This IS the one! You need to not only know 'how' to use these things but 'when' and probably most importantly 'why' you think you need to use them. Adding supplements into a perfectly good/balanced feed needs to have a reason as well as knowing how much to use. Like you say - it's complicated. Most would ask 'how you grow your orchids' but the thing that often gets forgotten is 'where you grow your orchids' and that can make sooooo much difference (as well as what they are growing in or on). And don't get me started on 'combining' products....... Keep it coming Rick - small doses of info - it's working well.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
......if I trigger one thing to help someone understand basic growing fundamentals..........then Im good......Thanks Roger......feedback is everything
@sophiek82766 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much. I hope also your health is good, continue watching your videos it s like i am with you in your garden sharing this beautifull orchids growing, good for the soul. Still learning. Thank you.
@miss304276 жыл бұрын
Rick L. thank you for your explanation and explanation on using these chemicals. Chemistry was not taught in my high school, so I appreciate the caution you shared in this video.
@OrchidudeBcn7 жыл бұрын
Interesting stuff! 👍🏼😉🌱
@MiracleOrchids17 жыл бұрын
Great video! I would love to know how you use each of them, and what they do to your plants, not only orchids, but also which ones you're using for orchids... I want to know everything, and you're like an open book and your videos are the pages! :))
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
thank you very much....I will be going over these bit at a time....
@toddstropicals7 жыл бұрын
I have so many of those same products, and great advice too, it took me a while and many phone chats with my son to get how to use those products. There is definitely a learning curve. I've trashed a few plants too with over using those products !!!! Lol
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
.........all I need is someone talking to me or say a phone # near me...while I'm measuring or mixing......lol....and I'm dumping 500 gallons at a time....
@toddstropicals7 жыл бұрын
Rick L lol yep...me too
@samanthabarrett65116 жыл бұрын
Thanks Rick!!!! Dont know much just went and bought 30 orchids bc I cant walk away from the blooms.Mind you I was suppose to be getting seed starter supplies and walked out with 5 Phalaenopsis orchids this was the beginning of the month now I have 30. So all your knowledge is amazing and heplful. Never knew that about the meters or droppers .Im going to be brave and do 1 phal with cal mag in low low doses to see how it works. Hope I dont kill one.Will watch video alot more about mixing it before I try.
@rickl.orchids6 жыл бұрын
........you will be fine, and will see growth quickly.......measure it to around 10-15ppm in a gallon of pure water
@ResQuetzal7 жыл бұрын
You've peaked my curiosity about which products you use on orchids and how you use them. Newly subscribed to your channel. I've been looking for information on feeding orchids. Looking forward going through all your videos. I'm sure I'll learn something.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
...thank you......welcome.
@laurapoore12847 жыл бұрын
I saw the jungle juice and thought about using on my orchids but then I didn't know. So I did not get it. I check every day to see if you have a new video. Thanks Rick I am soaking up all the info.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
....Thank you Laura......swinging your ph will give the plants something different every time if you want......they wont tell you that in the hydro stores....lol
@laurapoore12847 жыл бұрын
Thanks Rick.
@blancaacosta3337 жыл бұрын
So many products, and I don't know how to use them or why and which ones do I need. I am getting dizzy. Lol. You are correct, I received my meters, no instructions whatsoever. I am eager for more.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
...lol....Blanca.....dont pay attention to any of them.......stick with basics....water show coming up....
@TropicalPlantParty7 жыл бұрын
Just pulled my CalMag and silica blast off my shelves to start feeding and strengthening my orchids for fall! ... you are very right about the directions for the tds readers, basically non existent! How do you calibrate yours? I figured it would be similar to my phosphate meter and refractometer, but idk so I just make sure to rinse it well w my RODI water after i use it and between measurements.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
..Jeff, is it?....thank you....PH meters, I use 7.0 & 4.0 calibration fluid...for the tds meters....342ppm & 1000ppm...solution......Phosphate meter & refractometer"s......ahhhh.....aquariums......yes almost exactly the same ......thank you sir...
