Nitrogen ppm in fertilizer. - Orchid Board

Mothra79 · #1 09-25-2008, 07:59 PM

So I've been reading that 125 ppm nitrogen is a fairly good amount to have in orchid fertilizer. I know that's a rough, general number, but that's the one I'm kind of shooting for. According to the calculators on Ray's site, my fertilizer (Orchid Focus Grow: 2-0.6-2) only has 53 ppm nitrogen. Should I double the amount I put in a gallon of water?

Ross · #2 09-25-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mothra79

So I've been reading that 125 ppm nitrogen is a fairly good amount to have in orchid fertilizer. I know that's a rough, general number, but that's the one I'm kind of shooting for. According to the calculators on Ray's site, my fertilizer (Orchid Focus Grow: 2-0.6-2) only has 53 ppm nitrogen. Should I double the amount I put in a gallon of water?

Not sure I understand. Ray's calculator handles just about any mix. Yours should be about 5 tsp per gallon or 132ppm Nitrogen (this is per gallon water.)

Mothra79 · #3 09-25-2008, 08:09 PM

I should add that Ray's calculators do say that I should use 4.75 teaspoons of fertilizer per gallon of water, instead of 2, but after hearing the "weakly, weekly" adage so many times, it seems excessive.

Ross · #4 09-25-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mothra79

I should add that Ray's calculators do say that I should use 4.75 teaspoons of fertilizer per gallon of water, instead of 2, but after hearing the "weakly, weekly" adage so many times, it seems excessive.

Just ignore that. Ray has his info correct. Just follow the 125-150ppm regimen and you'll be fine. Do this every single watering except Draculas, Pingulous and Masdies. Even normal houseplants benefit from this regimen.

CoolPhrog · #5 09-25-2008, 08:13 PM

Too much nitrogen can acutally impede blooming...just follow the directions for your type of fertilizer and you should be ok.

Ross · #6 09-25-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irphrog

Too much nitrogen can acutally impede blooming...just follow the directions for your type of fertilizer and you should be ok.

This is only true in the binge-and-starve regimen so popular here. With the slow feed method Ray describes, I have had continuous blooms even on my Cacti. Never before with the grow/bloom regime have I done so well.

Mothra79 · #7 09-25-2008, 08:27 PM

Ross, I should clarify. If I followed the directions on the fertilizer, I would only get 53 ppm. I'm wondering whether it's okay to double what the directions tell me to use. I don't want to overdo it and burn my orchids.

Mothra79 · #8 09-25-2008, 08:29 PM

Ha ha. Okay, Ross, now you ignore my last post! I will go ahead with Ray's methods then and use the 4-5 teaspoons.

CoolPhrog · #9 09-25-2008, 08:33 PM

Mothra, I found this article to be very helpful when I had the same questions. Hope this helps and keep us posted on your progress!!!

FERTILIZERS

Mothra79 · #10 09-25-2008, 08:35 PM

Should I also use this amount of fertilizer on my dehydrated rescue orchids that haven't shown new growth yet, or should I hold off on the fertilizer until they're more established?