Hi Rick! I'm here today specifically to watch your calcium and magnesium video and I'm grateful for the work you put into sharing your knowledge with beginners. I hope you're well enough to read comments occasionally and know that you're loved. x
Hi again, Rick! You sound amazing! I am so happy for you! You are in your element! I wanted to let you know that my orchids are so happy now! It has been about about 4 months now since I started watching you and always taking your fantastic advice. I have repotted all of my orchids with various kinds of rocks! Any bugs flying around are gone! Ha ha, no bark to live in! I also divided a couple of my catteylas, which are full of roots and all loving my new regiment! I divided some bigger orchids and even saved the little dried up old suedo bulbs. They are all sending out new shoots! I haven't lost any orchids yet! Even the smallest of orchids that I mounted on hanging wood mounts are sending out roots! I have many new blooms coming out and several old blooms shooting out offshoots! I am on a regular schedule, watering once a week, three weeks with the regular fertilizer, plus the cal/mag, then a flush with a little cal/mag(just like you said!) They are all doing great! Every day, I inspect them and I can see the growth even daily! Amazing, ,and I owe it all to you! Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you! I am diligent about collecting rain water and then I use it on the rest of my houseplants as well! They are doing so much better too! I didn't doubt you for a minute because of your awesome orchid collection! Bless you Rick! We love you! Rita
Rick L., you sound strong, and it is so good to know you are up and doing what you enjoy. Your mounted orchids are inspirational. Thanks for all your tips on the nutrient trio. Date: February 17, 2018
So glad I watched! What a great reminder...and I must admit I have been slacking with my feeding...but you gave quite an excellent talk on the importance of providing our orchids with everything they need. Thanks so much! I know I'm way late on this....hoping all is well and good to hear of your great recovery.
Informative...finally bought a bottle of cal-mag from the amazon and started using it for my orchids....we’ll see how it goes...thnx for sharing....take care....
I cheered loudly at your video! This is something I had been thinking about and discussing about with other people and I am grateful that you and Roger (Roger's Orchids) have made videos on this subject. Thank you so much. It is wonderful news that you are making such a positive recovery.
Hi Rick. You sound great. So glad you’re up and about. So glad to hear you’re doing great. Your little babies look great !!! Thank you for heads up on magnesium and calcium. Always love you fertilizer series and the input you provide. Thanks to you, Danny and Roger (he’s changing his website name to Rogers Orchid) my babies at home are busting out many many roots and doing great. Continual good health and best to your whole family. Much love on Valentine’s Day 💕.
I'm so thankful for your videos explaining fertilizing orchids. I'm having such success with my orchids since adopting your methods. I think about you often and wonder how you are doing.
Ive been searching high and low about this, since calcium is the only thing I need to supplement and you answered all of my questions. Thanks for the great video!
Thanks for this video!!!! I have taken notes... maybe have your wife do an update video even if it's for a couple minutes on your orchids because RU-vid is getting really scary now and things that don't make money for them they might get rid of so we need this library of videos to stay on RU-vid so we can have access to your wonderful wisdom and guidance God bless Rick and God bless your wife and God bless your family
Wow, I haven't fertilized my phal since I bought it almost two months ago. I read not to until all the flower buds have opened. I'll do my homework and thanks for the great information!
Hello dear friend! Awesome to hear your voice! Great info! I Have have not added epsom salts to mine yet. I do mist mine daily with low ppm calmag, and I have massive root growth and new shoots! Its incredible! Such great news that your back is doing so good! Answered prayers! Keep resting dear friend.
Your plants are looking great. Here in Houston starting to move some outside here and there- about time for prime growth and spring blooming season to start. Glad your back is feeling better!
I use MSU in RO water each watering. I now am going to also use just Cal/Mag once a month when I water. My orchids seem healthy but the leaves on Cattleyas seem pretty pale. Some have splotches of yellow. Hope this treatment helps. Thank you for sharing this helpful information!
Happy to hear you're feeling better. Thank so much for sharing your wisdom, now I'm understanding my orchid better. Thank you again. God bless you and your wife.
