Great vid. I am convinced THE most popular lie experts give the masses is: 3-4 ice cubes per week are good for orchids. Over what, not watering at all? Yikes, lol.
Watering an orchid with ice because it's somehow easier is like putting a lion in a polar bear exhibit at a zoo because the "cold will keep them calmer"
Another factor that contributes to how quickly things dry out is the relative humidity. When the humidity is low, that means the air is capable of absorbing more water. When it's high, it is not. For example, my area is very dry, like the Mongolian steppe. Even though my house is cool right now, the air is extremely dry and I need to water my plants almost as much as I did in the summer. I wish more RU-vidrs would just say how hot and how humid their environment is so those of us in a different climate can manage our expectations
So very true! I'm in South Florida and it's humid all the time even during the dry season. Even though it's a hot climate, generally, sphagnum moss in excess can be a death sentence for orchids.
I totally understand what you mean with giving ppl the most useful information in the simplest, easiest way possible. Now ofc that will exclude all of these ifs and buts and exceptions and what not. As somebody who is going ALL IN on orchids ( i almost have 100 now) i love hearing all of the small details and specifics now, but in the beginning it REALLY helped having short and straight to the point info videos just so you dont get overwhealmed. Keep up the good work Danny! I've watched you probably every day for a year now and thanks to you i can grow my orchids more successfully by the day. Thank you ♡♡♡
Hi Dani! I have been a long time watcher, and this is my first time commenting I think. When I first started caring for orchids, I found your videos to be a great resource in training my "gardener's eye." This is such a fun video about how we can evolve as growers and adapt practices that suit our growing environments. I appreciate your "experiments" as they are a great way to learn about what might work in some conditions and not others.
Thank you for the reminder to go give my new Zygopetalum a sip. There's one I didn't see here: "Always wait three years before repotting an orchid." Actually, this is probably a pretty good guideline for most orchids. And then there's this absurd Odontocidium Catatante 'Kilauea Karma' I got. Less than a year ago, it arrived in a two inch pot in sphagnum moss. Cute and tiny! The nursery said it would be good in that pot for at least two years. It hated the moss in this climate (Western WA state of the US.), so I repotted it into Oncidium/seedling mix from RePotme, back into the two inch pot. Then a short while later it couldn't stay upright and was climbing out of the pot (pushing itself out with excessive root growth) so I moved it to a three inch pot. I've always heard orchids like to be crowded. Then it moved to a four inch, and yesterday I gave in and moved it to a five and a half inch pot. It has more room to grow, but I actually had to work with it to fit the roots in after they came out of the previous pot and decompressed. In less than one year, it went from one single skinny little psuedobulb to six large new growths gleefully exploding in every direction. I'm kind of wondering if I need to put it in a cage to keep it from eating my cat someday. Now, all my other orchids seem to be normal, slow-growing, content plants that probably won't need repotting for a few years. This one's just weird, but I hate to think what it would look like if I hadn't repotted it for two to three years!
People are funny in the plant hobby. So many think there is only one way... period. And there just isn't. Things will work for you and not for me. Calm down people.
While your “orchid lies” video was playing , this beginner noticed his first ever rescued orchid sprouted a flower bloom! It took about a year, but now I’m a daddy! I say “rescued” because I like to always have a flowering orchid on my work space. Thus I have accumulated 16 orchids. Once they drop all their flowers, I take them out of the plastic container (sometimes also cutting plastic wrap around the roots) and repot them with orchid repotting mix and place them in terra cotta pots with ventilation holes. Obviously I’m doing something right. I live in a NYC apartment with various types of lights on the orchids (also some reflected sunlight from the building next door in the winter and some direct sunlight in the summer). It’s winter now and I have a cool mist humidifier. Should I aim the mist at the orchids?
I guess as long as you make sure no water actually pools or accumulates on the leaves or on the orchid you should be safe from rot :) so just be careful keeping the humidifier way too close, especially during winter when the evaporatoin rates are lower
I have fans going for my own comfort and water frequently as I live in a desert. I live in one of those places where direct sun will scorch most plants. I had to grow my tomato plant in morning sun only this summer. And it was supposedly a desert adapted variety.
I have been watering according to growth. Many orchids grow during rain seasons and have a drought season. If you water them when they need to be dry that tends to bring on rot issues naturally. It depends on the orchid some don't actively until its humid and temperate enough. When it rains nutrients on/from the tree wash down. Orchids like to be well flushed/fertalized when the actively grow. The better the old growth/roots the better new growth. Different plants are on different cycles and do require different care. Examples I have mounted Dendrobium kingianum that I want to make dwarf specimens out of. I give them small nutrients and lots of water. I skip the dry cool periods to keep them growing small canes. Occasionally they get full doses of fertalizer just for maintenance and peace of mind. They'll keiki or basal node shoot. The growth cycle/stage effects whether your orchid will rot from over watering.
As always it’s an amazing video👍🏻👍🏻😍 In the beginning of my plant-parenting journey, every tutorial every strict guiding “rule” was do/don’t or like you say black or white. By the time, experiencing and analysing my faults and their results have shown me the grey path. I think, as a rookie about orchids I will learn faster. Thank you for your wonderful lectures, they are so precious. We are lucky to have you 🥰💚🕊☮️❤️🙋🏻♀️
Not so much lies as ... Simplifications. 😉 But "Lies" *is* better clickbait! 😂 Thank you, as always, Danny! And this Texan agrees--for example, there is no time in the year when direct sunlight is safe for my orchids because I am in South Texas, but my home is fully a/c, so humidity and heat are not things in my environment. It definitely affects what orchids I can grow and in what setups.
