Your fav fertilizer

[JackiBlu]

Originally Posted by Swamper

Whitley I use it for my palms only. I throw it on the ground and then water the area for a few minutes. Jacky apparantly does the same with the orchids, she sprinkles it into the potted area then waters.

Swamper, I don't throw the epsom on the orchids, I dilute it in water and hand water my plants. I use about the same formula as other fertilizers on the weak/weekly method.

But I do throw it on bushes/tree's and other plants and water it in.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by boytjie

Out of all these brand names/fertilizer types being tossed around, can any of you folks recommend a favorite fertilizer for use specifically with distilled water? I have a relatively small collection (about 50 plants) and so far it's economically viable to water with bottled distilled water from the grocery store, since my tap water sucks -- but I've heard I should be using a fertilizer that supplies the missing minerals not present in distilled water. Thanks!

I think Jerry's response to the "pure water" question was good, but incomplete.

Yes, you need to provide all nutrients via the fertilizer when you use any pure water source (including NYC tap water, by the way), but the balance of chemicals (usually done via the ratio of ammoniacal- to nitrate nitrogen) in the formula must be such that you get the correct pH of the solution.

Pure water, having no dissolved ions in it to speak of, has no chemical mechanism to buffer the solution from drastic pH swings. Heck, absorbing CO2 from the air causes the pH to drop. If you put a typical, over-the-counter fertilizer that is intended for mineral-laden tap water into pure water, you can see a pH down in the 3's.

If you're going to use a pure water source, get a fertilizer designed specifically for it, such as the Greencare Orchid Special for RO.

[Tommyr]

For me currently, ironite, 7-6-6. Normally Miracle grow 1/4 strength.

[quiltergal]

I use both the Greencare products, for RO, and for tap. Before that I used DynaGro Grow. It worked fine but the Greencare MSU has worked much better for me. I have far more robust root and vegetative growth and blooming is better than ever. I water weekly at 125 ppm N. I found bloom boosters didn't do much for my plants.

[susiep]

This is a very interesting thread. I am not good about fertilizing. I have actually missed 6-8 months at a time because I hate doing it. That is why I love dynamite. My plants are doing much better now that I have it. I have had no problems with over fertilizing or it breaking down in the heat. I grow outside in Ft Lauderdale so it is plenty hot here. Lots of rain or heavy dousing with the garden hose (city water) almost every day. I realized I needed epsom salts on my plants too and was very pleased to find dynamite makes a time release product for that too! So I dumped some of that in the pots too and they are greening up nicely. Too expensive to use it on the shrubs and palms so I will use the great advice here about putting epsom salts on my palms. The dynamite is really gentle, even if it gets stuck on the leaves it doesn't seem to burn them. I really like it.

[amyqofu]

I must also cast my vote for Dynamite because of how easy it is to use. I am sure that everyone's favorite fert works beautifully for them, but for me they all require too much time and effort. I use Dynamite 14-14-14 in the red cannister, apply 2 tsp. per 6 inch pot once every six months, and I'm done. I can feed 50 plants in 10 minutes. I read about this on the Fender's Flora website and decided to give it a try. The regular feeding has made a big difference in my growth AND my blooms - even my DH can see the difference.

[Swamper]

It's funny what seems like work to me can be fun to others and vice cersa. I look forward to spraying all my orchids on sunday mornings with fertilizer. It takes me a little over an hour to do but I love it.

[CoolPhrog]

I grow the majority of my plants outside and I use Ray's 13-3-15-8Ca-2Mg MSU-like fertilizer with a couple of drops per gallon of Dyna-Gro KLN and 1/2 tsp. per gallon of Dyna-Gro Pro-TeKt every week on all of my orchids and everyone seems to be doing fine and I have about 14 plants either in spike or in bloom (which before I started using these products never bloomed). I have also started watering my chids using a watering can instead of the communal method. I started with one plant that had scale and now I'm fighting it on four more plants....that's my

[Cym Ladye]

I think the overall message in this thread is that "any fertilizer is better than no fertilizer". Orchids need food in cultivation and some, like Cymbidiums, are heavy feeders. Whether you enjoy the "fertilizer-time" spent with your orchids as relaxation, or your time is short and you want a "quick and easy" fertilizer program, FERTILIZE WITH SOMETHING on a REGULAR BASIS!

Our hobby should be fun and enjoyable to each person and whatever makes it that for each of us is the way to go.

[cb977]

I use MSU for rain water and a beer-based recipe, I also add 6 drops of either SuperThrive or KLN (alternating each feeding) in each gallon of water I use.

One thing I have been told...and believe is true...orchids do NOT need Bloom Booster if they are getting the correct nourishment.

As far as "the best"...there is no one "best" that will work for everybody! We all have different collections, being grown in different conditions...there can be no one correct answer. You have to be willing to experiment sometimes...maybe you'll find something that works better than what you've used in the past...and maybe not