Do You Use Calcium

[Des]

Calcium is one of the building blocks of life on earth,without it there would be no life as we know it.
I use the following in my fertilizer solutions Potassium Nitrate , Magnesium Sulphate ,Mono-ammonium Phosphate , Boric Acid , Sodium Molybdate , Mono-Potassium Phosphate (summer months only) Trace elements , and Calcium nitrate which is fed separately as it reacts with some of the other chemicals to form Calcium Carbonate.

[Gin]

I received a good tip from orchids3 (Harry) regarding Cymbidiums with floppy leaves .
I added a small amount of oyster shell and there was a big improvement in the leaves ,a lot stiffer . I use the MSU formula Fert. Gin

[quietmorning]

Originally Posted by aberstwyth

Biker,
I`ve wondered about this for a while. Animals need calcium for their bones, but plants don`t have bones, so what do they need calcium for? All I can think of is that the common forms of calcium - limestone, shellgrit (chemically these are calcium carbonate) etc, are good ways to reduce acidity, Nothing to do with the calcium actually, it is the carbonate part of the calcium carbonate that controls pH

Regards
Aberstwyth

Hi, Aberstwyth, calcium is used for a lot more than bones in living organism. I can't specifically speak to orchids, as I'm fairly new to actually getting to the point where I have an orchid that's actually thriving - but calcium is incredibly important to individual cell division and the ability for the cell to regulate itself. Living organisms tend to die with out calcium because their cells don't function properly.

[Ray]

From my "Fertilizers" page:

Calcium (Ca) plays a role in the functioning of enzymes, is part of the structure of cell walls, helps control the water content of cells, and is necessary for cell growth and division. Some plants must have calcium to take up nitrogen and other minerals. Calcium, once deposited in plant tissue, cannot move to other plant tissues, so must be supplied regularly. Without a sufficient supply of calcium, your plants may display stunted or stopped growth. Other possible symptoms include distorted new growth, black spots on leaves, or yellow leaf margins. Recent studies indicate that calcium apparently plays a much bigger role in plant health than previously thought.

[orchids3]

Make sure that the form of calcium you use is available to the plants. It is often believed that because you have Calcium Carbonate in you water you dont need another form of calcium. Calcium carbonate is not usable by the plant. I have oodles of calcium carbonate in my water but make sure calcium is available in the the fertilizer in a useable form. Gypsum, Lime and Sea shells all contain Ca but it is only released when the mix goes acid. All act as a buffer and help raise pH in the process of releasing the Ca & Mg but a side benefit is raising the pH and keeping the potting mix neutral in the process. I hedge by bet by also using Cal Mag fertilizer. By the way the MSU that Ray sells is great stuff.
Some plants require higer Calcium levels than others - Have read that well grown Cymbidiums have twice the Calcium levels as Cats. There are also Paphs (Calcious paphs) that require extra effort to get
calcium levels up.

[ToddsterVonCattMan]

I grow mainly Catts and Paphs, and use RO water... I mainly fertilize with the MSU formula, or Dyna Grow Grow and Pro-Teckt, occasionally more organic fare, seaweed or Earth Juice, or worm tea (I've also been know to toss earth worm castings on the plants as a top dressing too)...

I also was taught by a very talented grower, and since swear by, tossing a little pelleted dolomite lime on every orchid I grow... Ca and Mg, and everything nice...!

[orkie]

I went to a lecture by the orchid curator at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and when asked about fertilizers, he was of the opinion that finding a fertilizer with useable calcium in it was worth the extra effort, and that including calcium results in "tougher" plants. He also emphasized the importance of magnesium as well.

[orchids3]

Another couple of facts that apply - about that pH ajustment with lime that was mentioned earlier. Calcium can only be taken up effeciently by the plant with the pH between 6.5 and 9 so in addition to making the Ca available it also makes it useable.
Also to be considered is fertilizer antagonism - Too much Potassium, Magnesium or sodium will inhibit Ca uptake - so pH and proper balance with each is necessary for optimum growth.

[Des]

Originally Posted by orchids3

Another couple of facts that apply - about that pH ajustment with lime that was mentioned earlier. Calcium can only be taken up effeciently by the plant with the pH between 6.5 and 9 so in addition to making the Ca available it also makes it useable.
Also to be considered is fertilizer antagonism - Too much Potassium, Magnesium or sodium will inhibit Ca uptake - so pH and proper balance with each is necessary for optimum growth.

Harry the fertilizing program I work to recommends feeding Calcium Nitrate on its own for two weeks in a program period of six weeks and reading your above comments this now makes sense to me .I also now give the plants a flush between each period.
I do not feed my plants at a PH above 7 as I have found that it puts the plants under stress forcing young seedlings to flower prematurely , you end up with a weak spike of flowers instead of a new growth. You live and learne in this game !!

[Zdenglan]

Sorry, had a daft moment, please ignore me.