.......a grower from way way back, retired now due to Parkinson's, I spend my time enjoying life, keeping positive energy around me and surrounding myself with as much beauty as I can. I have a passion for orchids and growing anything green.......rpljr0202@bellsouth.net
Really happy looking plants, Rick! I have one or two doing the same things and others that are showing a lot of promise. They came a long way this summer, though, all of them whether they have huge roots and big shoots or not. Mine are all indoors. I don’t have the courage to grow outdoors yet. I’m in north Texas. My growing conditions would be about the same as yours, but I dealt with pest and varmint issues a few years back with a general garden I grew in containers and it was a bit of a nightmare. I give all my plants lots of calcium too. I have a non burning slow release NPK and dolomite lime, both pelletized, plus the cal mag/kelp watering they get a few times a month. I still do pot flushes once a month, although it seems silly with the slow release. Anyway, it seems no matter the mastery in feedings, you have to find a way to acclimate to your environment or they aren’t going to thrive no matter what. I’m so glad to see you back and doing well! How is your wife? Happy growing!
I am using lava rock in my all plants my phals but not doing very good. They seem to be dying down a little. Can you help me? It has been rather wet and not very warm just standing in my windows in a pot with Laura.
......I use a TDS meter to measure the PPM...or parts per million....not sure if I understand your question.....Please ask again if I have not helped.......thanks Linda
@@LindaBunck-pg3to .......Linda....TDS meters are $15 on amazon......easy to use and take growing orchids to another level.....When I use it, Im measuring the nutrients in my water.....all of them.....not just calcium....It allows you to check how pure your water is to start with, and then measure very tiny amounts of nutrients as you add them........once you use it a few times you will be a pro with it,......very simple to use.
.......your nutrient mix should have potassium in it....the N-P-K numbers on the label.....K is the potassium %.....I like mine around the same % as the N...or nitrogen.......I add some extra by using Kelp/seaweed supplements.......they are usually around 0-0-1 on the label.........Thats the easiest way.
I would like to try river rock. My question is: what size. I have a mini, No-id phal... It's biggest leaf is 3" and it has thin roots and the roots are the same color all the way down. When I first took it out of it's plug on day 2, all the root tips were black. I think they've grown a bit because they don't look as black as they did (maybe one or 2). I've had it 16 weeks. The first spike turned yellow all way down and I cut it off today. The other spike is doing something at the first node for about 4 weeks now, it's about 1/8". But it hasn't progressed. The spike is still green as can be (the last bloom dropped at about 9 weeks). A new leaf started about 3 weeks ago and is about 1/2" and is progressing fine. It came with 5 leaves. I'm down to 3 plus the baby. They're all wrinkled. No new roots yet. One has been trying , but it's grown about 1/8" in 6 weeks. It's very thirsty, every time I turn around the roots are white (it takes about 2 hours for them to be completely white), so I water it. The leaves plump up some weeks and then shrink other weeks, with the same watering schedule. I think I'm about to lose the bottom leaf. It tried to turn yellow, then everybody plumped up and it turned green, but it's trying to turn yellow again. I tried full water culture (bare root with one root tip in constant water, but that long root tip rotted and eventually lost the whole root. That was about week 2. So, I've been doing semi water culture (wet 20 hours, dry 4-6 hours a day) but the leaves are getting thinner and today, I lost a root to rot near the top. I'm so disappointed because that root had started to branch. I had it in magnesium water and the leaves plumped up. Then I tried calcium water and the leaves seems to get thinner, so I went back to magnesium and it plumped back up... But like I said the leaves are getting really thin again. Any suggestions? I got her on a mother's day sale for the flowers and it's been fun so far, so I've gotten my money's worth, but nobody wants to fail. Sending lots of love 💕 from sunny 🌞 Arizona 🌵. Hope you are well, we've missed seeing new videos, but I'm keeping busy in your archives. Take care of yourself and each other 😷
.....thats a great question......I use mine a couple of times over a week, and then I use it on my garden plants, lawn, etc..........please keep asking any questions you want.......I love to help other growers!
Hello Mr. Rick! Is it well with thee? We miss you! Anyway, im watching this one again! We love new growth and new little root nubbins! Pleased to report that my Corona Green Genie was little root nubbins forming. I followed your instructions and i just wanted to say Thank You! I potted her up in Lava rock, river rock and charcoal. Soaked her in CalMag and Seaweed about 3 times weekly. I did this from July to now Aug.30. I knew i would see something soon. She is still looking nice and healthy. Just like the day i unboxed her. Ok. Love and light to you and Jan. 😊😊
........such a big smile here!........I love that its working for you.........it usually takes a month for the plants to transition and start growing again......great work my friend......
I wanted to know if lava rock work if you grow your orchids under led lights instead of outside. I live in an apartment. Bye the way all of your orchids are doing beautifully .
....Yes, ....the trick to using inert medias like lava is in the watering.......I let my orchids soak.....entire pot sits and soaks in nutrient solution. for 15-20 minutes......it never gets to wet.
