Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.


Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
Register Members Today's Posts
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
Go Back   Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web ! > >
Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-18-2024, 12:33 AM
Califoutdoors's Avatar
Califoutdoors Califoutdoors is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Sep 2024
Zone: 10a
Location: Monterey Bay, CA
Posts: 30
Male
Default Feeding at 25ppm N/K-lite…?

I’m getting back into growing orchids after an 18 year absence, growing outside in a small shade house along the No California coast.

After much research I’ve decided to feed with K-lite from Ray, distilled water, at 25ppm N, at most/every watering. Ideally with a pH of 5.8-6.5.

This is radically different from my former growing experience (in a green house) where I fed (with Dyno -Grow) more like 200ppm N during active growth (and pretty much ignored pH), flushing crazily in between feedings. Doing this I had great success growing/blooming Catts, Oncid alliance, Phals…

The whole 25ppm N, as well as the K-lite 12-1-1-10Ca-3Mg formula, at every feeding sounds logical (natural) to me, but it does make me nervous. Would very much like to hear from those that have implemented this weak but frequent feeding regime and your experiences…
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes Waterdog111 liked this post
  #2  
Old 09-18-2024, 08:56 AM
Grawski Grawski is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 25
Default

I've been flushing/feeding all my Orchids DAILY with a similar weak feeding. I keep my PPM between 50 and 60 PPM for the everyday flush/feeding. I began the daily schedule after much research, and much more thinking. If our goal as Orchid growers is to emulate Mother Nature, then a daily rainfall in their environment would suggest we provide a daily flush in our home setting. My Orchids are a mix of mounts and Semi-Hydro. Not a single pot with bark, NONE. They are all growing roots and shoots like crazy. Do not be nervous with this technique, as it has been time tested by many.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-18-2024, 09:42 AM
Ray's Avatar
Ray Ray is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2005
Member of:AOS
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,136
Male
Default

I originated that fertigation regimen back when I had a greenhouse with RO tank and metering pump. Now that I feed manually, using a hose-end sprayer, I have returned to 100 ppm N weeklly. Both - and other methodologies - are perfectly valid techniques.

Your desire that the solution be between pH 5.8 and 6.5 will probably not be met. It is likely to be lower, BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER. For one, it is a very weak acid, so won’t buffer worth a damn. Second, the pH of the applied solutions play an extremely small role in the pH of the rhizosphere, and that’s what’s important.

The plant itself is the biggest controller of pH, with the medium and their contained microbes following close behind.

I used to be very careful to get my fertilizer solution at 6.0, as I figured the inert LECA is used wasn’t going to affect it at all. I metered Dyna-Gro Grow formula with one pump, ProteKt (primarily a KOH solution) with another to do so.

What I found was that right after watering, the pH in the S/H reservoir was 6.0, but depending upon the length of time after watering and the time of day, the pH could be anywhere from 3.5 to 8.5. AND THE PLANTS WERE FINE.

Keep in mind that pH is a measure of the ratio of H+ and OH- ions in the solution. If there are 500 of one and 300 of the other, or 5 million of one and 3 million of the other, the pH is the same, but obviously that second will be a much stronger acid or base, so could be damaging, while the former won’t be.
__________________
Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
FIRSTRAYS.COM
Try Kelpak - you won't be sorry!

Last edited by Ray; 09-18-2024 at 09:46 AM..
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 4 Likes
Likes Roberta, isurus79, Waterdog111, Clawhammer liked this post
  #4  
Old 09-18-2024, 11:13 PM
isurus79's Avatar
isurus79 isurus79 is offline
Senior Member
American Orchid Society Judge
 

Join Date: Sep 2007
Zone: 8b
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 44
Posts: 10,290
Default

I fertilize with K-lite everyday at 25-50ppm. No need to flush.
__________________
Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis

Pics on Flickr

Instagram

YouTube
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes Clawhammer liked this post
  #5  
Old 09-19-2024, 10:37 AM
Califoutdoors's Avatar
Califoutdoors Califoutdoors is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Sep 2024
Zone: 10a
Location: Monterey Bay, CA
Posts: 30
Male
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by isurus79 View Post
I fertilize with K-lite everyday at 25-50ppm. No need to flush.
I’ve not heard that before—you don’t need to flush when dosing 25-50ppm? That’s a time-saver…

(I’ve enjoyed your Catt vids, Stephen. Your use of zip-ties as supports is creative and I think I’m going to emulate that with some of mine)

Last edited by Califoutdoors; 09-19-2024 at 10:40 AM..
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes isurus79 liked this post
  #6  
Old 09-19-2024, 10:47 AM
rbarata rbarata is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Mar 2015
Zone: 10a
Location: Abrantes
Posts: 5,522
Male
Default

The flushing is only necessary if the fert uses urea as the nitrogen source. If this is not the case, no need to do it.
__________________
Meteo data at my city here.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-19-2024, 11:21 AM
Ray's Avatar
Ray Ray is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2005
Member of:AOS
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,136
Male
Default

If the potting medium never dries out, there will be no precipitation.

Any dissolved solid, including whatever is in the water to sart with, will build up if the solvent (water) evaporates.
__________________
Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
FIRSTRAYS.COM
Try Kelpak - you won't be sorry!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-19-2024, 12:30 PM
Clawhammer Clawhammer is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,299
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by isurus79 View Post
I fertilize with K-lite everyday at 25-50ppm. No need to flush.
Same here. No fert buildup, even on my terra cotta pots. I don't fertilize during the winter.
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes isurus79 liked this post
  #9  
Old 09-19-2024, 02:00 PM
isurus79's Avatar
isurus79 isurus79 is offline
Senior Member
American Orchid Society Judge
 

Join Date: Sep 2007
Zone: 8b
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 44
Posts: 10,290
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Califoutdoors View Post
I’ve not heard that before—you don’t need to flush when dosing 25-50ppm? That’s a time-saver…
I've never noticed any sort of build up at that level, in either my plants outside (which do admittedly get rained on, typically in spring and fall) or in my cabinet (that doesn't receive rain, as you can imagine).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Califoutdoors View Post
I’ve enjoyed your Catt vids, Stephen. Your use of zip-ties as supports is creative and I think I’m going to emulate that with some of mine
Thank you! Zip ties really are incredibly helpful!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clawhammer View Post
Same here. No fert buildup, even on my terra cotta pots. I don't fertilize during the winter.
I also don't fertilize in winter, so maybe that could count as flushing?
__________________
Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis

Pics on Flickr

Instagram

YouTube
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-27-2024, 01:14 AM
Johndeaux22 Johndeaux22 is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2020
Zone: 7a
Member of:AOS
Location: Sparks, NV
Posts: 91
Male
Default

I’ve been doing k-lite at 25PPM for a bit over a year now with most every watering. No signs of fertilizer burn ever. The only time I don’t fertilize is when I apply Kelpak/quantum total once a month. Some of the standard Catt’s put out absolutely huge growths this year. Many are in sheath now, with a couple beginning to fill the sheaths. Had one of my C. harrisoniana put out three growths this year, which is about triple what it normally does. I think you’ll be happy with this fertilization rate.
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes isurus79 liked this post
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
25ppm, feeding, growing, house, k-lite


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
foliar feeding tmoney Advanced Discussion 9 04-26-2022 01:54 PM
foliar feeding LinhT Advanced Discussion 18 10-16-2009 09:34 PM
ORCHID FEEDING CONTROVERSY! Oh my!! JonnyBravo Advanced Discussion 29 06-04-2009 02:42 AM
newbie feeding question runLoganrun Beginner Discussion 9 08-15-2008 02:59 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:19 PM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.