Orchid is a wonderful and mysterious plant for me. Its flower is more
beautiful and charming than other flower. However, you must take care
of it very carefully such as temperature, watering, fertilizer,
humidity, light. Otherwise your orchid will not grow up or die
finally.

So I summarize some advises to take of the orchid as for your guide.

WATERING YOUR ORCHID


Always water early in the day so that your orchids dry out by
nighttime. The proper frequency of watering will depend on the
climatic conditions where you live. In general, water once a week
during the winter and twice a week when the weather turns warm and
dry. The size of your orchid container also helps determine how often
you need to water, regardless of climate conditions. Typically, a 6-
inch pot needs water every 7 days and a 4-inch pot needs water every 5
to 6 days.

The type of potting medium being used can also affect your plant's
water requirements. Bark has a tendency to dry out more rapidly than
sphagnum moss, for instance. It is important to remember, however,
that even when the surface of your pot is dry, the root area may
remain moist. Poke your finger or a regular wooden pencil an inch into
the pot; if it feels moist to the touch or if the pencil looks moist,
do not add additional water. The potting medium should always be damp,
but not soggy.

The quality of water used, whether for spraying or watering, is of
great importance. Since tap water has often been chemically treated,
generally with chlorine, it should be used with caution. The best
water for orchids is undoubtedly rainwater. Rainwater, as it passes
through the air, dissolves and absorbs many substances such as dust,
pollen and other organic matter.

THINGS TO CONSIDER: The temperature of the water is also important. If
the water temperature and the surrounding air temperature are equal,
no harm will result, and slight differences either way can be
tolerated by healthy plants. Fatal or long-term damage, not easily
discernible at first, can result from using water that is too cold.

Please click the link to read article about Light, Humidity, Feeding
and Tempature : http://www.worldofflower.net/worldofflower.net/Care
tips for your orchid.htm

Please click the link to read article about Light, Humidity, Feeding
and Tempature : http://www.worldofflower.net/worldofflower.net/Care
tips for your orchid.htm

I know very little about orchids. What kind of food do you feed a orchid?
Do they store their food? In what form and where? I thought they were
autotrophs. Shows how much I know.
BTW the ghost flower is a heterotroph.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...st_flower.html
--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Johnny Borborigmi" wrote in message
...
On 2008-01-15 21:03:45 -0500, "symplastless"
said:


Please click the link to read article about Light, Humidity, Feeding
and Tempature : http://www.worldofflower.net/worldofflower.net/Care
tips for your orchid.htm

I know very little about orchids. What kind of food do you feed a
orchid?
Do they store their food? In what form and where? I thought they were
autotrophs. Shows how much I know.
BTW the ghost flower is a heterotroph.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...st_flower.html


You can use regular miracle or any 10-10-10 food. No "special" ferti;izer
is needed.

Oh, so you really are not feeding the plant. Just applying N-P-K. BTW
there are 14 other essential elements. Some more important than others in
different amounts for different plants. 14 From the soil.
They are C; H; N; O; P; K; S; Mg; Ni; Fe; Ca; Zn; Mo; Mn; B; Cl; Cu
I guess that the orchid must be an autotroph. Autotrophs manufacture their
own food and we do not feed them. That is the case for most plants. I say
most because of exceptions like Ghost Flowers. They have no chlorophyll to
trap sunlight energy and manufacture food. They are more like a
heterotroph. Humans are heterotrophs. The chemical companies trick you to
believing their product is food.
Food is a substance that provides and energy source, mostly. Nutrient is a
substance that provides an energy source, elements, and other substances
essential for life, in types and amounts that can provide a healthy life.
Fertilizer is a substance that provides elements, as salts mostly, or in
bonded forms, that require microorganisms to alter to forms that can be
absorbed or taken in by plants. They are not absorbing in the sense of a
Bounty paper towel.


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:28:43 -0500, Johnny Borborigmi
wrote:

On 2008-01-15 21:03:45 -0500, "symplastless"
said:


Please click the link to read article about Light, Humidity, Feeding
and Tempature : http://www.worldofflower.net/worldofflower.net/Care
tips for your orchid.htm

I know very little about orchids. What kind of food do you feed a
orchid?
Do they store their food? In what form and where? I thought they were
autotrophs. Shows how much I know.
BTW the ghost flower is a heterotroph.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...st_flower.html


You can use regular miracle or any 10-10-10 food. No "special"
ferti;izer is needed.

Orchids need more phosporous in order to flower than the fertilizer
you describe. People mostly use synthetic salt based fertilizers. I
think proper maintenance is more important than fertilization. Misting
the plants daily and keeping them in clean conditions with as much
humidity as possible is optimum.