I'm SO glad that you are feeling better, Rick, and that your back surgery was a success!!! Even though it is another rainy, dreary day where I am, that news was like a bright ray of sunshine in my heart! :) :) Even though I do use the RO MSU fertilizer I think I am going to start adding a pinch of epsom salt to each watering. I just have to figure out what amount to add...only 33 more days until spring!!
Thank you, yes, it's always better to add too little then too much! Feels like spring here in Tn....heard the froggies for the first time today! I know it must be warm where you are....those orchids are going to start to producing even more roots if this warm weather keeps up! I love it! :)
Thanks so much Rick for all the info you have sheared despite of your dealing on your health. Can you please explain how you do the calculations? Keep the good work in teach and take care. Praying for your health.
Another one of your awesome guides on feeding ca & mg. How can I calculate the 8% Ca & 2% mg if I want to use dolomite powder & epsom salts, Rick? Thank you
Great advice Rick. My tap water has quite a bit of Ca in it, but it may not be getting absorbed like truly needed. You've inspired me to start using extra MgO4S!
This was so helpful. I have a friend who doesn't do anything to her orchids but water them. She says she doesn't even fertilize but maybe once a year if she thinks about it. They just grow like weeds and bloom beautifully. You talked about water. Her home is built on an old dairy site. Their ground is filled with years of manure composting. I am sure her water is filled with most of the nutrients you talk about. This helps me so much. Thanks again and welcome back. Your videos have been missed.
I have the same bottle of liquid seaweed as you have. I do use it once a month on my house plants. My hoya carnosa has really started growing like a weed since I started that. Can you talk a bit about your thoughts on the seaweed please?
The Cal-mag plus has iron in it, but only 0.1% you think that's not enough? I actually just filmed a video a on it and now I'm wondering if I need to go back through and make corrections. Thanks a lot for making me have to think! Haha! Jk, that's the best gift anyone can give. ... knowledge! 😁
you are so right my friend.....never enough knowledge or information......I think Iron is important, and 0.1 isn't enough.... but you probably have some in your nutrient mix as well, add it all up for a more accurate view of the amount
Rick what kind back surgery you had? I had 3 big once with hardware, and a lot of other stuff. I can't even imagine you back to work already. My recovery after first surgery was 2 years, i wasn't allowed to go to work, even though my job wasn't a physical labor. My last surgery was in 2007, i am on permanent disability since. Live in a lot of pain and complications. Take good care of yourself, don't rush, give yourself a lot of rest and walk. I had my surgeries done at HSS in NYC. My Dr. kept saying: listen to your body, don't push, don't bend, don't pick up more then 8 pd, don't rush to go back to work. They all told me I will be back to work in 12 weeks due to my great athletic shape, lean muscles, active life style. But 3 month later I was told recovery after surgeries like mine usually 2 years. Only 1 year later I had revision surgery plus 2 more levels were fused. Then Arachnoidities, severe complication and many others. Why i tell you this all? I learned so much during my ordeal, attended so many good classes at HSS, met many people who went through same thing, so now i am glad to share with people, who wish to hear advice. Sometimes we need to know more. One good advice: if you feel something isn't right don't waste your time, go for a few opinions. I made a big mistake trusting my first surgeon too much, lost time when I still could be helped. 6 month later it was too late. I am educated person and thought I know a lot about my body, but i never knew how important our spinal is and how many of our organs depend on it's condition. Good luck to you and happy Thanksgiving!
...very sorry to hear of your issues with your back. I built hospitals and worked in the medical field for years and I was very blessed as well as fortunate to get to know some of the best surgeons around....some real exceptional people.....I have had over 25 ortho repairs, and probably have several more to come. ....My spine had been bad for 25+ years... they told me I needed surgery then...., but... stretching and exercises kept it under control ..after 25yrs....it finally went all the way out, and they had to repair it....I had fusions with hardware involving 2 locations and total 7 vert.....they had me up walking 6hrs after surgery...........and made me take a long walk the next day......it worked great....3-4 wks later..my back feels like it did in my 20's.......I'm not as limber, but no pain, .. ..I also have 8 plates 16 screws in my neck, due to a few falls, and other assorted hardware in other joints......but.....Ive always been a good patient, and every surgery repair has been a success, and results were excellent. I had a total left shoulder replaced 2 yrs ago and I have 100% motion back, was using it with in several weeks.....having good surgeons and doctors is vital, as well as a determined mindset, .....one has to get control of their own pain levels, ...and push past them.........I wish you continued healing and relief from pain....
