Good nutrient sources for phals

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

Ray, I really appreciate all the calculations and formulas you post to help us with our fertilising but I've just realised that you are probably talking US gallons, not Imperial gallons (UK). I've tied myself in knots mentally trying to work out US gallon to UK gallon or preferably the litres that I work in now. Please can you tell me what dilution I should use of a 10-10-10 in litres for the 100 ppm N? I normally mix 5 litres at a time. Quite happy to work in mls rather than teaspoons!
TIA.

There are 768 teaspoons in a gallon, whether it’s US or Imperial measurements. 1 US teaspoon/US gallon is the same ratio as 1 Imperial teaspoon/Imperial gallon.

The estimated volume factors (for greater accuracy, it really ought to be mass-per-mass, as that’s what ppm is) are 2/%N, giving teaspoons/gal for 25 ppm N, and 2.3/%N giving ml/L for 25 ppm N.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Cattleya234

I’ve had some phals for over a year now and never fertilized.

I just use these two ..... commercial ones. Yates liquid plant food fertiliser --- and B.A.M mag-cal.

Relatively inexpensive. And for my limited number of orchids ------ lasts for ages .... probably many years hehehe.

I add fertiliser once a month -- first day of each month. Easy for me to remember. Then I use mag-cal in the middle of each month ---- ie. 2 weeks into the month.

I use relatively weak doses for the fertiliser and the mag-cal. Applied using water wand. Then all other times of the month ----- it will just be regular water wand watering --- no fertiliser and no mag-cal.

I have just always stuck with the basic method of ----- whatever the dosage is recommended on the packet or product ....... I just use about one-quarter or one-third of that recommendation. After all this time, having healthy orchids ------ no problem, so I have just stuck with it. Unscientific ----- but ok, as my orchids are all fine.

Scientific is better though. I definitely support the practice of knowing concentrations. I know that I apply safe levels though, as one-quarter to one-third of the packet dosage is definitely going to be safe.

[SouthPark]

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[Fuerte Rav]

Thanks ES, Ray & SP. Much appreciated - my little grey cells were getting fried!