Your fav fertilizer

[JackiBlu]

I'm just curious what everyone likes. I'll assume the reason you use what ever it is,is because it works for you.. Perhaps you might add what fertz you do not like and why?

A loooooong while back the very very inexperienced me was using booster once a month to soak, rest was clear water. Got nothing from it so pretty much stopped it.. Ran into a woman at the grocery store who told me about Epsom salts and that is all she used and got terrific results... and I tried it for a couple weeks.. and voila! BLOOMS. I am not certain it was the salts. It may have been more that the baby catts I bought were just now readying to bloom. Who knows. But I do know that the Epsom salts does wonders on my franjipanji's and other plants. Holy smokes, use that on them when they are coming out of hibernation! You won't be sorry.

Now I use the booster w/a pinch of the epsom for my babies, and it seems to be 'ok'... so I'm looking for your magic potions..

Come on.. give it up.. I wanna know

[Swamper]

LOL Jacki, I use Peters 20-20-20 on EVERYTHING including other plants and anyone that gets near me.I use it once a week and not weakly I soak things up.
Epson salt works great. Plus when I notice yellowing on my palms epson quickly resloves the problem too.I
t works great on me, if Im VERY sore I'll soak in it too

[JackiBlu]

Swamper, I'm curious why Epsom salts does seem to work miracles? You think our rain water is truly lacking the mag nutrients? I just throw epsom on my franji's and other bushes and they green up like I sat all night and spray painted them. I also use well water for the large outside watering.. I collect rain water for my orchids and potted plants.

Peters huh?.. So if I splash a little Peters 20-20-20 on me I will get all happy and bloom too? It won't get me preggers will it.. I'm not lookin for preggers... (I had to add the 20-20-20 to it, coz it really sounded well, you know.. Gotta keep it clean, right?

[Ross]

I use Greencare MSU formulation in RO water. Every watering gives 125ppm nitrogen to every orchid except Masdies and Dracs. I've experienced wonderful green growth, multiple flowerings and very healthy plants and roots.

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by JackiBlu

Swamper, I'm curious why Epsom salts does seem to work miracles? You think our rain water is truly lacking the mag nutrients? I just throw epsom on my franji's and other bushes and they green up like I sat all night and spray painted them. I also use well water for the large outside watering.. I collect rain water for my orchids and potted plants.

Peters huh?.. So if I splash a little Peters 20-20-20 on me I will get all happy and bloom too? It won't get me preggers will it.. I'm not lookin for preggers... (I had to add the 20-20-20 to it, coz it really sounded well, you know.. Gotta keep it clean, right?

I guess it all depends on how it's applied.
I don't think our rain water lacks anything except frequency. If it rained all year we'd be a lot greener
I don't know why I feel so good after an epson salt bath but it does work.

[GreggC]

If you vary them, I think they get everything they need.

[Sandy4453]

I'm with Swamper on this, Peters 20-20-20 and Epsom salts (1-2 times/month) too. I'm thinking of switching to MSU for tap water or, trying it anyway. I first learned about Epsom from Baldan Orchids here in Fla. who told me to use the salt. If you've ever seen their orchids, you'd be convinced too!

[JackiBlu]

If I had to use tap, I'd be setting it out for 3 days to let the chemicals evaporate.. glad I don't have to do that. =)

[Swamper]

I use tap water for the ones in the pool water, well water on all the others ouside.
I have a question for you. How do you apply the fertilizer? Hose attachement? Straight from a spray bottle? Other?

[RosieC]

I use these two...

Orchid Growth Formula
Orchid Bloom Formula

But I think they may be a UK only thing.

You are meant to add them to the water weekly then every fourth week flush through with no fertiliser. I use the growth one most of the time then switch to the other when buds are forming until all flowers have dropped.

I have been pleased with how healthy my plants have seemed since I started using them, I have no idea if the bloom one helps the blooms, I know some people here don't think the different chimical balance makes a difference, but they've done no harm and the Orchids look healthy (all except one but that was my fault ).

They're still a bit overkill for my level of orchid growing. They come with two measures and the smallest one can feed far more orchids than I've got... this stuff will last me for ever... oh well I'll just have to buy more orchids to make more use of it