Rick is Baaaack! I tried commenting on your hospital vid and it didn't work and then I was a way for a bit, but I'm glad your surgery went well and that you're ok. I've had back problems for 15 years and I can't imagine...luckily (or maybe unluckily) I don't have any issue that can be fixed that way, but I know how bad is sucks to not be able to do stuff and I know how bad is sucks to hurt all the time, I'll just say that, and even though we aren't " friends" I had tears of joy for you.
So many good points. Like the one about cal and mag. I know from my fish side of the hobby that low magnesium can lock out calcium. I think it was mr. Saltwater tank that got the question. Do you know a good cal test? Mine don't seem to be working! The reply what's your mag lvls? He had to buy one but when he got the mag lvl up the cal test started working. Sometimes you can learn more by reading the comments.
"Sometimes you can learn more by reading the comments.".........slamming point Victor......as you saw, calcium will start absorbing with addition of Mg........great comment.
Nice to hear all this. I am in SW Florida and have my orchids out all the time. However, they do not look too great because I needed to start Rick's fertilizing routine which I did. Looking every day - it has been a week - no change! Guess it takes longer?
I live in a place where our tap water has only 30 to 40 ppm TDS; most of the serious orchid folks here have turned to adding some sort of cal-mag supplement even if using MSU as the normal fertilizer. I also add Epsom salts, but on a more occasional basis, I will have to start looking a bit more into what you are suggesting with tiny amounts more frequently. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and research and glad you are on the mend.
Definitely a lot to think about! I haven't been fertilizing for a few weeks now since I was working with a much higher dose to circumvent some issues. Time to get back to it. I think I will try supplementing with calcium and magnesium this time even though I'm using MSU. Btw, glad you're feeling good :) Thanks!
Hey Rick, How are your AV's doing.... haven't seen any updated videos lately...Mine seem to be doing fine, except for one.... maybe gonna lose it......The rest are blooming good and growing dark green leaves....wish I could send out some pics. Keep getting better, and keep the videos coming.. Thanks
Dear Rick ,so happy you're feeling better!! Here 's the question. Using RO water ,how long do you think a solution of either MSU,Cal/mag or Epsom salts is viable?? All my mixes are at approx. 180-200 TDS reading Much Thanks ahead and stay well! Fred Buonocore Shelter Island New York
I am rehydrating 3 orchids I found in the garbage! The person said she thought it was dead because the flowers fell off. The leaves are slightly leathery and less turgid, so I am soaking it in a light tea solution and water overnight and drying during the day. I really want to bring these beautiful babies back to life. Should I add magnesium and calcium into the water in the meantime? The Orchid is a phalaenopsis. Do you recommend I also mount the three root systems to a sturdy log or wood? Please help Orchid Community! I really want to make them live.
Looking for good nutrients that stack up to these products that I can order in Europe and hoping the crowd has some suggestions to get me started! Thanks in advance for any help. Love these informative videos!
Hey its great your feel so well just remember to take it easy. great video very interesting. Now I just have to figure out the math concerning the cal I m using. Cant wait for the video where you explain it further for samatha I m useless in math also. lol Have a great day.
Just recently subscribed to your channel and find it interesting as well as helpful. My only problem with instructions is having only one orchid! I've fallen in love with orchids after watching videos on their care. But how in the world do you care and mix fertilizer for only one orchid? Guess I'll just have to figure it out myself because I doubt any of your viewers have only one orchid! Take care of yourself. You'll be running around soon. Thank you for your time. I'm thinking of joining an Orchid Society since we have a great one in Reno.
when you use a TDS meter, which you should, feeding orchids........you start at zero and add till it is the strength you need....I dont mix gallons ever. I mix small amount for one or two plants or I mix 4-5 gallons......I never mix based on an amount per gallon.......so very easy for one or many plants
Duh............thanks! That explanation makes it easy to understand. I do have a TDS meter but it's a Britta water filter to test my tap water. Would that work? Or should I get a specialized one for gardening or aquariums?
