Leaky tubs and electricity. What could go wrong there?

I was at our local Hydroponics store last week and saw that they had the usual black trays that cost $2 that you can put 8 6-packs in (my favorite humidity tray except that they spring a lot of leaks). They had heavy duty, run them down with the pick-up truck pans. They cost $5 instead of $2 but when you have to use at least two of the $2 ones (one to hold the water and one to catch the water dripping from the first) and sometimes 3, they are a good buy.

Daisy

These are what I'm using now Daisy except in black - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ster...

I have been pondering this calcium thing for days now and besides getting feedback here and from other orchid forums I think my best option is to go with this as my fertilizer - http://www.repotme.com/orchid-... With this my Phals will be getting their potassium and calcium and I can go back to using my tap water instead of having to keep buying distilled water for feeding. I'll continue using distilled water mixed with potassium nitrate to mist them however. If anyone sees a problem with what I plan to do please let me know as I would like to order this in the next day or so.

Looks good to me, Chris. Just keep an eye out for the hard water deposits appearing on the leaves again.

Another thing you can do to refresh your orchids is carry them outside if there's a good rain predicted, so they get a rinse with rain water. I know that's probably a pain, but the rain water is a great thing, and about as pure as you can get without rinsing with distilled. Then be sure to let them dry out for a day or two before watering again! The drying out part is ever more important as the temperatures increase and there's more chance of fungal diseases.

You're the only person I've ever heard worrying about orchids getting enough calcium.

I'll keep misting with the distilled water with the potassium nitrate mixed in so there shouldn't be any water deposits on the leaves. Good idea about the rain too. I should have set them out this morning before we took off for Lowe's but now the rain has about stopped. I'll remember that next time. I honestly can't remember what brought up the calcium issue. Whether it was here or on another orchid forum. But I think with the MSU everything will be solved and hopefully my orchids will be happier than they are now although I think they're fairly happy.

I'm like a doting grandfather on his grandkids - since I'd planned to use my tap water with the MSU what the heck do I do about my 7.8 -> 8.3 pH level?

Put a few drops of distilled white vinegar in there, Chris. It's not exact but it will help a lot.

And it won't harm the orchids? Well of course not, you wouldn't say it otherwise. I'm still thinking of staying with the distilled water. Reason being not only for the orchids but I have to use it in my CPAP machine and my wife uses it in her 'Lucky Bamboo' which is the only plant she can't kill. I can get 3gal at the grocery store for $2.88 and quite often it's on sale for $2.50.

As you all know I'm still the newbie on the block when it comes to orchids and truthfully most other plants. I got to looking at my orchids yesterday and I noticed on some what looked like multiple 'crowns'. I've uploaded some photos showing what I mean. Are these in fact multiple plants or just one that I think are multiple?

Ah I am happy to see your question here.
Looking at your pictures, I think they are keikis forming on your mother plant.
But, other here grow more Phals than I do, so let's see what the experts say.

I've only seen keikei's on spikes... And I've only seen this when the main crown rots out... So I'm

I believe those are basal keikis. Just leave it with mommy plant for now. Sometimes it is an indication the mommy plant is undergoing some stress..but you plant seems happy, so you got a nice freebie from mommy plant.

I agree with Tarev.

Jim

Thanks both of you. I'm sure you noticed that these are three different plants in the photos.

What are you doing to those plants? Radiation? Steroids?

Some Phal. just want to be colonies instead of homesteaders. You have found the 'group' Phal while the rest of us are growing staunch individualists. The Keikis that form on the spend bloom stalks grow roots and can be repotted on their own. The keikis (I don't think they are technically keikis) that come off the main stem of the plant never grow their own roots. The plant has just divided. It seems the newer hybrids are doing this more and more.

Thoughts?

Daisy

Maybe it's all that calcium.

Jim

I know Daisy, maybe it's the potassium nitrate misting with distilled water I've got a counter-top RO unit on the way and some MSU that should help eventually and save me $$$ on distilled water. So if they just divide they just act as new plants sending out their own separate flower spikes? One other thing I've noticed the last couple of days I have a wasp that seems to have fallen in love with my Phals, at least the blooms. It just goes from spike to spike crawling around the blooms. It's not a yellow jacket but one I've not seen before. Went out this evening to see if I could get a photo but apparently it had gone to bed for the night

Yes, probably to the calcium. I don't think wasps/bees/hornets/yellow jackets will be the cause of Phal. splitting.

Seriously! Mine usually just hang on to dear life, never mind multiplying!!

No, I realize that about the wasp but I'm wondering if it's pollinating them?