Plants

[MrWaxhead]

This is not really planted tank related really, but o man, I started taking my weekly water dump from my tank and watering my house plants and they are going nuts

I can't believe I was always just dumping that water, my house plants are loving the nutrients from my tank water. Some of my plants that I have had for years and not growing much have started blowing side chutes everywhere. Guess I can save on house plant ferts now hehe, and just reuse my tanks ferts and fish poo

 

[julia298]

This is not really planted tank related really, but o man, I started taking my weekly water dump from my tank and watering my house plants and they are going nuts

I can't believe I was always just dumping that water, my house plants are loving the nutrients from my tank water. Some of my plants that I have had for years and not growing much have started blowing side chutes everywhere. Guess I can save on house plant ferts now hehe, and just reuse my tanks ferts and fish poo

The thought had never crossed my mind... I'll have to try it.

 

[discus dreamer]

Yup
this is a good idea, I have been letting water stand a day or so before watering plants for years because they hate the chlorine. So when i got a tank it was an obvious source of dechlorinated water, and fish poo well that's like christmas has come for the plants! Haven't checked this out in any highly technical way you understand.
DD

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I always water my house plants with my tank water, i still add fertilzer though and mine gow crazy.

I/ should i say "my" girlfreind was given a phalinopsis orchid which she has'nt touched well ive made it double in size and its on a second run at flowering possible better than when she got it.
Scince then I now have to do the same tansk on the (3) of the mother inlaws orchids too, they were almost dead but with care and the majic water there coming back to life.

Good for the garden or your bonsai's too.

 

[Silverlady]

My Streptocarpus's love it, they are covered in flowers .

 

[Jen]

Hmmm. What a good idea. I don't have too many plants, but I will have to give it a try and see what happens.

Thanks

 

[Tolak]

For the few indoor plants I have I just dip a large cup into a tank & water them. The nitrates in the water are a natural fertilizer.

I clean my filters in a 5 gallon bucket full of tank water, this never gets wasted. I've used this on outdoor plants for years, they really take off. If I clean all my filters at once I end up with a good 20 gallons of this wonderfully grungy water. When I redid the landscaping out front, I pulled out 5 roses that I replanted as an afterthought, I had planned on tossing them. They sat in a wheelbarrow for hours, wilted with dried out roots. Replanted them behind the garage, doused them with grungy filter water for a couple of weeks, in a month they were blooming.

 

[craynerd]

Moody, just out of interest how are your Orchids growing, in normal tree bark?

I am only saying because i have started using a Hydrophonic method, its soo simple its untrue and the growth i get is fantastic! I would definately recommend you having a go. All my phalinopsis species have grown twice as fast since using this method and flower for twice as long!

I know not many people use this method and I am keen to spread the word!

Chris

 

[hogan53]

Moody, just out of interest how are your Orchids growing, in normal tree bark?

I am only saying because i have started using a Hydrophonic method, its soo simple its untrue and the growth i get is fantastic! I would definately recommend you having a go. All my phalinopsis species have grown twice as fast since using this method and flower for twice as long!

I know not many people use this method and I am keen to spread the word!

Chris

Chris
what is your method for your Orchids my missus keeps buying them and DIEING
THEM?
GRAY.

 

[craynerd]

Hi Hogan,

The method is very simple and it works an absolute treat. Not only will your orchids not die, but they will grow well!

Semi-Hydrophonic Method

1) Take a plant pot slightly on the larger side. Drill/cut or pop 2 holes about 1 1/2 inch from the bottom.

2) Use a medium size expanded clay pellets, i use Hydroleca, you can find them at nearly ANY garden center or online , eg. http/www.gardendirect.co.uk/product.asp?...History=related.
Fill the bottom of the vase upto the holes with the clay balls. (basically have an 1 1/2 inch of balls to the bottom of the pot.)

3) Remove your orchid from the tree bark and carefully remove as much bark from around the roots as possible. (You should be able to nearly remove it all)

4) Cut any crappy or dead roots away.

5) Place the orchid in the top of the vase and fill and shake the rest of the clay balls around it so basically the roots get completely burried. You have to shake it so the balls get between the roots and everywhere.

Done

Now picture the situation. When you fill the vase with water, it will fill the bottom inch and a half with water then start to leek out the holes.
The clay pellets soak up the water, so remain constantly moist from the pool of water in the bottom, yet not too wet to rot the roots. Also the roots never grow into the water pool and so don`t rot. The large pellets also give good circulation of air around the root system and allow strong root growth.

I would advise using a plate under the pot
1) to catch the water when it spurts out so it doesnt go all over the floor
2) more importantly. If you put the clay pellets around the pot on the plate as well, they get soaked in water and keep the surrounding air nice and humid for the orchid as well.

Water it about 2 times a week, just so that there is always a bit of water in the pool at the bottom.
I use a Orchid fertisliser once every month or a little more often in summer.

Hope that helps and let me know how you get on!

In my opinion they should be sold this way!!!

Regards

Chris

 

[Graeme Edwards]

The way i keep mine is similar to you chris.

Mine/girlfreind/mother inlaw's is in the standard plastic pot then in a much nicer orchid pot, the orchid pot has a raised pinicle at the bottom so the orchid sits about 2cm off the bottom of the pot, so when they are water once a week (feed as well) there is always altle water at the bottom of the pot so the wood bark holds a high humidity, when i water them i soak the wood bark for about an hour then let them drain and back into the pot with the water in the bottom.

We ( chester zoo) have an orchid festival every february for a week where you can buy more rare and specialist species.

Iv spoken to the guys on botany about the phalinopsis orchid, they say they need a cooling off period of about 6 months where they should only get waterd and only fed once a month.
when you have cooled them off bring them into a brighter slightly warmer room with abit of air circulation ( mine is buy a window so they get fresh air regularly) and feed them every 7 days.

We hold some very endagerd species and there are kept in very technical climate contriled green houses.
Its nice to go in there ( public not allowed) and take pics of the flower and have a good root around.