Fertiliser questions from Newbie.

[Adrian]

Hi

Newbie from Perth, Western Australia

I have three questions, all relating to fertilizing.

1 – is it better to use a watering can or a spray dispenser. I was thinking that the action of the watering can allows the liquid fertiliser to just run through the mix taking most of the nutrients with it. Would it better to be using a spray tank to spray the fertiliser over the leaves and along the top of the pot where the roots are? I would hate to think I am wasting fertiliser every time I fertilise my orchids.

2, can you store pre-mixed liquid chemical based fertilisers in the spray bottle for use every week? Or would it use its potency? I currently use all that is in the watering can and it feels, again, that I am wasting it. If I had it pre-mixed and stored, then I would save a lot of fertiliser.

3. lastly, at the moment I have switched to a blooming (High K) for my blooming sized plants. I also have quite a few seedlings, mostly cymbdiums, Phaps and Dendrobium speciousm. Should I switch back to a high nitrogen fert to get my seedlings going ?

Anyway, I appreciate anyone that has the time and patience have a go at my questions
Cheers
Adrian

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Adrian

Hi

Newbie from Perth, Western Australia

I have three questions, all relating to fertilizing.

1 – is it better to use a watering can or a spray dispenser. I was thinking that the action of the watering can allows the liquid fertiliser to just run through the mix taking most of the nutrients with it. Would it better to be using a spray tank to spray the fertiliser over the leaves and along the top of the pot where the roots are? I would hate to think I am wasting fertiliser every time I fertilise my orchids.

Spraying the leaves does very little outside of coating them with crud. Foliar feeding is of little benefit in most orchids. Flushing the pot as you water and feed is actually a benefit. You should be using very dilute fertilizer solutions in the first place, so the true cost per volume is actually quite low. Orchid-growing can be an expensive hobby. Face it.

2, can you store pre-mixed liquid chemical based fertilisers in the spray bottle for use every week? Or would it use its potency? I currently use all that is in the watering can and it feels, again, that I am wasting it. If I had it pre-mixed and stored, then I would save a lot of fertiliser.

Storage is no issue.

3. lastly, at the moment I have switched to a blooming (High K) for my blooming sized plants. I also have quite a few seedlings, mostly cymbdiums, Phaps and Dendrobium speciousm. Should I switch back to a high nitrogen fert to get my seedlings going ?

There is no such thing as a bloom-boosting fertilizer, and high-potssium wouldn't be it in any case.

Read this

[Brooke]

I know several very successful professional growers who only fertilize their plants by using the spray the foliage method.

My mounted Phals get fertilized with a sprayer on the roots and also on and under the leaves. Roots dry out very fast when mounted and spraying the foliage gives them a better chance to absorb additional fertilizer.

Brooke

[Adrian]

hi Ray, great articles there mate. Some myths dispelled for me there.

Hi Brooke, cheers for that. I'll probably get my self a large pump sprayer to replace the watering can. Quite a few of my plants are hanging so getting a watering can up there is a pain.

anyway, thank you all for great advice