Does Fertilizer Go Bad (& a couple other ?s)

[Ray]

The fact is that fertilizer dispensing should be done by mass, as it’s the mass of nutrients that’s important to plants, not the amount of dilution. Measuring powders by volume is a guesstimate at best, because the bulk density (mass per volume) varies.

One way around that is to make a liquid concentrate from a known weight of powder.

Or if you just want to stick with powders, here’s a calculator to help with units, both mass and volume estimates.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

"Hey, you asked what time it was, and lots of people are telling you how to build a clock. I prefer to keep it simple... It works."

Sure - we can make a clock hehe. But not just any clock.

With one of these bits of hardware here ----- you can make a time clock that loses say only 0.0005 second per year. Or even significantly less than that with some extra work.

Not that there is actually a need for one, as I have a watch, and cell-phone, computer etc that tells the time.

This is strictly for occasions when somebody asks what time it is hehehe.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I was really hoping there was going to be directions
To make a sun dial!



FYI. I did all the above and then found the exact scoop I needed to avoid thinking. I got a 1/3 tsp which is ideal for using Klite in a 2 gallon sprayer.

I keep the scoop in the fert lol. Not thinking about that ever again

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Take the 2, and then multiply by 1.5, then divide by 11. That will give 0.27 TEAspoon.

That could be rounded down to 0.25 ..... a QUARTER of a teaspoon of fertiliser for 2 quart of water.

That confirms Roberta's amount.

That is simple and understandable. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

"Hey, you asked what time it was, and lots of people are telling you how to build a clock. I prefer to keep it simple... It works."

Cheri, I understand. This is why I rarely ask questions anymore. FWI, there are metric conversion apps for your phone in the rare chance you need one.

Umm, not on my old-fashioned flip phone with no internet connection. I can of course find such conversion sites on my computer, but I'm just stuck on the Imperial system and prefer not to have to do lots of math on top of math.

---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

The fact is that fertilizer dispensing should be done by mass, as it’s the mass of nutrients that’s important to plants, not the amount of dilution. Measuring powders by volume is a guesstimate at best, because the bulk density (mass per volume) varies.

One way around that is to make a liquid concentrate from a known weight of powder.

Or if you just want to stick with powders, here’s a calculator to help with units, both mass and volume estimates.

Thanks, Ray. In perusing the wealth of information on your site, I'm not sure I had come across that simple calculator yet. It looks easy, and I will give it a try.

[WaterWitchin]

You're 100% on target Cheri... what a comedic thread to read.

Once anyone uses a + or - or = sign along with the alphabet to explain measurements and formulas, I'm outta there! Along with metric and centigrade.

I'm with DC from the standpoint of figure it out once, find the right container to measure with, and keep it next to the fertilizer. The only difference is when I go from one size watering container to a larger one... I tried once to do the calculations for it. It was so much easier to message Bill and just say Please do the calculation for me, but please don't explain it. I think I've hooked DC into doing that for me a couple of times as well. Works wonders for me.

Now a sundial? I'm in! Wouldn't that be a fun project?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370

That is simple and understandable. Thank you.

Most welcome!

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370

prefer not to have to do lots of math on top of math.

If you know in advance what the 'N' number is, such as N = 11 percent nitrogen ----- then you can get a multiplying factor ..... M.

M will just be 1.5 divided by N. That is, M will be 1.5 divided by 11. This gives M = 0.136

The '1.5' value is just a pre-determined value, in case anybody is wondering where that number 1.5 came from. It comes from the relation 1 quart is 946.353 mL, and an assumption of 6.25 gram per teaspoon of fertiliser, and an assumption of 0.01 percent nitrogen that we want to create. (946.353/6.25)*0.01 is where the 1.5 comes from.

If your actual N value on the packet is not 11, then just put the relevant number (eg. 10, or 10.5, or 13 etc).

So let's just say our multiplying factor turns out to be 0.136 (for M). That's one of the two numbers you need for your own fertiliser. The other number is 2 quart.

So you just take 2 (quart) and multiply by M. That's 2 times 0.136. That leads to the amount of fertiliser you need in TEAspoon ..... which is approximately 0.27 TEAspoon. This can be rounded down to 0.25 TEAspoon. That's one-quarter of a TEAspoon of fertiliser (with N value of 11%)

So the math would just boil down simply to 2 numbers to be multiplied together. And then that formula can be applied to pretty much any general amount of water that we would use for home-type orchid growing. Eg. 2 quart, 3 quart, 4 quart, 5 quart etc.

So for 4 quart of water ...... we just do 4 times 0.136, leading to approximately half a teaspoon of fertiliser (with N value of 11%).

[claypot]

I have never understood why people would buy an orchid specific fertilizer then look at the instructions and but use at half/quarter strength. The stuff us made to be used ON ORCHIDS at the stated strength. Potty.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by claypot

I have never understood why people would buy an orchid specific fertilizer then look at the instructions and but use at half/quarter strength. The stuff us made to be used ON ORCHIDS at the stated strength. Potty.

Each orchid grower has their own fertiliser schedule. Some do the relatively 'weak' application more 'often'. While some might apply some other concentration once a month, or twice a month.

Sometimes - if a grower applies the bottle recommended amount too often ------ and depending on what media or pot or whether any regular flushing is used or not (to flush out accumulated salts) ----- then there can be some negative impact on orchids arising from too much salt build up.

[Fuerte Rav]

what size teaspoons do you use in the States/Australia? I've just checked the ones in my drawer using a syringe of water and I've got 3ml, 4ml and 5ml!
And on that subject what on earth is a 'cup' in food recipes? Do you all have identical cups in your kitchens??
Great thread!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

what size teaspoons do you use in the States/Australia? I've just checked the ones in my drawer using a syringe of water and I've got 3ml, 4ml and 5ml!
And on that subject what on earth is a 'cup' in food recipes? Do you all have identical cups in your kitchens??
Great thread!

Fuerte ----- use this converter here.

The conversion of 1 U.S. teaspoon to mL is approximately 5 mL.

I think that ----- to totally avoid mistakes ----- probably best state the type of teaspoon ... eg. U.S. teaspoon ..... and even state the assumed quantity, such as approximately 5 mL.

Or imperial teaspoon, and also state the associated mL quantity --- approximately 6 mL for imperial teaspoon.