When to start Flowering Fert.

[quiltergal]

I fertilize the same as Ross and Camille. I used to switch back and forth between bloom and grow, but never saw a significant difference. When I switched to 125ppm Greencare MSU orchid food I saw an amazing increase in root growth and size, overall health of the plants, and everything blooms really well.

[junglequeen]

Originally Posted by Ross

I will probably be one of the loners out here, but I never switch between bloom and grow. I also never switch between binge and starve. I fertilize every single time with a mix designed to yield 125ppm Nitrogen and use RO water. Having said this, my plants (including cacti, rhubarb, herbs, and everything else) do wonderful. The plants other than orchids get the drain water from the orchids. Orchids get first choice in my world So, I can't answer your question other than hope to sway you to a different regime. I would bet in Hawaii, constant application of weak (125ppm nitrogen) fertilizer would yield huge results. For me I see maybe 25% greater growth, constant blooms, and wonderful health of the plants. If interested check out Plant Nutrition I have been purchasing from Ray (an active Orchid Board member) for a while now and trust the info he posts. Hope this helps, even if not what you asked

Thank you Ross for posting this information and link. As a beginner (albeit a returning one), my next question on this board was about to be on the topic of water pH.

I live on volcanic soil with a limestone substrate. All of my water comes from a natural spring that never dries up, because its source is within the limestone caverns inside the hill. Last time I checked it (about 10 years ago), my water was registering a pH of 7+. I found out this was the cause of recurring stock losses - my young goats were being reared on milk replacement made up with this water. It took me some years and the chance reading of 2 articles at about the same time, to pinpoint the problem. Once I balanced the water pH with Cider Vinegar, stomach problems and sudden deaths ceased immediately.

From what I've read this last few days, water pH is also important to orchids, so it looks like the articles mentioned in your post are going to supply my answer.

Many thanks!
Patricia
PS: What is RO water?

[Ray]

Patricia,

"7+" doesn't really tell you (or us) anything. Most orchids prefer something in the range of 5.5-6.5, so something even as high as 7.5 is not so bad it would cause growth issues. 8 or higher, and I might start worrying.

RO = reverse osmosis, a way of eliminating dissolved solids from the water supply.

[junglequeen]

Originally Posted by Ray

Patricia,

"7+" doesn't really tell you (or us) anything. Most orchids prefer something in the range of 5.5-6.5, so something even as high as 7.5 is not so bad it would cause growth issues. 8 or higher, and I might start worrying.

RO = reverse osmosis, a way of eliminating dissolved solids from the water supply.

Thank you, Ray.

[Ray]

Back to the original query for a moment, nothing "boosts" blooming. Optimal blooming occurs in a plant that is given good culture - including adequate nutrition - and is healthy and strong.

However, if you are using a high nitrogen fertilizer, the excess N can actually limit-, or stop blooming altogether, so switching to a formula with less N will reverse that and "allow" the plant to bloom.

[RosieC]

That's interesting Ray. I stopped using my bloom fertiliser when it ran out but I've not had a problem (still getting spikes) but that probably means what I'm using is not high N.

I use your calculator to determine fertiliser strength based on the N value. Is that a level which should be OK for blooming. Do you have any experience of what is too high?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by RosieC

That's interesting Ray. I stopped using my bloom fertiliser when it ran out but I've not had a problem (still getting spikes) but that probably means what I'm using is not high N.

I use your calculator to determine fertiliser strength based on the N value. Is that a level which should be OK for blooming. Do you have any experience of what is too high?

I use a balanced 20-20-20 orchid fertilizer from March through November and get some pretty darn good blooms. I'm a big fan of keeping things simple, which is backed up by most of the major nurseries out here in Hawaii.

Edit: Whoops, I already said this early in the post. My bad. This thread is kind of old and forgot what I said earlier.

[RosieC]

Thanks Steve,

I've just bought a new fertiliser which is 20-20-20. I've been looking for a really balanced one for a while and my main supplier just got a new brand in which I'm trying.

I've just read on another similar thread that Camille finds 125ppm N works well all year and does not inhibit flowering. I'm guessing Ray's recomendation of 125ppm is a good value for all year, so I'm going to continue working on that basis.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by RosieC

I've just read on another similar thread that Camille finds 125ppm N works well all year and does not inhibit flowering. I'm guessing Ray's recomendation of 125ppm is a good value for all year, so I'm going to continue working on that basis.

For N to inhibit blooming it would have to be a fert really high in N. The one I used to use was a 4-6-7 from Pokon. In the spring I switched over to OrchidFocus Grow (2.2:1.3:2.1). The Pokon one was actually closer to a bloom booster formulation (the Orchidfocus one is 1.9:2.5:2.6). So far I can't see a difference, but my orchids were somewhat neglected during my extended trip to the US. I'll see what happens now.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Do you have any experience of what is too high?

A steady diet of 30-10-10 can affect things negatively.