I see a desert rose on the right, I have 4, is yours planted in only pea gravel & do you fertilize, if so with what? Thank you 😊 I hope you’re having a blessed Sunday
@@rickl.orchids thank you so much for that information! One of mine that I’ve had for many years, I hand carried back on a plane from Florida because I couldn’t find any here. That first one which I love got some rot on it over the winter in the house several years ago. I was probably watering it too much before I learned to cut back during the winter. I was heartbroken but watched some RU-vid videos on how to do surgery on it and save the plant and it worked thank goodness 😅 it is so important to learn a plant’s natural habitat and try to mimic that as much as possible as possible in order to have the healthiest plants and you say that over and over! I’ve so enjoyed trying to catch up on all of your videos since finding you not only for orchids but other plants as well, you are clearly a plant lover as am I 😀 I’ve learned of the health struggles you and Jan have been facing and my thoughts and prayers are with you both for healing 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻 I sure do appreciate you!
Hi Rick, I’m fairly new to your channel and orchid growing, I inherited my Father’s plants and am trying to keep them alive. I am finding your channel very informative and your plants are amazing. Thankyou and I pray for you and your family.
Oh Rick, I am so sorry to hear this news. I have recently strengthened my faith in God and I have Him in my daily life. I will ask Him to keep Margaret happy and surround her with orchid blooms in heaven. I will keep Keith in my prayers. I bless you, Rick and your lovely wife.
.......thank you Michael.......no I dont have any formal education in biology, plants etc........Im a structural engineer, and built hospitals/ and other medical facilities for a living......I love plants and have always grow something....mostly house plants, and some vegetables.... ..A few years back, I worked with a hydroponic growing group for several years.... it really fascinated me, and peaked my interest in not just growing hydroponically,.... but in nutrients and how they are used by plants... I learned a lot from them.... .I am a voracious reader and love reading research papers on anything......that led me to commercial orchid growing and ......to were I am today
You have given me an idea 💡. I only have 11 orchids. One of them is getting too heavy for me to pick up, but your shade house! Im so in awe of it. I don't have the resources to build one. I could have in my younger days. I can get one of those utility carts and load my orchids on it , take them out next time it rains! Thanks for the inspiration 😊.
.....any bag baby orchid has been in its package for a while......at least 2 months from the look of them........and then they sit on the shelves in stores for weeks or longer......so when we buy them they are calcium deficient from day one....... give them some calmag and a light fertilizer dose.... mixed in some very good water.......new shoots will start to appear, once the shoots start growing new roots will follow....... .all of mine are bag babies, except for a few phalaenopsis.....most of mine had poor roots when purchased....but within a few weeks new shoots appeared and now I have roots all over..... Also, when I repot...I dont remove the dead roots....I leave them on the plant to help anchor it in the media till new roots show up and anchor it better.....
@@rickl.orchidsThe wind blew the bucket over, but not before it collected about an inch. Our rain water is 9ppm. Your rain water is cleaner...collected from your roof. Imagine that. Debby blew down a tree just yards away from my bedroom. Lucky it fell away from the building. You and your fantastic wife, stay safe and well.
@@remaeburney832 ......glad your safe....reclean your bucket and try again.....I bet it comes in lower next time......but 9ppm is still excellent water for orchids....
@@rickl.orchidsI did try again! The rain started to pour and there I was with my cane and my clean bucket. I got a nice bucket full. Thing is the ppm was at 77. Higher than my filtered water! However, the pH was 5.4 🤷. My neighbor has a ring camera and he sees me every time I open my door. 😑 I guess I did look strange outside in the rain at 5 in the morning with a bucket. He asked my daughter, (I live with her) if I was ok. 😂 So she had to explain.....
@@remaeburney832 ....thats to high ppm for rainwater...there has to be something in the bucket or the TDS meter isnt working correctly....and even acid rain isnt that low of ph.....
Oh Rick, such a sad news! I knew she was sick but thought she was doing well with her treatment, so this was a shock! I just came back from my father's funeral and this was the second sad news ! Thanks for letting us know. My Prayers and thoughts are with Kieth and her family.
she truly will be missed in the orchid and garden community. I've always been in good contact with her, also outside the RU-vid community. I took me some days to process but in the end decided to make a short tribute video on my channel. My way to say goodby and remember her joyful and kind soul. Unfortunately I couldn't speak but I hope pictures and clips will say a million words. Goodbye Margaret, you will always be in our hearts.
Joe.....I use a couple of pinches between my finger tips sprinkled over the media in each pots.......its been 30+ days since I applied it......and I still see a few tiny pieces here and there...so I will apply again soon.......maybe every 30-40 days.....especially with lots of rain.
Oh gosh, my violets have been looking sad lately and I thought maybe it was the change in light I caused by installing shutters on my west windows (I live in Florida ugh) but I used a magnifying glass like you said and I’ve got aphids AND thrips. :-(
Frogs ! 🫢😆♥️♥️ fake snakes. 😆 love your videos and new subscriber 🙌 Definitely tuning in for #care tips and to admire your #orchids ♥️. Orchids do love rain water.
Thank you for your videos.I am going to try growing the way you do. In Louisiana and moss and bark not really working for me. Hard to control the moisture.
thank you for watching.......I grow in lava rock, to make it easier for me....many think its harder........the trick to growing like this is the watering.......When I water.....I soak them in my nutrient solution for 15-20 minutes........they stay damp for several days and then they get a few days of dry time and I repeat .....they love it......keep me posted how yours are doing.....
