orchid food - Orchid Board

dendro photo · #1 10-21-2010, 10:51 PM

I have 3 different foods and am questioning which to use. The first is miracle grow bloom booster (15-30-15) second miracle orchid food (30-10-10) and jack's classic orchid (7-5-6)ment to be used every watering. what one is best or are they all good if used during the proper time. If the all have there perpose what and when do they get used.

Bolero · #2 10-21-2010, 11:21 PM

I can't tick any of those, I just use fertiliser at 1/4 strength.

dendro photo · #3 10-21-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolero

I can't tick any of those, I just use fertiliser at 1/4 strength.

what kind i just want to give my orchids what they want

Bolero · #4 10-21-2010, 11:28 PM

I live in another country so it will be different to what you have there. I use a powdered product called 'Aquasol' and occasionally I use something called Magamp which you might be able to get there.

The magamp fits to my hose so when I water the plants it slow releases the fertiliser everytime I water. I fertilise nearly every time I water.

silken · #5 10-21-2010, 11:38 PM

A balanced fertilizer at 1/4 to 1/2 strength usually. If a plant has set a spike or will be soon, you can give it some bloom booster (again 1/2 strength unless it is specifically 'orchid food'). Cymbidiums like a fair bit of nitrogen in the summer when in active growth, so then the first number should be higher. MSU is a good fertilizer and you can get it for either tap water, rain water, R/O water. I think it somehow takes the supposed pH into account for the type of water you use. Hope that helps.

tucker85 · #6 10-21-2010, 11:41 PM

If you're growing in fir bark use the high nitrogen 30-10-10. If you're growing in any other medium use the Jack's Classic. It's a good basic fertilizer. In the fall when the orchids are finished growing and are starting to bloom some growers use bloom booster. Another way to use bloom booster is every fourth feeding all year long. Some growers don't use bloom booster at all.

Bolero · #7 10-22-2010, 12:02 AM

And some growers don't use fertiliser at all.

Zdenglan · #8 10-22-2010, 03:10 AM

I used to use chempack growth and chempack bloom but this year I switched to Orchid focus (growth/bloom/booster) and have had some excellent results. I think I'll stick to it.

tucker85 · #9 10-22-2010, 10:45 AM

I forgot to mention. If the Miricle Grow contains urea then you shouldn't use it. Orchids can't utilize the nitrogen from urea because it requires soil borne microbes to turn it into nitrogen. I would use the Jack's Classic Orchid fertilizer following the recommendations on the label. I have used Jack's Classic in the past and it worked very well.

dendro photo · #10 10-22-2010, 11:27 AM

ok it looks like jask will work the best and that makes me feel better that is what i have been using.