Anyone make homemade fertilizer?

[Jinx]

If so what do you use?

molasses?
kelp?
epsom salts?

ect?

[Cym Ladye]

I am sure many growers have attempted their own "special brews" but unless you are a chemist, knowledgeable on the nutrient needs of orchids, why would you bother?

There are several excellent fertilizers on the market, many good ones and a goodly number available online. If you wish to add amendments, that is a personal preference, but most fertilizers are complete and need no other additives for the hobbyist grower.

I suggest you click the Search icon on the menu bar of this Forum, type Fertilizer needs of orchids and browse at your leisure. There are more formulas out there than ants in an ant hill. but you would be best served if you learn what orchids need and when they need it before you start "brewing".

Cym Ladye

[DavidCampen]

I use a mixture of:
Calcium nitrate
Magnesium nitrate
Potassium nitrate
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate
Ammonium sulfate
Ammonium aspartate
Diammonium citrate
Ferric ammonium sulfate
Copper nitrate
Zinc sulfate
Manganese sulfate
Boric acid
Sodium chloride
Sodium molybdate
Cobalt sulfate


http://www.orchidboard.com/community...pe-wanted.html

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by DavidCampen

I use a mixture of:
Calcium nitrate
Magnesium nitrate
Potassium nitrate
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate
Ammonium sulfate
Ammonium aspartate
Diammonium citrate
Ferric ammonium sulfate
Copper nitrate
Zinc sulfate
Manganese sulfate
Boric acid
Sodium chloride
Sodium molybdate
Cobalt sulfate

As I said, it takes a chemist who knows what orchids need, when they need it, how much of each nutrient to use and time to put it all together!

[purpletiger]

Here's what I use to feed my orchids:
-Ground fish bones (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium)
-Tea (nitrogen)
-Milk (nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium)
-Potatoes (potassium, traces of phosphorous)
-Banana peels (potassium)

Depending on the season (growing, flowering, hibernating), I mix different ingredients from this list and make a sort of "soup" which I use to feed my orchids.

The ground tea leaves I usually add right into the potting mix by cutting open a used tea bag and sprinkling on the top right before a watering.

[AJW]

Has anyone tried beer in their Fertlizer?
Before you say "what the " a can of beer in the mix during the growth stage works wonders for the plants