That makes sense!


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Johnny Borborigmi" wrote in message
...
On 2008-01-17 08:54:14 -0500, Jangchub said:

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:28:43 -0500, Johnny Borborigmi
wrote:

On 2008-01-15 21:03:45 -0500, "symplastless"
said:


Please click the link to read article about Light, Humidity, Feeding
and Tempature : http://www.worldofflower.net/worldofflower.net/Care
tips for your orchid.htm

I know very little about orchids. What kind of food do you feed a
orchid?
Do they store their food? In what form and where? I thought they were
autotrophs. Shows how much I know.
BTW the ghost flower is a heterotroph.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...st_flower.html


You can use regular miracle or any 10-10-10 food. No "special"
ferti;izer is needed.

Orchids need more phosporous in order to flower than the fertilizer
you describe. People mostly use synthetic salt based fertilizers. I
think proper maintenance is more important than fertilization. Misting
the plants daily and keeping them in clean conditions with as much
humidity as possible is optimum.


Misting does nothing unless you're going to do it every 5-10 minutes 24
hours a day. A good humidifier is more important.

I stand by my other post.


I am more incline to listen to people who do not claim that fertilizer,
elements alone, are food for autotrophs!

--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:53:55 -0500, "symplastless"
wrote:


I am more incline to listen to people who do not claim that fertilizer,
elements alone, are food for autotrophs!

I am not familiar with the term autotrophs, but I do know orchids
(with the exception of some) are epiphytes and take nutrients from air
and water which collects between the roots or hold tights and the bark
of the tree the plant has adhered to.

I fertilize plants indoors using simple liquid seaweed and so far, so
good. I've had the same house plants for over a decade and made many
plants from their offshoots.

I also ran very large greenhouse operations and was a grower. But
what do I know. Rhetorical of course.


One heck of a lot more than a so called tree biologist.

In article ,
"Don Staples" wrote:

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:53:55 -0500, "symplastless"
wrote:


I am more incline to listen to people who do not claim that fertilizer,
elements alone, are food for autotrophs!

I am not familiar with the term autotrophs, but I do know orchids
(with the exception of some) are epiphytes and take nutrients from air
and water which collects between the roots or hold tights and the bark
of the tree the plant has adhered to.

I fertilize plants indoors using simple liquid seaweed and so far, so
good. I've had the same house plants for over a decade and made many
plants from their offshoots.

I also ran very large greenhouse operations and was a grower. But
what do I know. Rhetorical of course.


One heck of a lot more than a so called tree biologist.

Remind me Don. What was your last post that addressed a plant problem?
It seems your whole "raison d'etre" for being in gardening groups is to
attack John. It would be a great improvement if you could just throw in
a few tid-bits that are on topic. Consider starting a new NG called
rec.kill.john.kill, then you could rant to your hearts content and still
be on topic.
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...490698,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:53:55 -0500, "symplastless"
wrote:


I am more incline to listen to people who do not claim that fertilizer,
elements alone, are food for autotrophs!

I am not familiar with the term autotrophs, but I do know orchids
(with the exception of some) are epiphytes and take nutrients from air
and water which collects between the roots or hold tights and the bark
of the tree the plant has adhered to.

Autotrophs

Very good question. People of course may disagree with my definition. That
is fine. I will provide you with my definition so you will understand what
I mean. If somebody else uses the word, you may want to ask them to define
so you understand what they mean.



Autotrophs make their own food. Heterotrophs have to have it made for them.



Not the last word on the topic. Most trees and plants are autotrophs.
E.g., An oak tree. An oak tree absorbs (not like a Bounty paper towel
though - that was just pointed out to me) essential elements dissolved in
water with non-woody roots and the help of organs, for example, mycorrhizae
and root hairs.



Mycorrhizae are composite organs consisting of tree tissue and fungi.

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...corrhizae.html



Root hairs are the extension of a single cell.

A root hair is the extension of a single epidermal cell, epidermal, which
means skin.

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...oot_hairs.html



Oak trees with the water, essential elements and trapped sun light energy
manufacture their food with the process called photosynthesis. Generally
speaking, after many processes glucose (tree food) is manufactured. One
reaction is the glucose is transformed into starch and stored in living
parenchyma. Trees only store starch in living cells. They load, store and
then use - water, elements and glucose as it is manufactured. The
collection of living cells is called the symplast. Most of these words are
in my dictionary. I call this type of organism a autotroph.

Even though the bag in the store says tree food, it is not tree food.



