤩. Great orange and yellow colors on the two Phals. Very nice update.
So nice of you.....thanks
Rick good to see you again, I always pray for your good health 😊
Sally.......thank you so much......
I am back to watching again. Happy to see more videos from you, Rick Orchids' roots are very healthy... I wish my orchids are too. I lost a lot this winter.
oh no.....sorry to hear .....ask some questions if there is something I can help with..
I love your root growth. Can you tell us more about your feed schedule and fertilizers, ppm? It is great having you back!
........probably my next video will be covering that........very simple feed and water schedule.....I love talking nutrients.....thank you
Oh I definitely intend to watch that Interview. You may not have been growing orchids for very long, but you came to the hobby with two green thumbs and the ability to speak plant. Consequently, your opinion carries a lot of weight for me and you've got all of my respect for it.
thanks Victor, that means alot......always good to see you here my friend!
Omg!!! So glad to see and hear you!!!!!
.....very kind thank you
Traveling through New Zealand….. still watching you and learning. Lived in Alabama from 1982-86. Glad you’re doing well…..
......I moved to Alabama in 83.....enjoy your time in New Zealand.......such a great place for plant lovers
Thanks for the tour Mr. Rick! Everything looks so healthy and lush. Happy to hear you’re home and in the garden 💕 Looking forward to the interview with Paula.. very grateful for all you share. It’s about 58 at night here in Mid Tennessee tonight-almost full time outside. Seems to get a little chillier at night here in the holler though. Have a lovely day and all the best to you and yours -Bett😊
.......thanks Bett.......sometimes I wish we lived in a holler in Tennessee......enjoy your beautiful evening.
lookin good Rick. Glad your hospital stay was not too invasive. Always nice to not need surgery. Keep up the good spirits and hooray for your spring coming....fall here in Perth.
thanks Julie......your covered in blooms I bet!
So happy to hear everything went well at the hospital. You sound well and positive. Love, love, love your video's. I always learn something. Thanks to you my orchids are flourishing. Autumn here in New Zealand. I was given a phal with twisted leaves - wondered why. You just solved it thanks.
......such kind words........thank you
hello just new to your channel. Loving it! learned about you from Melissalovesorchids
welcome........Melissa is a great grower.....love her channel
we've all missed you.
thank you so much.......I've miss you guys as well!
Welcome home, Rick. Thanks for the calcium deficiency tip. I have a new and an old orchid with curling leaves like that. I need up use my cal-mag more consistently. I look forward to hearing you talk more about nutrients in the future.
.....thank you, very kind.....the plants are headed outside this weekend......and the growing will begin!
So happy to see you back on TH-cam again! We need another lesson on what and how you feed your orchids. 😊
Everything looks so healthy and beautiful! The food plants are going to be delicious.
Very glad to hear you did so well with your trip to the hospital. Sorry you had to go at all but very happy it went well and that you’re home.
My best to both you and Jan. See you soon. Take care. 🌺🌷🪻🌹🌸
Thanks for your and Paula insight on phals. With the interview I enjoy and will put it to use in my collection
......thanks James,.....I enjoyed doing it.
It's a treat whenever your video notification pops up, Rick. Your plants are thriving and it's a testament to your methods & what's possible when growing orchids.
I always learn and feel inspired to keep improving my growing routine when I see your videos. Thank you for sharing your ideas!
Q: which brand of calcium additive are you using? Is Calcium Nitrate more beneficial than Calcium Carbonate? I hope one day you'll have time to speak on products and formulas you like to use. Would love to hear about your feeding & care regiment.
Wishing you blessings of good physical and spiritual health. 🙏
......Reese, thank you.....very kind words.......calcium carbonate... like what is in our tap water, needs to be broken down for the calcium to be available......when we drink tap water....our stomach acid breaks it down so we can absorb the calcium ........calcium nitrate is in a pre-broken down form.......the plants can absorb it very easily...I use Calmag or CALiMAGic....all the time........my orchids are headed outside this weekend.......and I willl start talking about nutrients then......
@rickl.orchids Thanks, Rick. I noticed CaliMagic has calcium carbonate so I'm thinking of switching to a Calcium Nitrate derived product like Botanicare's Cal-Mag Plus. Have a lovely weekend.