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
Cal mag ...& silica blast...your giving away all the secrets.....lol
@TropicalPlantParty7 жыл бұрын
Rick L lol, yes, fish! Thank you! I'm going to try that next time. 😊
@stacyranalli60317 жыл бұрын
Super thrive is what I have seen at the place I buy my orchids. Have not seen cal magi but trust you enough to now want to know where I can buy it. I will definitely wait till I get my ph and tds meters. Thanks
@dkealoha20105 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@comptonfarmer30215 жыл бұрын
Nice line up
@maryyang87316 жыл бұрын
GM Rick, Blessings 😁thanks a lot again you’re knowledge I thank God for you. Got few questions 😉 I need your opinions regarding the following fertilizers 1.liquinox western state B-1. Thinking of soaking lava rocks before using it, would that help the orchids minimize the shock from transplanting? It works when I transplant my tomatoes to ground. 2. Bud Builder 3. Mammoth Item 2&3 got free from store,i don’t know how to use this and won’t use until I got your opinion. I value your opinion in my new endeavors in orchid plants. When using fertilizer is the weather play an important factor...how much? I’m in east bay(union city) San Francisco.and we have been in drought 😩😩.so so sad. Thanks so much My Dearest Friend Best Regards to you and Jan Gods blessing every moment.
@rickl.orchids6 жыл бұрын
thank you Mary.....#2.....I dont recommend bud or bloom boosters on orchids......they dont have a lot of self regulation when it comes to P & K....so they can over dose..toxic levels even......#3....Mammoth makes several items.....if this is the microbes.....not really needed with orchids.....#1.....liquinox western state B-1 is another i wouldn't use on orchids.......high doses of B1 have been known to cause deformities in orchids.....mutations, ............now on a side note.......all 3 of those products are excellent for growing other plants in soil or hydroponically.....peppers, tomatoes, cannabis, etc.......work very well.
@maryyang87316 жыл бұрын
Rick L. Orchids once again thank you so much Rick for your opinion on my question.and sharing your expertise take care. Best Regards to you My Dearest friend & Jan.😘Always in my prayers. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
@jessicaflack16577 жыл бұрын
I have a question. If I am using distilled water and mix up my feed at 30ppm. What is this pen reading? All the nutrition in the water or N levels only? I've tried looking this up online but I can seem to find a solid answer. Thank you!!
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
......its reading the dissolved solids in the mix.......everything.......there are some elements that read different, but they measure the entire mass.
@jessicaflack16577 жыл бұрын
Rick L wonderful thank you so much!!
@eileenheller18537 жыл бұрын
I have recently had a problem with spider mites. so, I am interested in using insect frass. I grow in kiwi bark. Do I just sprinkle a small amount (how much) on the media and water in? If I use it, can I continue to fertilize with MSU fertilizer as I have been doing....very very weak dilution with each watering? Only growing for about 6 months. So very new.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
Eileen, I use it in a root rinse or drench....I just add some to my flush water, and let it soak....then later I skim it out and water with it.....you can leave it....and some growers sprinkle it on the roots yes........check out St Augustine orchid society.....it will pop up some great articles...
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
Eileen,,,,the frass works great, but may take time to build up resistance,....this is more of treat them now and prevent pest's kind of thing.......if you have spider mites now,.....a good soap spray or any of the cheap market spray oils, like neem...will work fast .
@eileenheller18537 жыл бұрын
Rick L I did use soapy spray and an oil and got rid of them but not before they did a lot of damage .at first, I didn't realize what was happening. Now I want to prevent. Thank you for responding so quickly!
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
....prevent....then yes......love to hear that....
@jachu14336 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick. Im new to growing orchids just almost 6 months. I think i have gone overboard in giving nutrients to my orchids it resulted to root burn, the roots turned dark and almost rock hard. So how can i get those roots recover. at the moment i peeled the fleshy part if the roots and stopped any firm of fertilizers. Thanks.
@rickl.orchids6 жыл бұрын
best thing is to flush the media out.........then your at stage 1 again........the excess salts in the nutrients is what causes it.....
@jachu14336 жыл бұрын
Rick L thanks for your advice.
