Thanks so much for your sweet comment, my friend! :) I really like using these pens, I feel like an orchid scientist! lol!

Orchid Whisperer Do the pens need to be calibrated? I bought Blue Planet Nutrients Liquid Seaweed Growth Stimulator. I will also be purchasing the garden lime as well. I worry about using the better grow because of the ammoniacal nitrogen in that product. Thank you!

Thank you so much, Rick! You're always such an encouragement, my friend. That means a lot to me. Happy growing there in Bama. Blessings from TN. :)

You’re welcome 😊

Thank you!

Hi Barb! I'm so glad this video helped you! I appreciate you letting me know. Thanks always for your sweet comments, my friend! :) Have a wonderful day!

Hi Paige! Yes, it helps a lot! Happy growing!

So glad this video helped you, Jane! Thanks so much for your sweet comment, and I'm so happy to hear that your orchid is growing well in sphagnum moss. :) Have a great day and happy growing!

Thanks so much, Terry! I appreciate your feedback, my friend! Have a great day! :)

Hi Kari! haha! I do think that Snoopy and Hello Kitty will get along...let's hope so anyway! LOL! That's great, that we have cartoon-inspired notebooks! (Great minds think alike! :) I'm SO happy to heat that your Vandas are doing well...that makes my day! Thanks so much for sharing...happy growing and many Blessings! :) Amy

Hello, my friend! We had a really late fall, so my orchids are blooming later than they usually do. Have a great day and happy growing! :)

Nicole H if I may just like a recipe divide by 2 to half the recipe, I do that I went and found me and 1/8 tsp measure and voila.

That's exactly what I do too, Lorena! I have my 1/8 teaspoon in my bag of mix ready to mix up a half gallon. :)

Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Nicole! :) I'm so happy to hear that your orchids are doing well! Have a great day and happy growing!

Orchid Whisperer Great minds think a like, have a blessed day!

Thank you so much for letting me know that this video helped you, Lorena! :) Your comment made my day! Happy growing and I hope you have a wonderful week as well. :)

Hi and thanks so much for watching! I used to use tap water, then I changed to reverse osmosis water with my orchids. The difference has been amazing. It resolves so many of the pH and ppm problems. I don't have to use a pH corrector, and it lowered my TDS from 225 to 12! The better the water quality, the better results you're going to get. Have a great day and happy growing!

@@Chris-op7yt thanks for your comment. I haven't used this fertilizer in quite a few years. I made it easy on myself, and I use MSU. With my r/o water, I don't need to adjust pH. MSU contains plenty of calcium and magnesium, so that's covered, too. Happy 😇 growing!

@@OrchidWhisperer : thank you, i'll look it up. learning a bit of chemistry is ok but it gets too deep and expensive and takes too much time. take care

@@Chris-op7yt WalMart carries TEZULA, which is the same as MSU. It's much cheaper. Easier and cheaper is a good thing. Lol. Start out low, like half the recommended amount. I'm thinking about doing some short videos about fertilizing, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if you have questions, feel free to ask. 😇

@@OrchidWhisperer : i checked the label and it does have some calcium and magnesium, but these are actually required in amounts that are orders of magnitude bigger amounts than NPK, when it comes to soil-less growing. i know it's not easy to do this from a chemistry perspective and complicated from biological perspective. going to have a look at how they feed hydroponics, to have everything optimal. in natural conditions there's rain bringing regular small doses of dissolved calcium etc. and roots can take however much they need of each nutrient. in culture things are quite different.

Hi Mary and thanks so much for your sweet comment! Brown spots are pretty common on Cattleyas. I use copper fungicide on mine regularly, it does help. I have a video from Nov 3 about how I care for my Cattleya and I also show the spray I use for the brown spot. Have a great day and happy growing!

Orchid Whisperer thanks so much for your advice

Hi James! That's a really good question you asked. Here are my thoughts: I don't see anything wrong with using 1/2 teaspoon of the Better Gro occasionally...and the key word is "occasionally". From time to time, if you see an orchid needs extra, then I'd give it extra. That's called good growing. Also, I recommend you use the CalMag along with that occasional larger dose, and garden lime for good measure. I don't use the Better Gro apart from the calcium and magnesium sources. I believe that's what causes black root tips and root problems in general. And BTW...my crowd here really is spoiled...I guess everyone has figured that out...haha! Have a wonderful day and happy growing! Amy

Thank you so much. I sure do use CalMag and Seaweed Extract - the same ones you have. I also use 1/4 teaspoon of Thrive. But that doesn’t change the TDS. Sure I only use the 1/2 teaspoon no more than once a month if that and before I have made sure I have “rinsed” the media with plain water the week before. So far so good. My Maxillaria began growing last April and hasn’t stopped since. I can’t believe how much it’s grown. I have so much Epsom Salts that I use a pinch of it also. Happy growing Amy and enjoy all of your plants. We sure do. James.

