Worsleya pumice

Nicholas plummer nickplummer@gmail.com
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 05:06:03 PDT
Hello Aad,

I have not yet been fortunate enough to find Worsleya at a price I can
afford, but I do grow a lot of epiphytic and lithophytic orchids in
inorganic media like pumice and scoria.  I would assume their requirements
are not entirely unlike those of Worsleya.  The general rule of thumb for
fertilizing plants in inert media is "weakly, weekly."  That is, you should
use a dilute solution of fertilizer on a regular schedule when the plant is
in active growth.    If you use a concentrated mix, you will have problems
with salt buildup in the pumice as the fertilizer solution evaporates.  If
you don't fertilize regularly, you'll have nutritional deficiencies.  Try
to find a fertilizer that contains micronutrients, not just N-P-K.

For epiphytes and lithophytes in inorganic mix, I dilute my fertilizer to
1/4 the recommended concentration (or less) and try to remember to
fertilize at every second watering.  On those days that the plants are
watered without fertilizer, flush the pot thoroughly with lots of water.
Ideally, use water with low mineral content.

Hope this helps.

Nick

--
Nicholas Plummer
nickplummer@gmail.com
Durham, North Carolina, Zone 7



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