@ditmagiknietvergeten7 жыл бұрын
Hi dear, great show.❤ Will the next one be specific how you use them and which ones dont mix. ? Example My calcium says it NOT useable with high concentrated kalium.(i think you call it potassium it's the K in npk ) I get confused because both your N & K starts with a P ( phosforus acids and potasium ) i dont know whitch one but calcium blocks out K or mixed togeter in 1.solution reacts and binds i dont know which just the warning in the label dont use with.... I use a pet syringe for administrating medication (they dont have a needle. they suck out the meds out the bottle and hold 1 mill max so you get 0.1 0.2 0.3 mill marks and thats verry accurate and they rinse very well. How do you measure out halve a mil ? In a pipet ? And if i want to feed calcium 15% to my plants can i mix that with my hucic acids and root booster and 20.20.20. ? Or do i need.to alternate. one mix one watering other watering calcium third flush ? Anyway thanks your the orchid professor. Next time bring a coulender bunzenburner and a lab coat just dor fun 😜 jk Loved it thanks.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
.....ohhhh....lots of questions..love it......I don't use Humic/folvic acids on orchids ...yet.....they will make a plant absorb nutrients at super fast rates....tricky to use.....if you have experience fine.....your syringe is fine....just don't pour chemicals....1/2ml yes with pipette.......stick with your 20-20-20.....just swing your ph......the orchids will go crazy........save the other stuff for a while. In cooler climate.....most those things can cause more harm than good.....and yes i will go into more detail........but I want to cover basics and get that over........then we can all play with orchids...Thanks Rose.......PS.....if you want more info I can do over messages, as I do for a few others here.........Rick
@ditmagiknietvergeten7 жыл бұрын
Rick L hi Rick i boight tje root booster becuase 50%of all my new orchids either bat roor rot snails or otjer.oriblems and bad bad root systems. So i bought a kelp mix with humic acid. My 20.20.20 jas no calvium. (Sooo weird 3% magnesium but no calcium ) so oh swings won't do anyting. That's why need the concentrated calcium. Or buy another 20.20.20 again... i have 5 tubs of poweder now. All from nurseries. First 2 are from claesen but are moist and i dont trust it. Im agraid certain stuff got binded. I emailed them 3 times for there ingredients but no reply. And the 3 otjers i for have no calciumm i have 3 bottels of orchid fertilizer 6.5.7 but witj urea and no cal.mag. do you inderstand my conundrum. Ill tey to figure out the private message part.....its tricky for older channels to get verivies and get all the new options i tried. For 4 hours and i git angry and frustrated and was like fuck it no pm then... But you could be so kind and spare me the ordeal of youtube pm Send me an email with email you don't mind me knowing. To Roosjevdijk18@hotmail.com Ps the damp fertilizer... if i would mix all in a 2 liter bottle make a stock solution. And put that in the fridge... Would that keep longer then moist in a tub ?
@sandybowman54255 жыл бұрын
In using super thrive, the correct way is by the directions?
@rickl.orchids5 жыл бұрын
not a fan of Superthrive…...over time it has been know to cause mutations in plants.....I don't recommend it for orchids......
@evelynbravo-sanchez19202 жыл бұрын
How much cal mag can I use per gallon?
@AJImler14 жыл бұрын
Have you used dynagrow? And if so did you notice lower ppm than with general hydro ?
@normamorales68565 жыл бұрын
I would like to know if you use calcium by itself or just CalMag. I love it!
@rickl.orchids5 жыл бұрын
Norma......I never really use calcium by itself…...when ever they get water they get calcium added.....and usually when I give water they get feed as well.....
@rosastakofsky15386 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick!Thank you so much for your helpful videos. I’m new to orchids. I’d buy them for the flowers, then just barely keep them alive with some water. I always thought it was too hard to keep orchids, so I never looked up how to care for them. The label said just add ice. Ugh. Anyway Ive recently bought the Cali magic and started dosing my orchids . I dosed calcium today at 10ppm and epsom salt at another 10ppm. I figured it would be ok to start at 10 ppm since I never shave them any. I dosed these too chemicals together. Is that safe? I read somewhere it can cause a sludge . Then it triggered a memory of a video I saw of yours , but I couldn’t remember which one it was. I spoke to a tech guy at Cali magic and he suggested it was way too little and I should follow the label. He also has a huge collection of orchids and has been taking care of orchids for decades. One of my orchid spikes was branching out and then it started to go yellow. I figured the esponja salt would help? Thank you!
@nataliablumke56087 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick. I jUst received insect frass. Can you tell me how often do you use it and how much of it do you put per gallon/litter of water. It came with instructions, but there there are several different ways of mixing it. Not sure which one to use. Thanks
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
Natalie......I use it as a drench mainly on the orchids.......I mix it......let it sit, then I take little net and skim the debris out......and then I spray it or pour.it........I only skim it for the sprayer....if not I use it as is....Ive read some growers use it straight on the roots.....its a tiny trace of N.....
@dkealoha20105 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick. I live in Los Angeles and am fascinated with your knowledge. I'm interested in purchasing a few fertilizers you've mentioned. Our Lowes here doesn't stock all the items you mentioned. I couldn't see the actual the label on the Alaska calcium bottle. How can I call you directly? Or text you? I bought the calcium magnesium bottle. Am I supposed to use as directed on the bottle? It's 1 tsp per gallon. Also is the Alaska brand a fish fertilizer or a calcium supplement? I didn't understand. When you mention cost at your Lowes it seems to be double here! Especially the Espoma Lime conditioner at Walmart...here it's $9.95. That's ok but I also wanted to ask you about Schultz orchid plus liquid fertilizer. The numbers are 19-28-18 and I could only find it for purchase internationally in Lithuania on a website. Do you know anything about this product and why can't we purchase it here. Is it something to consider? I'd love to hear from you!!!
