Recommended fertilizer for phal

[orchidsarefun]

just remember to water with plain water every 3rd/4th watering and make sure that water runs freely out the base of the pot with every watering. What I do is water each plant at least twice in the go-round. The thinking behind this is that the roots will absorb even more water/fertiliser on the second go-round. I use a really weak fertiliser formulation - 1/4 of the recommended dose. A little goes a long way.
I also believe that water temps play a big role. I have an aquarium heater in a 2 gallon watering can and that heats up the water to about 80f. Of course that means I can only use 2 gallons at a time !

That 2 pack of fertiliser does provide more of a balance than just using one type indefinitely.

As with most things orchid, you will get a different opinion on just about everything.........

[Ray]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

we had an interesting discussion at our Orchid Society. Basically what we eventually agreed on is that it is better to alternate orchid fertilisers ( say 3 ) one after the other - all year round......some growers who had been using just 1 said they noticed that after time the orchids weren't doing as well.
Something to think about.

In that case, I would suspect that the fertilizer they used either had too little of something, too much of something, or possibly even both in different nutrients.

I used Dyna-Gro "Grow" formula exclusively for about 15 years with no issues encounted. I followed that with about 8 years of MSU RO, again, with no issues.

[The Orchid Boy]

I've recently started using K-lite and I enjoyed the article on "What do orchids eat?" Orchids need less phosphorous(P) and potassium(K) because they are slower growing. Too much P and K can cause forced growth. One thing in that article said that orchids can't regulate uptake of P and K and they absorb lots of it when they can because there isn't much of it in the wild. Kind of like a "kid in a candy store". Or us at an orchid nursery. There is more nitrogen(N), calcium(Ca), and magnesium(Mg) in the wild though. People underestimate the Ca and Mg that orchids need.

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Boy

I've recently started using K-lite and I enjoyed the article on "What do orchids eat?"

I was disappointed that the AOS would publish such an inaccurate and misleading article. The only evidence supporting the "k-lite" formulation is that ridiculous analogy from fresh water mussels to orchids and a few anecdotal reports.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by Ray

In that case, I would suspect that the fertilizer they used either had too little of something, too much of something, or possibly even both in different nutrients.

I used Dyna-Gro "Grow" formula exclusively for about 15 years with no issues encounted. I followed that with about 8 years of MSU RO, again, with no issues.

nope.
3 AOS judges were part of the discussion and they remarked on the fact that over the years the number of "presentable" orchids had declined - in the shows they had judged and in their own collections. Ironically MSU fertiliser was part of the discussion. Of course fertiliser may or may not be the problem but its worth a try changing things up. Nobody is forcing anybody to change what they are happy with, but perhaps it is food for thought. I keep an open mind on most things orchid because everybody's growing conditions are so different.

[DavidCampen]

My observations are completely unscientific, but, I have observed this when changing things like shampoo, hair conditioner etc. a new product seems to work better for a while but then you can go back to the previous product and it will then work better.

[Dendy83]

Originally Posted by DavidCampen

My observations are completely unscientific, but, I have observed this when changing things like shampoo, hair conditioner etc. a new product seems to work better for a while but then you can go back to the previous product and it will then work better.

I think one could argue that could be psychological though. However, I do believe that changing nutrients once in a while will possibly help the orchid/animal/human/whatever to absorb things more efficiently. Like taking calcium pills and then drinking orange juice every day, our bodies can't absorb that much. So with that said, I haven't read the recent article from Ray's that was posted, but I was leaning towards the MSU formula - heck it costs just as much as the Grow More brand and it's probably better quality. With a nice balanced fertilizer the orchids will be happy, absorb what they need without forced growth. Right?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

nope.
3 AOS judges were part of the discussion and they remarked on the fact that over the years the number of "presentable" orchids had declined - in the shows they had judged and in their own collections. Ironically MSU fertiliser was part of the discussion. Of course fertiliser may or may not be the problem but its worth a try changing things up. Nobody is forcing anybody to change what they are happy with, but perhaps it is food for thought. I keep an open mind on most things orchid because everybody's growing conditions are so different.

Please excuse me, but that "Nope" is pretty impertinent, and your response sounds like you put credence in folks due to their position, and not based upon what they may or may not know. Hardly open-minded.

Being an AOS judge has absolutely no bearing on their knowledge of plant nutrition. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of them that have bought their own BS to the point that they aren't even credible conformation judges, let alone pros about orchid culture.

Go read the "What do Orchids Eat" article. One of the important points in that is that some minerals can accumulate in both plants and potting media, throwing off the chemical balance of the plant and/or its environment, leading to long-term decline. I am not claiming that it is the "be all, end all" on orchid nutrition, but it does provide food for thought. Plant nutrition - especially that of epiphytes - is very poorly understood, and the well-educated experts I have discussed it with all readily admit that. Folks that "have all the answers" are the ones I am concerned about.

David's comment is excellent. Many equate "new" with "magic", when the reality is that the novelty makes a sloppy or lazy grower start paying attention, and - "OH WOW!!! That stuff's AMAZING!" Then, when the novelty wears off, and the lazy creeps back in...


Ray Barkalow
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[WhiteRabbit]

I also have used the MSU formula, Grow More urea free, and the Better Gro Orchid Plus (NOT the bloom booster formula), as well as Gubler's, and have been satisfied with all. I like that I can get Grow More, Better Gro, and Gubler's locally (nothing against online vendors, just saves on the shipping)

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by Ray

Please excuse me, but that "Nope" is pretty impertinent, and your response sounds like you put credence in folks due to their position, and not based upon what they may or may not know. Hardly open-minded.
Being an AOS judge has absolutely no bearing on their knowledge of plant nutrition. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of them that have bought their own BS to the point that they aren't even credible conformation judges, let alone pros about orchid culture.

David's comment is excellent. Many equate "new" with "magic", when the reality is that the novelty makes a sloppy or lazy grower start paying attention, and - "OH WOW!!! That stuff's AMAZING!" Then, when the novelty wears off, and the lazy creeps back in...


Ray Barkalow
Sent using Tapatalk

you make the above comments about AOS judges and accuse me of an impertinent response !!! You know absolutely nothing about these judges, their qualifications or their set-ups. In fact I know more about them than I do you ! They, and others, were offering opinions on what they had seen over the years in terms of declining show quality specimens and let me repeat - what they had personally experienced in their own grow areas. As a group we decided to go with an alternating fertiliser regime. Yes - alternating well-known orchid fertilisers , including one you use, MSU. Yes -exclusive use of MSU wasn't seen as ideal, be that subjective or not. Nothing WOW or AMAZING about that......or impertinent......its a viewpoint.
If we decide to try something different, its our perogative, and doesn't deserve baseless derision.