Lol..I too started out with 1 orchid..now 4 months later have 15! It’s the most fun addiction I can think of, 😊😀 I buy the almost dead, or dehydrated orchids from WMart every week just to learn the care of them. Well they r loving their new home by rewarding me with new roots & blooms! I’m hooked..💖
The MSU well water formula was designed to deal with the particularly alkaline water on that campus. I was there at the time and friends with the manager of their orchid collection. I've never quite understood why they sell that fert or why they don't explain just what type of water it is for.
David Jarrell Hi David, thanks for this information...I have extremely alkaline well water, 8.6pH or more....do you know how alkaline their well water is?
Hi Rick, great you´re back. :-) I´m also bad in mathematics...just like Samantha. So my first question is: How do I achieve 2% Magnesium in 10 liters of destlled water with my epson salt? The ppm of the destlled water is 007. Second question could be: How do I achieve 5% of calzium with my liquid calcium fertilizer?
Thank you for the video! Great job! I would like to know if water cultured orchids need the same amount of Cal & Mag? Good luck with your back. As a survivor of 2 major spinal fusions plus...can tell you not to rush, not to carry heavy stuff, not to over do it. Wishing you well!
Hi Rick, You should add turmeric powder and black pepper for absorption to your everyday diet. Turmeric is a superfood. I use it in my foods and daily green smoothies. Do you have any Espoma Organic Garden Lime for sale? I would be interested in buying some from you. I only need a small amount. Please let me nkow.
Greetings Rick! It's great to hear that your back is doing much better and that you're tending to your beautiful collection. 🙏 Let's say my target for Calcium is 20 ppm using the Cal-iMagic you use. The label says it's 5% calcium. Does that mean I should add 200 ppm Cal-iMagic to my RO water to reach my 20 ppm calcium target? I'm trying to address calcium & magnesium deficiencies on non-feed days. Is it safe to add Epson Salts to the Cal-iMagic or should I do that on another day? Thanks a bunch! Enjoy those beautiful flowers. ☺
great questions Reese........yes you can add the Epson salts and Calmag,....... the 5% # on the bottle is the percentage of concentration in the bottle.........just means its diluted some........you still want to keep the 20ppm level.........
Can you do a gallon mix of each in tea spoon ,tablespoons, or syringe measurements ml or whatever it is??? That how bad the math is with me . A gallon mix of distilled water with iron, cal mag ,and magnesium all seperate nutrients please
Samantha, Ill explain this more soon........its not really measured with volume, such as teaspoons or tablespoons.........you need a TDS meter......super simple.
Hi Rick, I have been watching your clips for a while now. I applied calcium and magnesium (Epsom salt) on my mom's collection of orchids, that haven't bloomed for decades. Some only bloomed once about 40 years ago. 3 months after applying calcium and Epsom salt, we started seeing flower spikes!!! Thank you for sharing your advice. 6 months have passed and my mom's orchid shade has grown a great deal since we kept on adding new orchids all the time. My question is, can she spray very low dose of chelated calcium and Epsom salt mix to her orchids on a daily basis? My mom is in her 70s and she could not take down all her hanging orchids and soak them in the mixtures. Thank you!
This is awesome, Rick...I got a question for you...I am starting to understand that orchids need sunlight and heat to properly take up Nitrogen? Or maybe it has to do with enabling symbiotic bacteria to break down nutrients for absortion? My question is, is it the same for minerals? Do we need to be at a certain temperature, or must it be a sunny day, to feed any or all of these things?? This is especially pressing for me up here in the PNW....we don't see very much sun all winter....I have taken to cranking up the heat and feeding them under grow lights....is this necessary?? And....so happy to hear you are feeling good!! Hugs from snowy WA....
wonderful questions Cara......your correct, they need light and warmth for growing, under certain temps. they will slow down growth or even become dormant........warmth and light help bacteria grow that help break down nutrients.......any way you can help them with light and warmth you will see growth...