@@reeseb8520 .....yes it does.....but....its chelated with Iron....should say on the bottle label.....by doing that,... it breaks the molecule down into a easily absorbed form of calcium.....calcium nitrate is a great source of nitrogen with calcium.....totally different product.......but used as well for strong growth.
@rickl.orchids Thanks for explaining the role of chelated iron--I really appreciate it. I didn't know it helped with the effectiveness of calcium carbonate. You saved me $23. 😄
Your plants look amazing! So glad you are doing well!
......thank you
Beautiful orchids. Thank you for the tour. I’m happy that you are doing good. Paula is awesome, I can’t wait to watch the interview.
.....thank you.......I just subscribed to your channel.........looks wonderful.......will enjoy catching up on your videos.....
@@rickl.orchids thank you so much for your kind words 💚
Nice seeing you are back and well. Good hearing your calm soothing voice
thanks Terry.....
Hi Rick! So happy you're back, great to hear your voice and am looking forward for more of your content. Your plants look amazing. Thank you for sharing 🙏☺️
.......thank you ....very kind.
So happy to see you back in your element❤How do you keep bugs at bay on your outside plants? I love to see your 😊home made metal plant holder, to hold the plants with leaves upright? Love hearing your great lessons!!! Welcome back! MANY HAVE MISSED YOU
......I missed my orchids.....but....its kind viewers like yourself is why Im back........thank you so much.
Hi Rick. It’s such a pleasure to have you back and see your beautiful orchids, and amazing garden. did watch Miss Paula and your video. I really enjoyed it. Where do you get that beautiful lava rock? I would like to try it out. Thank you so much. Glad you’re better now. 🙏🏻👏🤗🥰
thank you......and I had fun speaking with Paula she is a great grower and friend....The lava rock I get at lowes...hope depot....etc......usually in the garden center.....used in flower beds as mulch as well as for Bar-BQ Grills
My friend recently gave me a nice piece of her Hoya wayetii (varigated). I'm excited to watch it grow!
......wonderful,.....they were another of my favorite plants......very diverse....thankyou my friend
@@rickl.orchids Mine too! I have 10 Hoya in my plant collection.
Thank you Rick for another informative video. Now that it is getting closer to bringing the orchids inside, can you review the process of bringing them in as far as nutrients go and the transition to a different environment? If you have already made this video, I apologize. I thought I have seen all of your videos :) God bless and thank you for your time and knowledge.
Paula, I will be talking about that very soon......Thank you
Thank you! I am up north so I have mine in the house already but I need to review the nutrients and any tips you have about light.
Such a treat 😍💐 lots of love to you and yours 🙏
.....so very kind thank you!
thanks for the update, and thanks again for your guidance on water quality and nutrients!
thank you........good water is key to healthy orchids
i'm very happy you're back! God bless you
.......so very kind Thank you........and blessings back my friend.
Hello, I look forward to the interview with Paula. Keep on trucking.
thank you Richard......hope you enjoy it.
Thank you for your beautiful orchids. They are growing well temperature here today is 14 and 8° at night not very warm for me. Very cold seem to be struggling to come into flower at the moment because of the temperatures. My almost old orchid is coming out in flower White one seems to grow for me every year. Don’t know if it’s anything to do with the. Lava rock but I think it’s because of the cold temperatures. Glad you feel okay. Speak to you soon.❤
......cold temps will slow any plant down....the lava wont make any difference.....as it warms Im sure they will start actively growing again........thank you!
Lovely! I'm happy to see that you and your growing cast of characters are doing so well.
For some reason I've been drawn to Alabama - in what region do you live?
Do you have a video tutorial about making those boxes, I love them!
........thank you... Im mid state....south of Birmingham.....I will show how to make a box in a upcoming video....
A great restart to your collection
Thank you kindly
Hi from Australia,those cedar boxes you make do you slat the bottoms,you have inspired me in so many ways on my orchid journey,I'm battling health problems as well and the orchids help take me out of myself and keep me moving forward,thank you for all your great content❤
Jonathan....Thank you, very sorry to hear of your struggles,....keep doing what you can.....I use gutter gaurd mesh over the bottom of the boxes.......its a heavy black plastic mesh, comes in a roll 6" wide.....stapled in place......allows lots of air flow, and roots to expand......also any debris falls thru....
