fertilizing question

[gngrhill]

Hello, all.
I have 4 Catt alliance with buds and a few other genera with new growths just started. I would like to know if I should start adding some fertilizer more regularly or if I should wait until the growths are more developed. I fertilized them with a very weak balanced fert about a month ago. I am watering normally.

[kg5]

So your an indoors grower?

[bil]

It all depends. We all have our own routines. My advice always is to give plants the closest thing possible to what they would receive in nature. The closer you get to that, the stronger they will be, and they will be best placed to bloom and recover from any problems.

If you go to First Ray's page, there are some excellent articles on fertilisation. He advocates fertilising with a low potassium fertiliser, at very low strengths.

I follow that and have been very happy with the results. I also give them a small splash of kelp each month also as per Ray's doseage.

I work on the lowest level, at about 1-1.5g per 6 litres of water, for plants getting 3 or more waterings a week. I double that if they get two, and if they get one watering a week, that rises to three times the low dose.

[PaphMadMan]

Once you can see active growth you are actually a few weeks beyond when an extra burst of fertilizer can do the most good. There is a lot going on physiologically in that time. It can be hard to see it though. Certainly any plant that is visibly growing needs nutrients to support that, and that is the time it makes sense to fertilize at your highest rate or frequency.

[Orchid Whisperer]

bil, FWIW if you are using a kelp product, keep in mind that kelp (e.g. Kelpmax) contains significant nutrients, including potassium (about 7500 ppm). If you are targeting specific nutrient levels, you may want to figure in the nutrients in the kelp. In one of Ray's recent posts, he provided the chemistry of Kelpmax. Useful information.

---------- Post added at 06:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:42 AM ----------

@gingerhill. One of our orchid society members, a great Cattleya grower, says he rarely fertilizes his Catts. Maybe once a year. His plants are huge & bloom like mad. Your weak fertilizer once a month may be enough.

For small plants that I want to grow larger, I use a 30-10-10 formulation, with urea N. For blooming size plants I use a lower N formulation, 11-35-15. Both are mixed at 1/4 recommended strength. I am not entirely consistent on frequency but generally it is once a month in winter and twice a month in summer.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

bil, FWIW if you are using a kelp product, keep in mind that kelp (e.g. Kelpmax) contains significant nutrients, including potassium (about 7500 ppm). If you are targeting specific nutrient levels, you may want to figure in the nutrients in the kelp. In one of Ray's recent posts, he provided the chemistry of Kelpmax. Useful information.

Thanks, the amount of kelpmax is pretty tiny 25cc in about 6.5 litres of RO water once a month.

[Ray]

I did the calculation once, and if I recall, the contribution of K is only about 10 ppm in application.


Ray Barkalow (via Tapatalk)

[kg5]

There is a million answers to this question.

I am following the fertilizing routine that is used by a close near by orchid nursery where I got my orchids from. It works for me.

The seedlings are sure growing quick and strong.

But I make one small change and that is to fertilize after the sun is off the orchids but the temp is still above 32c or 90f. As the overall temp lowers so does the orchid's food.

They alternate a growth fertilizer one week to a flower fertilizer the next.

But it does suit other fertilizer programmes I have put in place and it is also agreed with on this tread and that is more weaker feeds more often and not heavy feeds that burn and or weaken the plant.

[Bud]

Addressing your question:
As a rule of thumb, I usually hold fertilizer in winter and resume full water regimen and feeding my plants in spring.
Since you are getting buds and new growths very early then you must resume feeding and watering on a regular basis for those plants you mentioned.

[gngrhill]

Thank you all for your input. I just thought if the were making the effort to grow new, I should maybe help them along.