Can you please elaborate on the use of hydrogen peroxide (3%) on orchid roots? I hear/read a lot of conflicting information, some saying to avoid doing that since it does more harm than good to the roots, etc. Should we not be cleaning Phalaenopsis roots with hydrogen peroxide before repotting?
If i am not mistaken, hydrogen peroxide helps with bush snails and pests hiding in new orchids to your collection, and can also help if you have rotting and wish to kill the bacteria. It does still hurt the roots from what I have seen but roots regrow. I would say of you get infestations sometimes when tou have new orchids its a safe option or if you have a case of rot, but I wouldnt say its a good idea to do it unnecessarily. I couldnt easily find hydrogen peroxide so for months i never sprayed the roots and never had an issue. When i finally got the stuff i treated all my orchids and a lot of their newly settled roots (because they already started to recover from transplant shock) just got really badly damaged. And for no reason. So, i guess as with all things, it depends on tour environment, if pests are very prevalent on new orchids.
She uses it to remove bacteria, spores and other pathogens from the roots. H2O2 reacts to H2O and reactive oxygen species that can kill bacteria by damaging their cells. Since plants have a very rigid cell wall, I think it is safe to use a 3% solution
I've gotten into orcids in the last yearish and been gardening for about 2 years. My wife and I first got into it by growing our own wedding flowers (super stressful the closer we got to the big day for our first venture into growing flowers). Anyways, the thing I've learnt the most when it comes to growing orcids or any flower or plant is to read and listen to what experts say. But at the end of the day you have to do what works for your environment. Experts from one place may give different advice to experts from another, and some may simplify their advice for less experienced people to understand or have more of a chance to successfully grow whatever plant.... You have to take it all into account, try different things and ultimately do what works for you. We also have a load of house plants and can't help but buy more and it did take a good 2-4 weeks, sometimes more, before we would find a place in the house they were happiest. Kinda got it down now once we know where the plants grow naturally though 😉
Can you do a tutorial video on how to plant in self watering pots?? I have many Masdevallia orchids that I do well with but it would be nice to not have to water them as frequently!
During my first trimester… I did not step foot in my craft room. I refer to it as “the great drought” I am honestly VERY impressed that my orchid survived it 😅😅 I feel terrible about it! But it was surprising and wanted to share it lol
About climate ,people in Europe are saying that hot weather in summer is dry .Winter weather is gold and wet . Ok. Subtropical climate at least here in Brisbane Australia it's hot and humid in summer. Dry and cooler in winter . It's totally different in different places so difficult to give advice .
I love your videos as always Dani, I live in Australia NSW south eastern state of the country and all my orchids are outside no green house , we get below zero in winter and high 40,s in summer like right now it’s summer here , I have them positioned under shady trees where they get the morning direct sunlight but not the later in the day light as it would for sure burn the orchids leaves very badly, in winter fussy orchids I bring inside and the others I make sure I put them in an area they are protected from the southern cold winds since we are in the south, the cold winds and frosts will destroy orchids to so just have to really think about the outdoor weather conditions for orchids outside , also I noticed no spider mite on those orchids outside as to when they where in a greenhouse for some reason. I do make sure on warm days thought I water them regularly and fertilise once a month and they are fine.
Hey, I have a similar climate. Also NSW Australia. I found my real winter fussy orchids are a little more tolerant to the cold temps (by accident cause they might of been forgotten during some real cold nights)
Common sense is what she is saying. In western Oklahoma it's frustrating the air jumps back and forth dry or humid it's content changing. Vary frustrating 😔
I am new to this. The flowers all fell off a few months ago and now I have a brown colored branch. The leaves are green and appear healthy. Do I cut the brown branch off? I water the plant once a week and keep it at room temperature near a window but not in direct sunlight. I will look at other of your videos to see if I need to repot it.
Perfect example of sun rays varying even within my own home! Outside it's cool here in SoCal so I have some orchids outside in full West sun. I put some seedlings in a lil hot house on my South windowsill w/ a piece of paper over the box to diffuse the light just in case. Buuut I'm guessing bc of the window glass and hot house being closed (i.e. no air flow) so it got super hot & sadly they fried! All things in balance!
Turns out I seem to be doing everything perfectly for the conditions where my orchids are, but still have problems with a good root system 😢 so obviously somethings not right. It drives me crazy.
Hi Dani ,I have finally given up on barerooted Vanda basket. Miss Vanda is now 3/4 surrounded by river stones and charcoal mix ..in a holy clay pot.....🙏🙏🙏🇯🇲🎄
@@davegrimstead8289 nah, the water evaporates too quick for any bacteria to grow. I mean, I still wouldn't do that with oncidiums/other species with lots of tiny little creases for water to seep into, but my phals, dendrobiums and vandas I have no fear with.
Hi Dani. Could you do a video on bloom variation , particularly in relation to colour? I have bought orchids that hadn't flowered yet and what I get when they do flower is not quite what I was expecting, or orchids that were flowering when I bought them, but that reflower in a different way (more muted colour, less defined spots, missing petals etc.) Could you do a video on the causes of this and what if anything can be done to prevent this? Thanks
When I describe what I do with my orchids in my videos I usually stress that I live in the English Midlands. What suits me won’t suit everyone in Great Britain, never mind further afield. Taking ideas and concepts from videos and working that with your own experience is one thing but nobody should slavishly follow everything someone else does.