Thank you,now to find the wood and let the fun begin,cheers👍🤗
@@jonathanhodgkin6546 .....tip....drill the holes after you cut them to length......keep another piece of scrap wood under them as you drill.....will keep the drill bit from tearing out the back......
Great content,I have 2 Phals that have twisted leaves.Thank You for the info.Hospital is a good place to be to get well but sure nice to be home 😊
......I was in great hands.....but home is the best.....thank you
So glad youre back. Youre stuff looks amazing already! How often do you water?
.......about every 4-5 days............the pots and media soak up moisture, and stay wet then damp for several days.....then they get a few days of dry......then I repeat......Thank you
Soo glad you and Jan doing well. Have you ever tried to grow a Vanilla Orchid? It grows like a Ivy but the foliage is so beautiful and thick looks healthy. eBay and mercari have them sometimes established, and cuttings.
......no never have, may be a interesting plant to look into...Thank you
Hello my friend, Very happy for your health and doing great.
Long time ago you recommended to me some type of micro nutrients, (I think it's was from Foxfarms), do you remember which one was it? Thank you
Good Morning Norma....Ive used many types of micros nutrients..... Jungle Juice by Advance Nutrients...General Hydroponics Micros.....Fox Farm Micros....etc......most are around 5-0-1 NPK .....any will work.....and are a great source of good Nitrogen and micro nutrients....currently Im using General Hydroponics.....thank you.
Don't know what I love more, the fake snake, the gorgeous amaryllis (what do you do for winter protection?), or how wonderful your orchids are doing.
Gives me hope for the restart of my own collection. Just need to see where to get lava rock. Not that easy to come by here in Germany, it seems.
Anyhow, happy growing!
Wunderschönen Guten Tag nach Deutschland! Etwas Heimweh!! Frag nach in deinem Gartenzentrum. Bin mir sicher dass es dort Lavastein gibt und wenn nicht, mit Sicherheit wissen sie dann wo es Kostengünstig zu finden ist! 👍🏼 Ich benutze es seid Jahren, mit Erfolg vor allem, wenn Orchideen gerettet werden müssen👍🏼
@@NinjaOrchids ich hab online tatsächlich 3,6 Kg Beutel gefunden, im lokalen Baumarkt mit Gartenzentrum. Ich wäre im Geschäft selber wahrscheinlich nicht drauf gekommen beim Grillzubehör zu gucken. Bei meinen 7 Orchideen würde die Menge wahrscheinlich reichen. Habe da gerade keine genaue vorstellung.
Werde mir morgen gleich was davon besorgen und dann geht's demnächst ans Umtopfen.
Liebe Grüße aus Berlin :)
......thanks Nina for helping .....great info!.....
.As for the Amaryllis,.....in the fall when frost wilts it leaves......I cover with armful of tree leaves........usually with in weeks leaf tips will start to poke thru.....they will sit there till spring...it has taken temperatures in the single digits...with no issues....thank you
@@rickl.orchids Thank you for being gracious! I saw someone from Germany and though awwwhhh.... I felt the urge to write in my mother tongue 🥹
@@tinasachs8688 Berliiiinnnnn!!! Habe viele viele Jahre in Berlin verbracht, besonders nach der Wende! Awwwhhh 🥲
So sorry to hear you were in the hospital. Absolutely love having you back. Are you still feeding basically what you were feeding 5-6 years ago?
...Thank you, very kind of you......good question....I am....but using some different brand of nutrients......I will go over my feeding very soon.
Welcome back
thanks Peter....
Rick, you are giving me hopes to do well on my orchids in Louisiana, and lava rocks actually made difference on some of my cats. I will try to mount my tolumnias as well since I can’t figure out their happy medium. How many times a week are you feeding them potted in rocks?
.........I water/feed them about every 5-6 days.....my routine is ...I feed 3 times then flush them.......once outside mother nature will flush them with rainwater for me.....Tolumnias love being mounted......I believe...they do better with out media round them.
Hi Rick. That amaryllis is gorgeous! And I love the yellow phal. Is there a reason to choose between river rock or lava rock or just what's on hand?
