Brandal-Fetters Farm & Flora

Let's start our post with my latest bloom....RLC Summers Creation Not all fertilizers are created......Since Ive been keeping orchids, I have began to fine tune my watering procedures. Ive started to check the ph of my water to keep it around 5.8/6. Ive been switching around fertilizers and have found that certain fertilizers will adjust the ph of your water to 6 for you. How cool!! There is no such thing as a good or bad fertilizer. You just have to know how to use it. Quick facts, PH will effect micronutrient absorption. MiracleGro Orchid Fertilizer Now, this is not a bad product and it gets a pretty bad rap. I ha e noticed that when I add it to adjust water, it raises ph, so I have had to use more ph down with this. Better Grow Orchid Food I love this product! It pre adjusts my water to 6.0 for me at the recommended 1 teaspoon dosage. For my cattleyas and phrags, I do have to add some ph down, but not much. This has magnesium in it and does a ...

Planting bulbs, rhizomes, and tubers in the fall results in earlier blossoms. Remember, don't plant peony and iris tuber/rhizomes too deep or they will rot or not flower. 

Ohhhh Vandas....... I love the different colors, I love how they look, I love their foliage, but I do not love taking care of them. These orchids are the ones you usually see hanging up with their roots hanging out. These unique and alien like flowers are stunning, but their care is a little particular. They enjoy lots of air. These are epiphytes, so they are commonly up in trees or hanging off rocks in the wild. The fragrance these orchids can have is captivating. These orchids love high light, high humidity, and lots of fresh air. They can grow to be very large. I have seen 6 feet vandas with lots of keikis. These orchids love to have offshoots, called keikis. These will grow and bush out to become a very large and flower filled plant. The most common practice with these orchids is to have them basketed with their roots hanging out, but I have had to pot them in Ohio. The dry air and the 2 times a day of water is a bit much. I have always wanted to have Vanda orchids. Ever since I h...

You go shopping at our favorite grocery store, and we see the floral section filled with such beautiful orchids, but they all look the same. They are the common phalaenopsis or "moth orchid." These are such beautiful orchids, but there are over 1200 different types of orchids. Orchids happen to be one of the largest genera of plants in the world. We have so many different shapes and even fragrances. When it comes to orchid fragrance we have a range from rotten fish guts to Chanel No. 5. So, let me tell you some of my personal favorites. Phalaenopsis Photo.... Cymbidiums...... These orchids are and have always been my number one favorite orchid. They are large, very large, plants that have beautiful waxy flowers and occasionally come with a citrus/floral scent. These orchids can be grown from back bulbs, and often, they need dividing as they continue to grow very large. Oncidiums/hybrids.... I love these orchids for their showy and often, colorful displays. The mos...

Water in Columbus, Ohio is very hard and alkline. For the longest time I was using tap water but my plants were developjng nutrient deficiencies left and right and my orchids had leaves covered in calcium deposits. So,I started adjusting my ph. I use PH down products to get the overal ph to a 6.o. Then, the addition of fertilizer will get the ph to drop a little to 5.8.  Since I haved started this new water regime, my orchids are putting out multiple growths per orchid and numerous more flower spikes. These are some flasks of the new babies we will have for sale soon. Cattleyas for days!!

 We had a few new orchids decide to bloom and many Rhynchorides/Vandas in spike. Aliceara Marfitch "Howards Dream" slight peppery fragrance. Beautiful splashes of fuschia and magenta with polka dots. Very heavy flower spike. A must have! Deagamoara Shibumi Purple Rain. Beautiful flowers witj large blossoms. This beautiful plant is young and swnding out many spikes. I ha e 3 on my plant. Vanda tesselata x kultana green gold. Pink and white patterned petals. Bangkok Sunset Rhynchorrides. This is beautifully fragrant. Wildflower scent on yellow, red, and lavender blossoms. This "Blue" Phalaenopsis rebloomed. Proof that they are dyed. Beautiful flower, though. The petals sparkle with what looks like glitter in the sun. Leina'ala had a massive bloom. It was 5 inches!!! She was potted in cocoa peat, and I hate that. It retains too much moisture and not enough air flow for me. Cattleya Ruth Love ...