How to make homemade fertilizer? - Orchid Board

cl2cayo · #1 07-26-2010, 06:30 PM

Do any of your make your own homemade fertilizer? If so, could you share your favorite recipes? Since I'm starting from homemade potting mixes, the amendment needs might be a bit more specific, so I thought that learning to make my own might be wise. Is this a good idea, or just totally silly?

thanks again for any assistance!
-cindy

johnblagg · #2 07-26-2010, 06:35 PM

not silly in my opinion but I dont really make my own so much as just add a couple of things once in a while..

I use a bit of potassium nitrate once or twice a month and a teaspoon of epsom salts once a month to my orchids plus store bought fertilizer

mattryan · #3 07-26-2010, 07:41 PM

If u don't mind may i ask what epsom salts do for orchids, and what kind of orchids do u put it on? The teaspoon is in relation to how much water? Thankyou.

Izzie · #4 07-26-2010, 07:48 PM

This has been a hot topic on here before. Try searching "homemade fertilizer" or something similar on the board, and you'll see what I mean.

cl2cayo · #5 07-26-2010, 07:54 PM

Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate, so if you have a magnesium deficiency (or sulfur, though that's unlikely), it can help. I've seen it used both via foliar feeding (misting) as well as just watering. The amounts I've heard people recommend vary wildly, though, from a tablespoon or two to a 1/2 cup or so per gallon...
-cindy

cl2cayo · #6 07-26-2010, 08:05 PM

Izzie - you're absolutely right! I just found the thread - wow, lots of good ideas there! Sorry for cluttering up the forum before searching. Oops!

-cindy

Izzie · #7 07-26-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cl2cayo

Izzie - you're absolutely right! I just found the thread - wow, lots of good ideas there! Sorry for cluttering up the forum before searching. Oops!

-cindy

No worries! About the magnesium supplementation- member Ray Barkalow has several articles on his webpage about fertilizing, including Magnesium Supplementation.
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