......thank you....a great question......pea gravel/ river rock creates a tighter space between the pieces vs a larger space with lava rock...some of the lava pieces are size of a hens egg....the bigger root orchids like cattleya, phals....I use lava rock......the thinner root orchids like oncidiums, I use the pea gravel/river rock........hope that makes sense.....either will work though.
I am sure you have shared your regimen already. So excited to see your plants! I am a newbie with orchids and have a lot to learn. Can you share with me your frequency and what you use? I use the Cal mag with another product can't remember the name. every 15 days super thrive, 20-20-20, epsom salt, sea kelp. Can I use the sea kelp and the 20-20-20 together? I want to get a hoya also, gorgeous leaves the flowers ae amazing.
......Ill be talking about my routine very soon......
Hi Rick! What’s the reason for the fake snake on the brick wall when you first started touring the garden in this video? I’m sure it’s a deterrent, just wondered for what? So happy your tests were all good 👏🏻. Love to you and Jan, from Tuscaloosa - Lynn
....lol.. I never see them anymore.........there are several of them in the garden........since I put them out......the squirrels and chipmonks have about dissapeared
Rick, another great video! And I watched it with a big smile on my face. Thank you for sharing!!!! Greetings; Ralf
Such growth & ColorWow. I went out and bought 3 bags of lava rock- repot momma lol. Rick what did you make your orchid wood boxes of?
.......they are cedar wood.......Orchids seem to love it.......
@@rickl.orchids thank you. Learning..again 😊
WooHOO!!! I love to see that you've put out a new video!!! Would you give us a refresher on how you use the Calcium I recently bought some and I don't see any difference in the growth of my plants. I really need to get it dialed in, so I can get them the food they need. I have orchids but my main plants are succulents (Haworthia). TIA
......as soon as they get outside ...we will go over what and how I feed them......maybe next video.
@@rickl.orchids TY so much!!! I look forward to it!!!
Can you make a vlog on how you feed them?
........they are going outside fulltime soon......then I will start talking nutrients.
Rick just found your site. I see(I have been following Ed) your doing lava rock… I would love to know the type or if all red lava rock is the same? Love your yard and your orchids. Oh the onions.yum..take care
......thank you.....I get my lave rock at Lowes.....its used for landscaping and also for grills.....as long as its not treated it will work.....big or small
I’m so glad that you’re out of the hospital and doing well and are back home enjoying your garden! Your orchids are absolutely thriving! It’s amazing what the right nutrients will accomplish even after just a short period of time, huh? Love your beautiful Amaryllis! I have some that I planted inside in clay pots before Christmas. (First time I ever tried to grow them!). I want to plant the bulbs outside but I think I need to wait until the fall to do so? Is that correct? The bulbs are outside in the pots now and have lovely green foliage! Looking forward to your interview with Paula! Love, Caro. :)
.......Thank you Caro.....best to plant when the foilage dies back.....and bulb is at rest.....
@@rickl.orchids Thank you, Rick. The foliage is nice and green now...do I need to be fertilizing on a regular basis?
@@tobiesmom .....Caro, .....bulbs need a lot of nutrition to keep them healthy and for good blooming.......I feed mine in the spring before I see the foilage start to grow.....and again in the fall for muliplying bulbs.....I use a 13-13-13 for that
@@rickl.orchids Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I guess we should get back onto the subject of orchids, huh? How often are you watering your orchids now? They ones that are outside on the table?
@@tobiesmom ......they are enjoying the warmth and the indirect light........and waiting for the shade house to be finished.......Im watering about every 4-6 days.......In lava....if I water on a Monday....they are still damp for about 3 days....then a couple of dry days.....and I repeat......have a great weekend.
Thank you Rick for this video, it is amazing to see all the root growth in a relatively short time for these plants!
I’m sorry you were in the hospital- hope you wont need to do that again and will continue to feel better and enjoy your plants and your days 🙏🙏
I watched your earlier video about fertilizers and felt a little bit overwhelmed. I am a brand new plant enthusiast, have a couple of orchids and I bought a fertilizer but I don’t know how to tell if it has enough calcium in it. Wondering if you would mind recommending a way to supplement calcium if what I use doesn’t have enough.. I use MSU liquid fertilizer that I bought online, it’s orchid specific.
Well anyway many thanks for your wonderful videos and have a blessed weekend!
