Does High Number P Fertilizer really work?

[ALToronto]

The lower the TDS (i.e. the purer the water), the larger the pH swings. Alkalinity, or the amount of Calcium carbonate, is more important than the actual pH.

[james mickelso]

You need a set of standards to go with the meter and those can cost as much as the meter. Or you can get strips which are very close to the true pH. Hach also sells titration kits that will give you exact pH values down to the 100ths.

[hagfish]

Orchids are mostly very slow growing plants. This means they need far less fertilizer than something like a vegetable might. It is true that Phosphorus is needed for flowering, but I have found that with the majority of my collection it is the size of the plant which determines the amount of flowers. Cattleya "Bob Betts" produced 9 flowers this season, but I don't think I have fertilized it in over a year. The plant has nearly 12 pseudobulbs. Most of its nutrition is probably coming from the breakdown of the fir bark it is potted in.