Fertilizers -- hormones, extracts..Looking for details

[SarinahL]

Hi guys! So I wanted to know more about your (general) fertilizing routines. Also I'm particularly interested about the ingredients. I don't live in the US, so what is normal for you, certain brands etc, puzzle me. Or sometimes I notice some stuff mentioned that is already so ingrained in orchid society, so no explanation or brand name is supplied. Like 'seaweed extract' or 'rooting hormone'. I figured if I knew what to look for, I can try seeing past the brand names in my neck of the woods. I already started figuribg out what to use when and where, now onto actually getting my hands on it!
Who could help me out?

[camille1585]

What do you need help locating in particular? I think EU people should be able to help you out with with finding things there.
Some things I know:
Rooting hormones such as superthrive or KLN are not easy to find here, kln can be ordered from the UK and superthrive I believe can be gotten from amazon9or ebay??).co.uk.

A good systemic insecticide is sold here (in NL) as Admire N, from Bayer. 'Luizen en witte vlieg' is written on the box. It's referred to a lot here by it's US name, something like Bayer 3-in-1 I believe.

MSU fertilizer can be ordered from Akerne Orchids in Belgium, they are the only EU suppliers that I know of.
Otherwise for fertilizer I use Pokon, or order 20-20-20 from Claessen Orchideeen.

Listerine for treating minor disease issue can be found at Kruidvat, Etos, DA....

Seaweed extract I'm not sure where to get, I've never looked for it.

If there's anything specific you are looking for I might know since I'm constantly searching for stuff here!

[Kelo]

Originally Posted by SarinahL

Hi guys! So I wanted to know more about your (general) fertilizing routines. Also I'm particularly interested about the ingredients. I don't live in the US, so what is normal for you, certain brands etc, puzzle me. Or sometimes I notice some stuff mentioned that is already so ingrained in orchid society, so no explanation or brand name is supplied. Like 'seaweed extract' or 'rooting hormone'. I figured if I knew what to look for, I can try seeing past the brand names in my neck of the woods. I already started figuribg out what to use when and where, now onto actually getting my hands on it!
Who could help me out?

OK, rooting powder should be available in any good garden; doesn't matter which one you use but some people like to stay with a particular brand.

Hormones - what do you need them for?

Seaweed extract is seaweed extract and any type would likely be better than nothing and is easily available on line. If you can't find it in your country try looking on UK websites etc. or on eBay.

I use Akerne's rain mix but there are plenty of others out there that are perfectly good. Some people use ordinary general purpose garden fertiliser. Again, generally available on eBay.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Kelo

OK, rooting powder should be available in any good garden; doesn't matter which one you use but some people like to stay with a particular brand.

Hormones - what do you need them for?

Hormones = rooting hormones.

Stay away from the powders for orchids. 1) they are too strong, and will kill roots rather than stimulating their growth. 2) The powders contain the insoluble hormones, not the soluble slats of them found in liquids.

I have several articles about nutrition posted here: First Rays' Free Info

[Kelo]

Sorry but by hormones I thought something other than rooting powder was meant.

[Wjs2nd]

Your curious about what kind of routines people fallow? I have all mount orchids so you might need to modify the watering schedule.
1. I water my orchids every morning
2. Week 1 (Friday) fertilize with grow more 20-10-20 urea free and worm tea, sprayed on.
3. Week 2 (Friday) I spray with worm tea, Companion to help protect my roots, and Essentials which is a rooting hormone.
4. Week 3 (Friday) fertilize with grow more and worm tea again.
5. Week 4 (Friday) spray with worm tea, Companion, and Essentials again.
I basically flush my plants every day when I water them. I would make sure to add some kind of flush to your routine at least once a month.

[Orchid126]

Seaweed is also known as kelp.

If you can't get rooting hormone try molasses diluted in water.

[SarinahL]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Rooting hormones such as superthrive or KLN are not easy to find here, kln can be ordered from the UK and superthrive I believe can be gotten from amazon9or ebay??).co.uk.

I'm generally not a big fan of trying to order things from the internet, so normally I'd first try to find it at the gardening centres. What are the ingredients? Maybe I can find some equivalent.

Originally Posted by camille1585

A good systemic insecticide is sold here (in NL) as Admire N, from Bayer. 'Luizen en witte vlieg' is written on the box. It's referred to a lot here by it's US name, something like Bayer 3-in-1 I believe.

what means systemic? I would just go with the packaging and use it for "luizen & witte vlieg", but I suppose it works for other pests too?

Originally Posted by camille1585

MSU fertilizer can be ordered from Akerne Orchids in Belgium, they are the only EU suppliers that I know of.
Otherwise for fertilizer I use Pokon, or order 20-20-20 from Claessen Orchideeen.

I use Pokon for orchids too, and I had a freebie pot of 20-20-20 from Claessen too, so maybe I'll try that next time. Which do you prefer?

Originally Posted by camille1585

Listerine for treating minor disease issue can be found at Kruidvat, Etos, DA....

Listerine?? The mouthwash? What would a minor disease mean?

Originally Posted by camille1585

If there's anything specific you are looking for I might know since I'm constantly searching for stuff here!

Thanks so much for your extensive reply! And here I am, with dozens other questions. I'm just a beginner with these things and I hung out, lurking, at US forums, makes really understanding what is written a whole other thing than just looking at pictures.

Going by your age, location, and obvious hobbies I suppose you're a student or phd at Wageningen Uni?

[SarinahL]

@Kelo, yes I meant the rooting hormones. It's mentioned quote often on the forums but I wonder what the ingredients actually are. Makes it easier understanding the chemics behind it, and maybe enabling me to find an equivalent regardless of brand name. I have 100+ seedlings, on a small part of which I dare experiment on, and some desperate vanda's.

@Ray, thanks for the link! Looks very good and thorough, again thanks. I'll look into it this weekend, I'll have time for some extensive reading then.

Originally Posted by Wjs2nd

Your curious about what kind of routines people fallow? I have all mount orchids so you might need to modify the watering schedule.
1. I water my orchids every morning
2. Week 1 (Friday) fertilize with grow more 20-10-20 urea free and worm tea, sprayed on.
3. Week 2 (Friday) I spray with worm tea, Companion to help protect my roots, and Essentials which is a rooting hormone.
4. Week 3 (Friday) fertilize with grow more and worm tea again.
5. Week 4 (Friday) spray with worm tea, Companion, and Essentials again.
I basically flush my plants every day when I water them. I would make sure to add some kind of flush to your routine at least once a month.

Jeez what a strict routine! More and more of my orchids are now mounted by the way, so I'll be fine.
I've read about essentials and companion before, but haven't been able to find a website, for more info on their ingredients. Maybe you know it?

Originally Posted by Orchid126

If you can't get rooting hormone try molasses diluted in water.

Doesn't that encourage fungus growth?

[Wjs2nd]

Hmmmm, to be honesty I have no idea what's in Companion or Essentials. I just know they work from using them on my orchids. Good luck in your search and figuring out a routine!