.......welcome and thank you for the kind words......I love great questions.......I prefer my calcium to match my nitrogen or a bit more......check your MSU label....see what it has for its calcium and for its nitrogen source.....check the % of them.......let say you have 15% total nitrogen and your calcium is 8%.....I would use some calmag to help boost it up.....MSU is a fine fertilizer.....very good choice.....use a TDS meter to measure your nutrient solution to make it easier to feed and to really make your orchids grow better.......using spoon measurements use up your MSU faster, and causes build up of salts in your media....
@@rickl.orchids oh my goodness thank you for responding, that is really helpful!!The label on the MSU fertilizer says Nitrogen is 3.15% (0.15%ammoniacal nitrogen and 3% Nitrate Nitrogen). Calcium is 1.90% and Magnesium is 0.475%. Do you have recommendation for which cal-mag to use? There are so many out there, and maybe they all do the same thing, I don't know. I have also never used a tds meter but will get one. Thank you so much again!!🙏
@@idpiano ......TDS meters are cheap.....under $15.....and dont be intimidated by them.......if you can use a thermometer you can use a TDS meter....it will open your eyes....allow you to dial in your feedings....and quickly take you to the next level of orchid growing....Once you get into a routine of feeding and caring for tour orchids .....you wont have to keep checking things....cause you will already know.
......any Calmag product will work....I like General Hydroponics CALiMAGic
.....if you have any questions about your meter.....let me know....ask away!
@@rickl.orchids Thank you! Both TDS meter and CaliMAGic were easy to find online, so I bought them. Still not entirely sure how much of the CalMag to use along with my fertilizer but I"ll start with a low dose and go from there. Appreciate you and hope you are having a wonderful day :)
@@idpiano ......measure your orchid water....my rainwater was around 5ppm this am.....I added 50ppm {3-4 drops per gallon}of calmag and then I added another 125ppm of my fertilizer.[..around 2.5ml or 1/2 tsp]....my mix was now 175ppm..... I use pipettes to add nutrients to my water.....a straw with your finger over the end will work also.....it takes very little to mix up alot of nutrients......I will show how I do it in a video soon...........good luck.
Hello Rick, I'm glad you are doing well. I was just wondering if you live in the North East, can you use lava rock if you grow indoors under grow lights.
......Hey Lisa.......yes you can.....in fact if I lived up north I would still use lava..Moss and bark are great medias...time proven...however they dont dry out very fast......With stone, rock, lava, or other inert medias....they stay damp, but not soggy and wet.....alllows the roots that wet dry cycle that orchids need.
Where can I find those awesome wood box baskets with all the holes that you have your encyclias in?
...........the boxes you see... I make......I use cedar.......I will show how to make them if you would like.
OMGosh they are adorable you should make and sell them, they are fantastic! I would very much love for you to do a live on making them.
@@Myorchidlife ......I'll see what I can do!......thanks Marisa
my grow room is in full summer mode, night time temps are a steady 20c and during the day I already topped at 28c 😁Cymbidiums are out side (thanks heaven) Stuff is just exploding. I have a question, since you are the resident nutrient expert. Why doesn't seaweed increase the TDS (I use a powdered seaweed lime and that should increase the TDS)
......Ynse, my friend....your collection is incredible.....especially your mounts....thats a great question........kelp and seaweed powdered or liquid...usually 0-0-1 npk....is mostly hormones, enzymes, etc..with 1% potassium......they dont measure out with TDS meters.....Example....you can take 0 ppm water,... soak wood in it and it will turn darker.....from the tannins or tannic acid.......it will still measure close to 0 ppm.......it will however effect or lower the ph
@@rickl.orchids it's still weird, adding without adding 😁
Glad to hear you’re doing well. The orchids look awesome.
Did you keep any of your African Violets?
I recall an old video where you showed how you spray Bio-Advanced 3/1. You also were wanting to know what could be making the centers so tight.
Well I used the same product after a thrips infestation. Thrips are gone but my plants have developed really tight centers and the leaves hard and brittle, blooms look poorly.
I caught the thrips early. No obvious damage but could these later symptoms be a result of the insecticide?
How did your violets do?