Elements are very important. That's why we call them essential elements.



Elements can be found here.

http://www.webelements.com/



The most recognized essential elements for trees are -

C; H; N; O; P; K; S; Mg; Ni; Fe; Ca; Zn; Mo; Mn; B; Cl; Cu



Different species of plants require different amounts of the latter. E.g.,
legumes such as black locust, coffee tree have a unique requirement for
cobalt. I think it is pertaining to nitrogen fixation. A new topic to me,
i.e., the requirement of cobalt for legumes.



Now, there are, as always in nature, exceptions. E.g., The Ghost Flower.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...flowers-1.html

It is a plant with no chlorophyll. It cannot photosynthesis and manufacture
its own food or nutrients. It gets its required food, nutrients etc., by
way of the bicarbohydrate transfer of plants. It then would fall under the
heterotroph category. We cannot provide food for the ghost flower. It is
manufactured by other plants and then transferred. What would you call the
host to an autotroph?



Animals such as humans are heterotrophs, us, like the Ghost Flower, have to
have something or someone else manufacture our food for us. We cannot
photosynthesis to manufacture our required food.



Glucose is the international biological currency. I require it, you require
it, other animals and plants require it. "All" is not a term that can be
used often. I am thinking, just a thought, that all living organisms living
on Earth require glucose. Without it we would not be here.


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Don Staples" wrote:

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:53:55 -0500, "symplastless"
wrote:


I am more incline to listen to people who do not claim that fertilizer,
elements alone, are food for autotrophs!

I am not familiar with the term autotrophs, but I do know orchids
(with the exception of some) are epiphytes and take nutrients from air
and water which collects between the roots or hold tights and the bark
of the tree the plant has adhered to.

I fertilize plants indoors using simple liquid seaweed and so far, so
good. I've had the same house plants for over a decade and made many
plants from their offshoots.

I also ran very large greenhouse operations and was a grower. But
what do I know. Rhetorical of course.


One heck of a lot more than a so called tree biologist.

Remind me Don. What was your last post that addressed a plant problem?
It seems your whole "raison d'etre" for being in gardening groups is to
attack John. It would be a great improvement if you could just throw in
a few tid-bits that are on topic. Consider starting a new NG called
rec.kill.john.kill, then you could rant to your hearts content and still
be on topic.
--

Bug off, billy, when a tree question comes up, I will, till then fighting
deadwood is a reason to be here. Kind of like asking a back country chemist
how to raise pine trees.

In article ,
"Don Staples" wrote:

"Billy" wrote in message
...

Remind me Don. What was your last post that addressed a plant problem?
It seems your whole "raison d'etre" for being in gardening groups is to
attack John. It would be a great improvement if you could just throw in
a few tid-bits that are on topic. Consider starting a new NG called
rec.kill.john.kill, then you could rant to your hearts content and still
be on topic.
--

Bug off, billy, when a tree question comes up, I will, till then fighting
deadwood is a reason to be here. Kind of like asking a back country chemist
how to raise pine trees.

As usual Don, long on epithets and short on information. Shame on you
and the school you attended.

At the risk of irritating the fair poster from New South Wales, I find
you puzzling Don. What are you trying to advance in your incessant
attacks upon John? Trying to dehumanize John by calling him "deadwood"
is just school yard name calling at best and doesn't resolve anything.

So, basically , you're in this group to attack John. Is that right? If
that is it, then get a life.

If you don't approve of how John shares his knowledge then, answer them
yourself. If you're too lazy to respond, then let John answer them.
There are a lot of safety nets in these group: gardeners helping other
gardeners.

Or, is it that you think John is disseminating erroneous information? If
so, join the group and correct his information. He seems to have more
energy and time than most of us. Let's put him to work, spreading good
tree management information. Just correct him, if he jumps the tracks.
Then our little news groups can get back to tour peaceful ways of
contemplating the beauty in life.

--
Bush Behind Bars

Billy
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/

"Don Staples" wrote in message
...
"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Don Staples" wrote:

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:53:55 -0500, "symplastless"
wrote:


I am more incline to listen to people who do not claim that
fertilizer,
elements alone, are food for autotrophs!

I am not familiar with the term autotrophs, but I do know orchids
(with the exception of some) are epiphytes and take nutrients from air
and water which collects between the roots or hold tights and the bark
of the tree the plant has adhered to.

I fertilize plants indoors using simple liquid seaweed and so far, so
good. I've had the same house plants for over a decade and made many
plants from their offshoots.

I also ran very large greenhouse operations and was a grower. But
what do I know. Rhetorical of course.


