Best fertilizer?

[kadive]

Hi!

I have phals, vandas, cattleyas and nums. I'm currently using miracle grow orchid food once a week with good results but i'm wondering if there is something better?

Thanks!
Jessie

[jeremyinsf]

Look at firstrays.com

Many of us on here use Ray's stuff and are very happy with it.

K-lite can be used with all orchids. Or you can use the MSU type.

[butterfly_muse]

I ordered some Dyna Gro "Grow" recently because the miracle gro orchid fertilizer has too much nitrogen (which promotes vegetative growth but all but shuts down flower blooming possibility). I just used it for the first time today, so I can't attest to it, but others on this board recommend it. And yes, Rays MSU fertilzer is highly recommended also. I will never in my life make 350 gallons so I decided not to use it until I've got a larger collection.

[Ray]

I think you're looking at the "too much nitrogen" thing incorrectly.

I assume the Miracle Grow stuff is a 30-10-10, hence has a 3-1-1 ratio. K-Lite is a 12-1-1 ratio, yet we do not consider its use to be a high nitrogen diet. The reason is that the amount used, i.e., the mass applied, is kept low.

If you focus on the nitrogen concentration of your fertilizer solution, you'll be OK. I feed at 50 ppm N. 4 divided by the %N on the label gives you a decent estimate of the teaspoons needed for one gallon of solution at that concentration - using any fertilizer. 4/30 is roughly 1/8 teaspoon, 4/12 is 1/3 tsp.


Ray Barkalow
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[Greenmarkut]

Does anybody know anything about organic fertilizer from worm casings? Is it any good to use? I can get it in liquid form but I'm not sure if it's all that it's cracked up to be.
It's supposed to be great as a weak/weekly fertilizer and that it works better than fertilizers that are in a chemical form. However I'm not sure it worth the extra money.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by Greenmarkut

Does anybody know anything about organic fertilizer from worm casings? Is it any good to use? I can get it in liquid form but I'm not sure if it's all that it's cracked up to be.
It's supposed to be great as a weak/weekly fertilizer and that it works better than fertilizers that are in a chemical form. However I'm not sure it worth the extra money.

I have something like this also and have been thinking that I may do an experiment to see if they will do well on it. I had gotten mine for my plants outside but I just haven't taken the time to use it right.

[tucker85]

There is no "best" fertilizer. You should use whatever works well for you with your water quality, your environment and culture habits. I've used many fertilizers and didn't see a whole lot of difference between them. Recently I've been using Dyna-Gro Grow which seems a good fertilizer to me.

[Greenmarkut]

Please let me know how your experiment goes. I'd be interested in your results. Thanks!

[Chris35rt]

I use FEED ME! MSU fertilizer from repotme.com and all my orchids are responding good to it..

[kadive]

Thanks for all the replies! I am thinking about the MSU after all the advices and reading. I love this forum!

Thanks a lot!

Jessie