Miriam......I am sorry to say I gave them all away as well.....health issues didnt allow me to keep them. I miss them very much.......Tight centers can be several things....#1...to much light....which usually causes the plants to dome over...leaves will droop downward trying to move away from the bright light...
.....#2 or Broad Mites, sometime called Cyclamen mites....these mites are horrible, they transfer from other plants and can decimate a collection.....they are very hard to get rid of.......they feed on the newest growth, ....which is the center of a violet....they will cause the plant to literally stop growing......the centers will get very tight, and turn brittle.....leaves will crack and blooms are distorted and shaggy looking.......look up broad mites on violets.....Best way to rid yourself of them is to pull leaves, clean them, and regrow new plants.... then toss the rest of the plant..........my wife loved the violets, as I did.......and down the road I may get some more.......they are such beautiful plants.
Hello Rick , can you talk about the "green moss" that are in some of the pots ? Did they grow there naturally ? Or did you place them there ? Also what is thier significance, if any ? Thank you !
.....a great question........yes its live moss from my garden stone and brick walls......I peel off a piece and lay it over the rocks.......it grows onto it very fast......Ive never found any ill effects on the orchids.......it will act a an alert for me......if there is any salt build up or nutreint build up they will start to die back......like a pre warning something is wrong.......I also love the look of an orchid with moss around it......and it acts like mulch some what.....keeps the pot moisture longer.....
Do you have a preferred lava rock? Most of it is big size in bags at garden centers. Is there some made just for houseplants?
......thats a great question.....I use the big bags from Lowes or Home Depot....and your right it has some larger pieces in it.....I use the very large pieces in the bottoms of the pots and the smaller pieces over the top and tucked in between the big pieces.....locks it all together and holds the orchids very snug.....The roots of the orchids will grow into all those spaces between the rocks......Remember the media is just to hold the plant into the pot till it grows roots and anchors itself...They really will grow fine even in a bare pot with no media......
With lava rock how often do you water.? I was waiting for the roots to get dry but they were getting smooshi.
......maybe every 5-6 days......they stay damp for several days then a few day dry cycle....and I repeat
I’m new to orchids (about a year and a half) and found your channel only since you returned. I’m enjoying it. Do you use calcium on a regular basis or when you feel necessary? How much and how often do you apply? I haven’t used calcium and am interested in whether I should. I use an MSU fertilizer 1/2 tbs./gal of distilled water whenever I water with a flush every 4 or 5 times. Thanks
welcome.....thank you.....great question.......I never give them any water without calcium in it......there is calcium in in my fertilzers ....and I also add calmag to flushing water....the only water they get without calcium.... is when it rains on them.......soon I will be adding dolomitic lime to them....or crushed oyster shells......they should always have calcium around them........especially during strong growth.......MSU is a great fertilzer.........check your label for calcium %....probably around 8%......I like mine to be higher than the nitrogen % by a bit.......Calcium is what makes them turn into jungle plants.......and grow like mad
@@rickl.orchids very interesting. Would cal mag work or should I skip the magnesium?
@@LizE2654 ......calmag is great supplement....orchids love it......I might add 3-4 drops in 1/2 gallon water.....
...Liz....to really help your orchids.....get yourself a TDS meter(...under $15}.....then you can fine tune your feeding......and know exactly how much your giving them.....spoon measurements will just use up your mix faster....and build up lots of salt in your medium....keep asking great questions........I love info seeking growers!
@@rickl.orchids I do have a TDS meter but am confused as to how to use it. Do you have a video that explains it?
@@LizE2654 ........very simple......turn it on......place tip in your nutrient solution.....it will give you a reading.......that is in PPM....or parts per million......test several things like your tap water some rainwater....or bottled water.........the lower the number the more pure the water..
..ex..if your tap water is 100ppm......and you add MSU and it now reads 500ppm.....your actually feeding 400ppm of fertilzer.......I feed my orchids with rainwater....its about 4ppm.......i add nutrients till I get to 125 to 150 ppm......sometimes more sometimes less.......use your meter and after a few times you will be a pro......please dont hesitate to ask for help here.......anytime.......
How often do you water them and fertilise them ?
......about every 5-6 days............the pots and media soak up moisture, and stay wet,... then damp for several days.....then they get a few days of dry......then I repeat......Thank you