Nancy G. wrote:
Actually started transplanting about two weeks ago. Have now finished
the cat hybrids that I started repotting last year. Moved them out or
4" clay with bark mix, into 6" clear plastic with CHC. When I soaked
and rinsed the CHC, that there was still a lot of brown stain (even
after 3 rinses and soaks), does this contain tannin or anything I
should be alarmed about? The orchids I repotted last year, didn't seem
to take to the mix until after I moved them outside for a while and
everything was flushed thoroughly by the rain.
Oh good, now you can come over and help me... That offer is good for
anybody. *grin* As an aside, actually, helping people repot is an
excellent way to get free plants.
I wouldn't worry about the brown coloration in the rinse water. If you
have rinsed the coco three times, it is probably safe. Unless you are
rinsing it with salt softened water. That is not going to help things.
Also, you need to use a fair amount of water, if you didn't use enough
you may have to wash a fourth time.
A useful tool is a conductivity meter. I have one that I bought from
the local hydroponics store that is self contained and 'self
calibrating' (no idea how _that_ is supposed to work). But it is close
enough. It is called the "Truncheon". No, really... Anyway, I know my
coco is washed enough when I stick the Truncheon into the rinse water
and it is at a low conductivity. I like to get it low enough that it
doesn't even register on the meter - which you can do if you use RO
water as the final rinse. If you don't have rain water or RO water, you
can compare the conductivity of whatever water you are using to the
rinse water. They should be the same or very close. At that point you
know you've washed it as much as you can.
Rob
--
Rob's Rules:
http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to obtain more
orchids, obtain more credit
Littlefrog Farm - Growing the plants Rob likes. )