Hi James! It sounds like you're doing great with your orchids...congratulations on your Maxillaria! :) You KNOW they're happy when they just keep growing! Thanks so much for your very kind and gracious comments James...it's always so nice hearing from you! Happy growing! Amy

Thanks for watching, Shirley! :)

You don't use this packet. It's for laboratories to calibrate their pH pens to a specific setting, and it doesn't apply for any other use. Have a great day!

@@OrchidWhisperer Thank you so much! BTW, I appreciate your replies when I have a question. Not everybody replies with answers! Love ya

You can cut back on the Better gro amount if you like to fertilize at a lower rate. I use this higher amount 2 times a month on my Phalenopsis orchids. It works well for me. But fertilize at the rate you're comfortable with. Happy growing!

Hi Linda! I have been doing videos now for almost 4 years (I've grown orchids for over 16 years) and I've studied and learned so much about fertilizing since then. I've updated and improved my fertilizing regimen quite a bit, and I share what I've learned on my channel as I see the results I want with my orchids. There was very little information about fertilizing in water culture when I first started with the method. So what I recommend you do is to watch my most recent videos about fertilizing in water culture, and I do seasonal updates often. I released an update video on fertilizing just last week, here's a link: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m9plg5Bz0LLMooE.html&lc=UgwSH2jIoG9BB6q99Ct4AaABAg I cover all the questions you have in this video. Happy growing and have a great day!

Hi Lesuan! Orchids grow well with the best quality water you can give them. I use reverse osmosis water when I'm watering and when I fertilize. You can use a Brita filter or something similar...I have mine installed under my sink for drinking use and for watering my orchids. Have a great day and happy growing! :)

No, I use reverse osmosis water. 😇

Hi and thanks so much for watching! I discuss this topic in a recent video, here's the link: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m9plg5Bz0LLMooE.html Have a great day and happy growing!

Joe Terry Hi Joe! Both meters are by Health Metric, I bought them on Amazon. Use a soap or oil spray for the thrips. Have a great day and happy growing!

Orchid Whisperer Thanks,. Any brand you would recommend??

I would try 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid dissolved in a quart bottle of water. I don't know how bad your infestation is, but you'll have the dishwashing liquid on hand and you can use it immediately. If you have an insecticidal soap that is safe for indoor use, try that first. You'll have to spray them every day for a while, just be sure to dry the crowns and leaf axles after you spray.

Hi! Yes, I mix the fertilizer and the supplements together for my WC orchids. I don't have to be quite so specific about my pH now because my calcium source is CalMag, and it's absorbed into the low 7 range. But I still check the pH from time to time and I check the ppm's everytime. Happy growing!

Thanks for the compliments on Buddy and Buddy! ;) Buddy orchid's bloom do deepen in color for about a week. It's interesting to watch them change. The pattern is unique, I agree. It has a lot of species phal in it. (If I ever saw species phals for sale, I would be arranging orchid tables for sure. haha!)

My dream job would be working in an orchid nursery. I wouldn't have any money leftover at the end of the week to buy food because every $$ would go toward buying orchids!! Here is Buddy in all his glory ---> imgur.com/a/qGv8h

Wow, that's a beautiful screen capture, Caro! Thank you so much, my friend! You caught the color patterns beautifully. :) Btw, I'm thinking about going to the Nashville Orchid Show next year. Really. I want some species phals, I'll find room for them.....somewhere. lol! In other words, I don't need to buy any new orchids until the orchid show next year, 2019. hahahahaha

Orchid Whisperer You are welcome. It really is a very beautiful bloom.😊 That would be awesome if you could go to the Orchid show in Nashville. If you go, travel light because you will need the entire backseat to hold all of the orchids that you will end up purchasing. 🌸

Yes, no luggage, just orchids. haha! I might need to extend my orchid room, too...(oh my, what am I saying? lol!)

The pH will decrease after I add the fertilizer.

Hi Michelle! I have a video about how I'm fertilizing my Phals this summer that shows exactly what I use and recommend...here's the link: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r7iRerKov5zJZZs.html I don't use the Bloom Booster anymore (15-30-15) and I'm getting better results with what I'm using now. Have a great day and happy growing! Amy

Hi Lissette! I did 2 videos in March 2018 that I show how much calcium and magnesium (Epsom salts) I use. Thanks so much for watching and have a great day! :)