Shultz orchid fertilizer

[Helen]

Ray, I meant to mention that I decided to toss the Schultz and buy some MSU. I'm in Canada and I'm not sure if it's the formula it's supposed to be! Mine says: 12-2-14-6CA-3MG. 1/2 tsp per gallon.

This 1/2 tsp is weak if we go by your 125 ppm rule...correct? Your thoughts please?

[mother_earth]

Hi Helen, All I know is MSU fertilizer was developed at Michigan State University. I use it and am very happy with it. Your supposed to use one half tsp. to a gal of water and use it every week. I have the formula that is used with rainwater. My plants love it. Brenda

[Helen]

Thanks Brenda, gee, I forgot to ask if the one I bought is for use with tap water. I hope so. Maybe someone can tell me, by the formula? 12-2-14-6CA-3MG. (1/2 tsp per gallon.)

[BURR]

Originally Posted by Ray

1) What's the nitrogen concentration in the fertilizer?
2) At what concentration do you want to feed?

Personally, I recommend about 100-150 ppm N at every feeding for a general collection living in any non-tropical environment. Using the average, that's 125 mg/L. If the fertilizer is 10% N, then you'd need to add 10 x 125 = 1.25g to a liter to get that nitrogen concentration.

Ray, I live in the Philippines. Just 15 degrees north.

Give me your thoughts?

[Ray]

Burr, generally, with your growing conditions there, I would think the plants would be more metabolically active, so could use more food, but it depends (of course) on the types of plants, as well.

I use 125 ppm N here ar 40°N, so if moving south, I'd up it to 150 for a few months and see how the plants responded. Assuming they were OK with that, I'd probably jump to 200 ppm N, and give that a try.

Dr. Yin-Tung Wang of Texas A&M found that phals had optimal growth at 200-225 ppm N in his College Station, TX greenhouses.

[BURR]

Thank you Ray.

I'll keep all these notes and try to apply them.

PS: It stays around 90f most of the time all year