.........so very true.....with fans on all time, and no rain to wash them off like outside........they collect dust.......I use a soft tissue with some water and neem ........
Do you only have Cattleya Orchids, I notice you have such a lot, I only have two Cattleya here in England I also have other Orchids at my age I only wanted a few of them
.......No I also have some oncidiums, phalaenopsis, dendrobiums, brassavolas, etc.......but yes I do have a lot of cattleya types.......they are very easy to grow and I love the structure of them and their blooms....
@@rickl.orchids I can tell you are very much into Orchids more than I am, I love your set up and how you were telling us what Cattleya needs are as well as many others, I have accidentally killed one of my other Orchids, I always find out about them online, but have noticed here on RU-vid better info about them, so thanks for that and have a great day 👍
🌀I bought a bagged Oncidium Ampliatum in bad shape really cheep. Would like to see it do great! Very dehydrated have roots it in water! Do you have any advice on what to do for it to save⁉️🌀
I am fairly new at this. Been looking at all kinds of videos. I started with MSU (from miss orchid girl) , I collect rain water. I have some super thrive, just watched your video on that. I got some seaweed extract. And I have epson salt. So I started mixing the 3/4 tsp. Of MSU, 1 oz. seaweed extract (Those are the recommendations on packaging) and a 1/4 tsp. Epson salt in gallon of rain water. But I don’t know if that is a good thing or what I should do. I get mixup, like you said 10% on the cal-mag and 8% on epson salt, but how much is that like epson salt is that 1/4 tsp. Or teaspoon or a tablespoon you did not say how much is 8% or 10% is. I read an article about a study on potassium on Phaleonopsis and the out come was that they need 300 mg. Per. Whatever of potassium. But how do I know how much that is. I need more Pacific. I don’t even know how to get potassium to add to my mix. Ed on RU-vid on his NPK video. Said to me that MSU is too low in Potassium. I see you have Jungle Juice there from Orchid web. I am retired live in Mexico, these products are hard for me to get. I had a friend bring me seaweed extract. Help.
L M reminds me of when grandma really didn’t want to share a recipe! 😆 She’d have a thousand but, ifs, pinches, maybe and whatever-you-likes... he’s grown on me anyway... I just like his spirit & the long talks about orchids at this point. Happy growing!
marble stones?.....use rocks that are hard and not a porous material, sandstone would not work well......lava is more porous, but very stable and tough.....any of the quartz, limestone, granite, etc will be fine...
I use the orchid plus because of it’s availability and I sprinkle my orchids with garden lime for calcium. So it looks like I’m missing a decently large magnesium component. Would you recommend mixing some epsom salt directly into my bag of orchid plus? If so, do you have an idea of how much?
……..Jacob....does the Orchid Plus contain any magnesium?.....the garden lime has about 10% magnesium in it....its slow release...….so you wont see results for a few weeks or month maybe.....meanwhile a 1/4 tsp per gallon of Epson salts wont hurt....don't add it to the dry mix...….after your mix your orchid plus in water and its dissolved well......then add the Epson to the water/mix
PUEDO MESCLAR EL CALCIO CON EL SAL DE EGSON LOS 3, EN TOTAL, Y EL 20,14,13. GRACIAS POR RESPONDERME DESDE ISLA DE ARUBA. BENDECIDO QUE SE RESTABLESCA DE SALUD JEHOVA DIOS LO BENDIGA DESDE LO ALTO ALELUYA
thank you for the video 💞 do you feed potassium nitrate at all? I’ve read to combine it with my magnesium feed so I’ve been doing that. there are so many things to manage it can kind of get overwhelming 😳 but I’m trying as best as I can
just a quick question for you or anyone else... if you can answer it...... i have several phal leaves... that have the cell walls have collapsed and gone mushy and full of water... do you Rick or anyone else know what causes this..... they are all outside under cover its in the middle of summer high 60% humidity and around 34 deg C during the day / 24deg C at night..... i am not sure why they get these circles of mush........HELP please .....