One heck of a lot more than a so called tree biologist.

Remind me Don. What was your last post that addressed a plant problem?
It seems your whole "raison d'etre" for being in gardening groups is to
attack John. It would be a great improvement if you could just throw in
a few tid-bits that are on topic. Consider starting a new NG called
rec.kill.john.kill, then you could rant to your hearts content and still
be on topic.
--

Bug off, billy, when a tree question comes up, I will, till then fighting
deadwood is a reason to be here. Kind of like asking a back country
chemist how to raise pine trees.

here is 2 tree questions.
You say "fighting deadwood" Very loose terms and not lucid. I never heard
of such a thing.
Please explain what you are saying.

Define "dead" =
Define "wood" =
See, wood is not static so it may be hard to define like humic acids. Its
constantly going through ecological stages.


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"kzin" wrote in message
...

On 18-Jan-2008, Johnny Borborigmi wrote:

Oh, so you really are not feeding the plant. Just applying N-P-K.


Jesus SNIP Christ on a unicyle you guys anal much? Sorry I added an
opinion....

it's just the one guy, either killfile him or just ignore him, or find
amusement in him

Ok, let me break out the "S" word - Stupid. In the USA people have the
right to be stupid. They can say and write stupid things. E.g., Fertilizer
is food, elements are nutrients, plants absorb nutrients, we have feeder
roots, wood is dead, heartrot explains trees response to wounding, wound
dressing stops rot, plant trees deep, put mulch on the trunk of trees and
good and deep, tree wrap prevents sunscald and frost cracks, stake trees
with wire in a hose, wood is dead. Heartrot explains decay. Flush cuts are
correct. Wound dressings stop rot. Nature is balanced. Fertilizer is food.
Wetwood is bad. Planting deeply is good. Rot is a major cause of failure.
Water causes decay. Insects and diseases are the major causes of tree
problems. There are at least a hundred more.



Myself, I am studying Advanced Tree Biology. In Advanced Tree Biology we
reframe from loose, sloppy terms. Why, for a better understanding how the
system works. If I see a fellow is so far off tract to call fertilizer
plant food, I have enough care, concern, time and passion to help that
person better understand plants. Again, some people fight to be stupid and
spread it to others. Mostly product pushers are to blame for the continued
confussion.



I am very thankful that someone took the time to explain to me things like
fertilizers are not tree food.



Sorry for caring!




--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"symplastless" wrote in message
. ..

"kzin" wrote in message
...

On 18-Jan-2008, Johnny Borborigmi wrote:

Oh, so you really are not feeding the plant. Just applying N-P-K.


Jesus SNIP Christ on a unicyle you guys anal much? Sorry I added an
opinion....

it's just the one guy, either killfile him or just ignore him, or find
amusement in him

Ok, let me break out the "S" word - Stupid. In the USA people have the
right to be stupid. They can say and write stupid things. E.g.,
Fertilizer is food, elements are nutrients, plants absorb nutrients, we
have feeder roots, wood is dead, heartrot explains trees response to
wounding, wound dressing stops rot, plant trees deep, put mulch on the
trunk of trees and good and deep, tree wrap prevents sunscald and frost
cracks, stake trees with wire in a hose, wood is dead. Heartrot explains
decay. Flush cuts are correct. Wound dressings stop rot. Nature is
balanced. Fertilizer is food. Wetwood is bad. Planting deeply is good. Rot
is a major cause of failure. Water causes decay. Insects and diseases are
the major causes of tree problems. There are at least a hundred more.



Myself, I am studying Advanced Tree Biology. In Advanced Tree Biology we
reframe from loose, sloppy terms. Why, for a better understanding how the
system works. If I see a fellow is so far off tract to call fertilizer
plant food, I have enough care, concern, time and passion to help that
person better understand plants. Again, some people fight to be stupid
and spread it to others. Mostly product pushers are to blame for the
continued confussion.



I am very thankful that someone took the time to explain to me things like
fertilizers are not tree food.



Sorry for caring!




--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding
us that we are not the boss.

I forgot one for Don Staples whuile I am at it.. Wood, e.g., cellulose, is
bad for a forest so logging must be done in the name of forest health. How
much more absurd can you possibly be?


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

So much for world peace. Keep beating those plowshares into swords Om.
Looks like a long winter.

Time for happy hour;-)
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...490698,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

"someone" wrote in message
...

On 18-Jan-2008, "symplastless" wrote:

There are at least a hundred more.

please list them all for us but this time, for clarity, don't use any
spaces
or punctuation.

thank you.

I will work on it.


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.