calcium how and where?

[mattryan]

Hello I have been searching the forums here and can't find what I am looking for. I have about 5-6 of my 40 orchids that have developed a lime grn edge to them, from what I gather it is a or could be a calcium deficiency in those particular plants. Or they need added calcium. As I am in Canada and don't get most of the chemicals that I have seen posted, what would be comparable up here in Canada. I just do this as a hobby, and the fertilizers that I use now don't contain it on the label anywhere. I have 2 cyms, a slipper, reed-stem epi and the rest are phals. Thanks for your help.

[Ray]

Where are you in Canada, Matt? In many places, the ground water should have plenty of calcium.

Try Epsom Salts at 1 tsp/gallon monthly (you can get away with a tablespoon per gallon initial shot, too). Not a source of calcium, but sometimes a magnesium deficiency can manifest similarly, and sometimes a lack of mag can inhibit calcium absorption. No matter what, it can't hurt!

Calcium...wow I never thought about that mineral for plant food ...I never imagined vitamins and minerals are essential to orchid growth. Thanks for the heads-up guys!

[Leafmite]

Hi!
I don't know yet how well this works but I decided to try using crushed calcium anti-acids (like tums). They do dissolve nicely in the water. I use a tiny pinch per gallon. The amount you use would depend on the type of orchids you are growing, how much calcium is dissolved in you water already, and the type of tablet. I couldn't figure out anything else. Eggshells don't crush well enough and aren't pretty. Hope this helps,
Leafmite

[mattryan]

Wow ty guys never thought of tums. I live in Ontario and someone told me that I could be low in calcium because of that. Yes I did use epsom salts but only thought you used it to help spike an orchid. I'll try the epsom salts first and see how things go. Thanks again.

[orchids4me]

I've even seen regular calcium tabs from the vitimin section of the store used in like the media in the flasking process for certain orchids they crish it up and use the powder. I just don't know how much of it they use but as the member with the tums stated a pinch. That may be safe rather than over doing it even with a regular calcium tablet.
Good luck

[willowbanks]

I'd go with what Ray has suggested above, makes a lot of sense to me.

Forget the TUMS and other Calcium products sold in health food stores (mostly CaC03), it's the wrong form of Calcium for plants.


Bill

[E-Jag]

I agree with Bill, crushing calcium tablets likely won't work. I worried about a calcium deficiency in my plants since my Jacks Classic doesn't contain it and I was getting a light/pale green blotchiness, so went to a hydroponics store and bought a product called Calplex. I add it once or twice per week (is a liquid). I believe I read that adding calcium will not help existing growth but will correct the deficiency in new growth, but not sure about that. As is the case with Epsom and as Ray noted, it probably won't hurt.

[Onleme]

We used to use a pinch or two of Calcium Nitrate when fertilising, couldn't get it at any garden or hardware store, had to buy a 30kg bag from an agricuture suppier, should have lasted till about the year 2350 I reckon,
We now use a Fert called Peters Excel Hi-K Cal Mag Analysis = 15N+2.2P+12.1K+5Ca+1.8Mg

Steve

[Ray]

Ontario ground water is typically less than 50 ppm dissolved solids, so a deficiency in both calcium and magnesium is certainly possible if your fertilizer doesn't have them in it.

The Peters Cal-Mag product or the Greencare Orchid Special for RO water (the so-called "MSU" formulation - 13-3-15-8Ca-2Mg) are really good options. There was someone selling the MSU stuff at the SOOS meeting I spoke at a while ago, so I'm sure you can find it.

[Brisbanite]

Originally Posted by Onleme

We used to use a pinch or two of Calcium Nitrate when fertilising, couldn't get it at any garden or hardware store, had to buy a 30kg bag from an agricuture suppier, should have lasted till about the year 2350 I reckon,
We now use a Fert called Peters Excel Hi-K Cal Mag Analysis = 15N+2.2P+12.1K+5Ca+1.8Mg

Steve

Steve, where did you purchase the Peters Excel Hi-K Cal. product from?

[Onleme]

Originally Posted by Brisbanite

Steve, where did you purchase the Peters Excel Hi-K Cal. product from?

I get it from Australian Orchid Nursery, he sells it in quantities from 250g to 15kg
Make sure you specify the Cal Mag part

Steve

[Brisbanite]

Could you post a photo?

[hollyoswald]

Repotme.com sells 'MSU formula for rainwater, which should work for calcuim deficient tapwater.

[11Orchid126]

It is a total surprise to me that they don't sell lime in Canada. Here we can buy it as hydrated lime, limestone, and pelatized lime in huge bags for the lawn.

[mattryan]

Hello again I started to water my orchids once a month with epsom salts as someone recommended...but today I went to my local orchid/gardening store and I found green earth Dolomitic Lime. It is in pellet form it has 21% Calcium 12% Magnesium 70% neutralizing value (CaCO3). Would I be able to use this on my orchids? I have 2 cyms, 1 slipper, 2 onc., 3 reed stem epi's and 30 phals? If so how much, with which and in pellet form or do I crush it up? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks