My Biggest Mistake of 2019: Semi-Hydroponics 

Using K-Lite Orchid / Epiphyte Fertilizer (12-1-1-10Ca-3Mg) in RO water with great results for semi-hydroponic growing. Studies have suggested that excessive potassium, whether applied, obtained from, or accumulated in growing media, can have a negative impact on the health of plants, especially in the absence of adequate calcium and magnesium. Excessive potassium can exacerbate deficiencies in those essential nutrients by preventing them from being adequately absorbed. Feeding at 25 - 50 ppm N at every watering, using pure water, two or three times per week or more, flooding the plants each time, mimicking what they receive in nature = 1/6 - 1/3 tsp/gal ...or For once-a-week feeding, use 75 ppm N = 1/2 tsp/gal or as much as 150 ppm N = 1 tsp/gal for feeding every two or three weeks. The K-Lite formula mimics the nutrient mix provided by the combination of host plant exudates and accumulated airborne particulates that are flushed down from the forest canopy whenever it rains. The low dosing provides plenty of nutrition for these slow-growing plants, while avoiding root damage or the buildup of mineral residues and wastes.

I totally agree. The minerals will re-build back if hard water or even soft water with fertilizer is used. Also there will always be water left in his glass vase at the bottom and as it evaporates, minerals start to re-build back on the surface.

Michael McCarthy this makes a lot of sense. Probably the quickest and most efficient way to dissolve and wash away minerals.

Also, solubility increases with temperature. I recommend boiling in 1 part vinegar & 1 part distilled H20

Thanks

Orching well, you’re wrong and easily verifiable. If you soak plain leca in water, the TDS will rise in the water as salts and minerals are removed from the leca through osmotic regulation.

@Orching um, no. Rinse your clean unused leca fully, then soak it in water overnight and measure the TDS before the leca is added, and after. The TDS will rise because you are DISSOLVING (TDS=total dissolved solids) salts and minerals from the leca. What do you think clay is? Various salts and minerals are present in clay. Derp. Maybe you need a level 1 inorganic chemistry class?

I found out the solution for managing the algae in my orchids. Got rid of semi hydroponics. Anything you use to kill the algae will kill the orchid.

Hi Allison, do you use distilled water on the orchids, too?

Reverse osmosis is a water filtration system that pressures water through a membrane with really fine pores. Water out of a reverse osmosis filter measures 0 to 30ppm, almost never 0. RO water not only removes all minerals in the water, but also bacterium. You can go crazy and buy a really expensive system, but you can also buy the same system in EBay for around $140. If you are half way handy, you can install the system yourself. A 50 gallons a day will do for most people. The best reject ration for RO, is 1:1. That means a gallon of water will be wasted for every gallon of potable water.

Rene Sonse you need to flush SO MANY times to reach down to 50 and below... I buy LECA from ikea, starting from around 230. Soak in regular water (my tap water is around 23...) let it soak for 1 day, flush again and let it sit for 1 day and use tds meter... repeat till it gets low enough...

Hi! From what I can tell he is changing the water because he mentioned using it to water his other plants.

i know Im kinda randomly asking but does anybody know a good website to watch new tv shows online?

@Kenneth Vivaan Try Flixzone. Just google for it =)

@Maximus Zyaire definitely, been using Flixzone for since april myself :D

@Maximus Zyaire Thanks, I signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it !

@Kenneth Vivaan You are welcome xD

Blue lab is the one i use. I have some of its features, but read pH and EC. And most fertilizers tables are in EC.

Suzanne Miller you wanna check your water... I heard some places’ water even go higher than 250... that’s twice as much of my fertilized water I would use...

If you are collecting rain water your ppm should be really low.

haccprof I believe vinegar in water would work just as well and be much cheaper.

@@orchidgarden3124 How much vinegar do you recommend per gallon

haccprof I would use a 50/50 white vinegar to water (for treating leca before you pot the orchid) and let soak overnight. Then rinse well and use it.

@Orching y en qué me puedes ayudar?

wait can u talk about the black mold? isnt that dangerous