@rickl.orchids5 жыл бұрын
…..thank you Diane.....not sure why the price difference on some of those.....Alaska sells several types of supplements....fish fertilizer is different than kelp/seaweed supplement...…...I don't recommend using the fish fertilizer on orchids.....to much organics...The kelp/seaweed I use at 1/4tsp per gallon...….very tiny amounts needed...Shultz products are very good...…...but the 19-28-18 is way to high in P for orchids in my opinion...….orchids don't have self control when it comes to absorbing P Or K.....they can absorb toxic amount's if its given to much...and they don't use that much P naturally......
@roxanneparker91266 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick, where do I get one of those pens the blue one. I don't know anything about these products
Hi, how do you use the SuperThrive correctly with orchids?
@rickl.orchids5 жыл бұрын
I don't recommend using super thrive with orchids...…...its know to cause mutations
@myataylor48075 жыл бұрын
Rick L. Orchids Thank you for responding.😊 What would you recommend for orchid phals in icu? What plants would you recommend using the SuperThrive on and how much? I know that’s allot of questions and I apologize.☺️
@rickl.orchids5 жыл бұрын
.........for phals with poor roots.....give them good pure water and calmag, you can also add a few drops of kelp/seaweed...….the calmag will get them to grow roots fast.....kzfaq.info?o=U&video_id=ZVetgrS8-2I
@ZU64AO6 жыл бұрын
HI Rick! I'm following you from Angola/Africa where there are no orchid sellers and no orchid stuff sellers, so have to deal with the tools we can put hands on, meaning.... I have no Cali Magic but was able to get Cal Mag (Vitalink). What do you think about it as a substitute of your favorite Calcium and Magnesium supplements? It looks much poor( N:1,8% Ca:2,8% and Mg:1,0%). I've been using RainMix(Akerne) with RO water for feeding with about 150-200 ppm and ph :6.4 to 6.6 It looks having a nice Ca and Mg quantities but not know if it is chelated or not. Those are my tools for now, so it is all what I have to feed my orchids. Can you give me any suggestion, please? And by the way... I love your videos and think that you should keep with it, in the way you can or want, knowing that it is going to be fun and nice to learn. Thank you so much for all the video-lessons. All the best!
@christrinder12557 жыл бұрын
Have you an opinion on orchid focus. I've heard mixed reviews but have some. I grow in water culture but use 1/8th recommend dose.
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
Chris, I have no experience with it, but I looked it up......not sure which mix your using , they have several....and all look pretty good, its non urea based.......and 1/8...is where I would start.....or less.......if they are growing you can increase.......if you having issues....back down more.....it really takes very little.....let me know if I can help......Thank you
@rickl.orchids7 жыл бұрын
......feedback on that mix would be great as you see results......let us know here........thanks again.
@roxanneparker91266 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick, I keep commenting but, I don't see my comments for some reason after they say they've been added
@renesonse57945 жыл бұрын
I've heard you mention using kelp and seaweed both but not how or why. Uhh..how and why? :)
@roxanneparker91266 жыл бұрын
I don't know if your getting any of my messages. Thank you Roxanne
@rickl.orchids6 жыл бұрын
I am.......slow response sometimes.....
@roxanneparker91266 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick. Where do I purchase the blue pen thing at. Please and Thank you also those dropped things where do I purchase the pipette. I purchase all my products from repotme.com I don't know anything more than that. We live in Michigan in the Country and have well water. Thank you in Advance Roxanne
@sophiek82766 жыл бұрын
Hi Rick i am watching your videos since yesterday thank you for the time that you give and sorry for my english. I have two questions if you can answer me thank you. The first are you using cal mag the all year and do you have a frequency ? The second if i add epsom salt what will be the ppm and ph ? Thank you and have a good day. Sophie.
@rickl.orchids6 жыл бұрын
thanks Sophie...great questions....epsom salts I feed at 25ppm if by itself in water, and the ph can be anywhere in the 6.0-7.0 ph range....and yes I am now feeding Calmag all year round.......unless Im using plain water for flushing....they always are getting some Calcium.......mine get a small amount of Calcium all the time....