......could be something poked the leaf, insect or such....or possibly, excessive water.......they can sometimes burst cell walls when hydrating hard....especially if they have had any drought conditions prior....
Im going to use better gro for now. I understand the words just not the numbers.Im going to see if my dad can break this down to me in dummy mode he is good with math. Or the lady in home depot mary maybe can show me how to mix when I buy it. Will make her watch this rick and my dad
…...I don't recommend using those type nutrients with orchids..unless they are under trees most of the time...…Most of those fertilizers are temperature activated......they release when temperatures warm up......They can release large amounts of nutrients all at once....and cause very fast growing leaves canes bulbs etc...…..if they don't have equal amounts of calcium available as well...…..they suffer die back....Orchids under trees get a more natural supply of calcium dripped on them...…..they would have a better chance with Osmocote type fertilizers.....Your soil plants have lots of calcium available to them, so they are fine with Osmocote………..hope that makes sense...…..Great question.
hard to answer...….there is many manufactures and strengths of Calcium nitrate.....start with a tiny pinch in gallon of water.....make sure and use calcium nitrate along with a good designed fertilizer....
Hello Rick Hope jan and you doing well. i was watching this 3rd time now i remembered asking you a Q ? Do you use same NPK mixed with other nutrients always like better grow 20-14always mixing when eve you feed ? or i can change NPK if i feel . some time i like to give more P&K like 3-37-37 or may be 13-40-13 does it make sence ? hope i get a reply !!
.......yes you can adjust or use other mixes.........not a problem...........just keep in mind, that many orchids cant control their absorption of P & K..........they can and will absorb toxic amounts of P & K............use caution
…….almost all orchids are sensitive to P & K...…..in the wild P & K is only available in tiny amounts.....and not very often...…..so when it does become available they can hoard it, they try and absorb as much as they can,,,,,, they don't have a very good self regulation with P & K...….so they suck up toxic amount's
@Rick L. Orchids This info is new to me honestly speaking we mean.blooming season increase p&k other time nitrogen. But in on other video ( Do not remember which part) you advocated K has great role in blooming. In the market a lot of NPK with high amount P&K are sold. I hv 3-37-37 & 14-40-14 Now my question what really function p& K for plant ? . As you said N is important for blooming . Why people use P & K. I want to know role of p & K in the plant and what amount of ppm both can be used. Is P&K good for media or foliage feed . or for both media and foliage feeds ?? .
@@rickl.orchids You did not reply me the below portion.of my previous Q. Can you reply here : Do you use same NPK mixed with other nutrients always as like better grow 20-14-13 always mixing when ever you feed???? or i can change NPK if i feel . as like i am giving 30-20-10 regular but sometime i give 19-19-19. Does it make sense?
I'm sorry if you already answered this somewhere, but I'm using the MSU RO fertilizer with 8% Ca and 2% Mg with either distilled or rain water. Would you recommend adding any Ca or Mg with that formula?
……..yes. …..just to show you how much calcium I use...….my Jacks mix contains 18% calcium and 6% magnesium, Im also adding dolomitic lime to the pots and it contains 21% calcium and 10% magnesium...I also use rainwater...….you cant give them enough calcium.....Magnesium use by the plant.....is directly linked to nitrogen and calcium absorption...
@@rickl.orchids thanks so much! I will try adding the dolomitic lime to my potted orchids like you showed in your video. What do you do for your mounted orchids since I assume the pellets don't work?
Rick, I have many orchids growing on trees. Can I feed them by spraying the mixture you showed us, ie 165PPM, because I can't soak them in that water? Thanks
Have you considered using Calcium Magnesium Nitrate? its cheap and readily available. I have been using it to buffer my cocopeat so I have it at hand but I cannot find much information on it related to application to Orchids
Konrad, I use Calcium nitrate/ Magnesium for my coco plants as well, they love it, but in higher quantities than orchids take........I do use it for my orchids, but dont really show much of it due to it being harder to use for most orchid growers.....it also contains a lot of N, which at times isn't needed.......your correct, hard to find information on it being used with orchids.....
