"Hi
In the 25 years of growing cymbidiums, I have never heard of putting salt
on the plants on purpose. Have grown in Carona Calif, Stratford Cn
and now in NE Florida. Just the salt from house hold water softeners will
kill plants. Some plants will tolerate some salt but areas I have been
where TDS (Total Disolved solids) are high in the water - religious flushing
rituals are carried out to keep the levels as low as possible. Santa Barbers
has TDS levels as high as 1800 PPM. MY TDS Levels here in Florida are
250 to 300 PPM depending on rainfall amounts - NA (Sodium) and Cl levels
increase in the local water supply when rainfall drops up to 18 PPM so a
small amount of salt is un avoidable but not really desireable. Epsom
salts in some quantity depending on you water tests may be good, but
certinly not table salt. Have you checked you water or acidity of what you put
on the plants - how about the acidity of you potting medium?

Playel" wrote in message ...
Addendum:
Maybe the salt is just what is needed to stress an otherwise healthy plant
into blooming? Or maybe (in cultivation) the salt helps dry out the medium
for species that crave a hastily drying compost? I'm thinking Tolumnias
here, of course, bat also the Schomburgkias mentioned earlier.

Maybe (but this is a stretch) the layer of salt prevents the plants from
being burnt by excessive light?

Theories... Never get enough light here up in the north anyway. Am certainly
not in the place to theorize about it

I am going to post a link to a pic of the Tolumnia as I need it identified,
if anyone is interested in seeing it.

//H