dyzzypyxxy said:I know Chris. The hard water deposits on the leaves of your orchids was most likely a good part made of calcium from your tap water. That's why I'm saying I don't think you need to be buying something to "add" calcium when you have it right there in your tap water. Maybe give them a douse with the hose once a month, for a shot of calcium from the tap water.

The potassium nitrate IS fertilizer too, so you are feeding your Phals very lightly every time you mist them with it. It just sounds to me as if you aren't letting them dry out very much between all the misting and watering you are doing. Try leaving them to dry out at least a couple of days a week and see what happens?

The number one cause of death in orchids is over-watering, remember.

So, to clarify Elaine, once a month run just tap water through the bark until it runs out the bottom which will cleanse the bark and at the same time add calcium. Change my misting to every 3 days and only mist once that day with the potassium nitrate and distilled water but still water/feed every 8-9 days with the Better-Gro and distilled water?

I agree with Elaine. I've read that a once a month watering with high Ph water is a good thing. Our water here is about 7.5Ph in a good year, and I do get lazy and use the hose once in a while. That being said, there are a few orchids that won't tolerate it. My Coel. barbata has black tips on all of the older leaves from it. New growth looks fine since I quit the city water. I use the hose for all of my big terrestrials for convenience, and so far, no negative reactions It's all trial and error.
I was surprised to see my Grubler Pro Mix doesn't have calcium.

Sure, sounds like a plan to me. I would change the format gradually so they will adapt easily. Maybe leave only one day dry at first.

Chris, are you still sometimes adding a little Epsom salts to the sprayer when you feed with the potassium nitrate? That's a good combination, but maybe only do that once a week, or once in a while.

Just so you know, most people only water their Phals about once or twice a week if growing indoors. Since your greenhouse is pretty warm, and your air is pretty dry, more often plus misting is a good thing but - you DO need to let them dry out occasionally. I would pick a couple of days per week when they will get nothing at all - no misting or water. Say, Tuesday and Friday?

How warm do you think it's going to be in your greenhouse at the height of summer? If it's getting much over 90 to 95, it might be wise to think about moving the Phals out to a cooler place in the garden, say under a tree? If not, misting in the afternoon when it's hottest might be a good idea just to cool the plants off.

No, I quit using that quite awhile ago Elaine when I switched to the potassium nitrate. Ok, that makes sense, I can do that. Just keep my log as I do with my feeding schedule so I don't forget. As far as how warm, well hopefully not as bad as last year when it was in the 100s. This year I have the 60% shade cloth on the greenhouse but still its already been in the upper 90s but once the trees leaf out it might be a bit better. Also I'll have my power project finished soon and will be able to run fans in there this year pulling air in through the north window so hopefully it will make somewhat of a difference. I'd rather not try to move them outside with all the squirrels, pigeons, doves, grackles out here and if I'd leave them out overnight there are always the deer doing their grocery shopping.

For me, Phals are house plants. I have a swamp cooler, so the temps stay 10 deg. cooler, and the humidity is better than outside.

The shade from the trees and fan sound like they will help a lot, Chris. You could also hang some old, wet towels in front of your fan to boost the humidity and give a swamp cooler effect. But don't be too surprised if your Phals object to the high temps. I've had mine wrinkle up their leaves for most of May and June, until we start getting rain, or at least clouds in the afternoons. They aren't dying, but they are telling you they're not happy when they do that. Most of the time they recover.

Yes, I give my whole collection a feeding of potassium nitrate with added Epsom Salts about every two weeks, alternating with the regular fertilizer now that we're into the growing season.

The wet towels in front of the fan sound like a good idea Elaine. If I recall mine did pretty well last year through the rest of the hot summer. I got them in June and repotted them. Of course between June of last year and now I've lost 8 of the 23 but I don't consider that too bad of a loss rate. I'll try the feeding with the potassium nitrate and Epson Salts next time I feed. What do you use about 1/2tsp of each per gal?

I have a 2gal. sprayer and put in a tablespoon of each, but I don't spray as often as you do. I'm also spraying about 15 different species of orchids, some that feed much heavier than your Phals, which are slow growers. I just spray my Phals lightly compared to the other types.

The more often you spray, the weaker the solution - but as it gets warmer, your plants can use gradually more, too. It's not a fixed amount.

If your plants are green and healthy and have new leaves by the time the weather gets cool, you will be tapering back to a very light dose by winter.

Thanks Elaine I guess I'm going to have to send you a 'tree mail' with the latest photos of what the plants look like to get your latest opinion or is it better to post in this thread?

I'm sure everybody would enjoy seeing how your plants are coming along, Chris.

I've also been watching this thread, and learning from it, even though I've not posted.

I, for one would love to see the progress! Please do continue here! I/We are all learning!

Very well, I'll take some photos tomorrow and post. I've been busy working on a flower bed since about 3pm.

Here are photos taken this morning of all 15 Phals - I've been misting twice a day with 1/2tsp of potassium nitrate per gallon of distilled water. I've been feeding/watering using Better-Gro orchid food, 1/2tsp mixed into 1gal of distilled water.

Definitely more green than before, Chris and there's a bunch of new leaves coming along too, which is always a good sign.

.....and just look at all those spikes!

I didn't think it would make that big a difference. That's great!

The new growth looks 100% better, Chris...great job! Your plants are really stepping up to the plate...so many spikes with branches..just loaded with buds...keep it up!

Alice, you mentioned spikes, here are some better photos of them

Thank you Elaine, Alice, Daisy and Lindsey. I really feel a sense of accomplishment with these. I redid my humidity trays yesterday with plastic tubs such as you'd put in a sink to wash dishes. They're black and seem to be working better. I've got to replace the two 4' tables they're sitting on as at first my pans would leak all over and I guess the weight of the trays caused the tables to warp in the middle. That and finish my electrical project for the fans and I'll be done.