Organic Orchid Grow - thoughts?

[silken]

Originally Posted by Ray

Fertilizer formula is very low on the plants' hierarchy of needs; there are a lot more cultural parameters that play a much bigger role in a plant's performance. Expecting a change in fertilizer to have a major effect is somewhat naive, unless you've been WAY off base with your feeding regimen (I am comfortable stating that, as I've been there myself!).

I realize fertilizers are no magic fix and there won't be miraculous changes. But since I have a certificate in horticulture, University of Sask. I do understand the basics of plant growth, culture and all the other influences. The same friend said their Paphs (and he grows awesome Paphs. improved considerably when he switched from MSU to the Plant Prod. It may just be our water which doesn't agree with the MSU as well as the other or something, but I am willing to try a different feed. It is not going to hurt my plants any as it obviously hasn't killed my friend's. Since I grow and bloom a good variety of orchids (and many other plants) I really don't think I am WAY off base.

[Orchid Whisperer]

As Ray said, stay away from it. Looking at the assay, it is high in sodium (potentially harmful). Low in most substances actually useful to a plant.. I would discard what you have, switch to just about any other water-soluble fertilizer.

[lepetitmartien]

As a simple rule: everything that is expensive, with pretty much low quantities of overwise easy substances to find elsewhere smells like a dead whale on the beach.

It may not be harmful (but as I've read, some here raise potential issues no one needs to try) but it smells also the marketing at works. "Oh let's make a stupid expensive product for orchids labelled organic, one of those salad eaters will buy it and welcome Bahamas for us!"

I don't like marketing, but when overdone or backing just a market driven point and not a great product at first, it's bad trade.

[Ray]

silken,

No where did I state that changing fertilizers was putting plants at risk, and apparently we are in total agreement about them not being miracle cures.

I am envious of the horticulture credentials, but I hope you're aware that SO little is known about orchid nutrition, except how vastly different it is from food crops, which is where the huge majority of nutritional info has been evaluated.

Sure, the basic concepts appear to hold true, but the dynamics-, and how that effects chemical,demand, of a plant that can put on a kilogram of mass in ninety days is WAAAAY different from one that might not get that massive in a lifetime.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

[silken]

Originally Posted by Ray

silken,

No where did I state that changing fertilizers was putting plants at risk, and apparently we are in total agreement about them not being miracle cures.

I am envious of the horticulture credentials, but I hope you're aware that SO little is known about orchid nutrition, except how vastly different it is from food crops, which is where the huge majority of nutritional info has been evaluated.

Sure, the basic concepts appear to hold true, but the dynamics-, and how that effects chemical,demand, of a plant that can put on a kilogram of mass in ninety days is WAAAAY different from one that might not get that massive in a lifetime.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

Nor did I state I was expecting a fertilizer change to have a major effect. I made sure to state the other grower I referred to was in a different circumstance than me, such as a cool greenhouse in winter versus a warm home.

I use Orchid Board regularly because I know orchids are a somewhat different plant than crops and some other vegetation. But they are still plants belonging to the plant kingdom and the same principals hold true. I seem to remember you suggesting people will see some improvements using certain products that you believe in. I don't have any vested interests in recommending Plant Prod other than seeing someone find an affordable all round plant food that seems to work well for orchids based on the results I have seen.

[Orchids4ever]

Hi
just wanted to add my
I have been using Plant Pro for a few Years now and all i can say is that my Orchids are Happy,thriving and look great.

for 2orchid
i use 1/4 teaspoon per Gallon for 3 waterings and then next watering i just flush well with just plain water,every 3 Months i water with Ocean Magic.( seaweed)

[lepetitmartien]

I'm so depressed there's no miracle fert, nor additive…

(as a summing up for newbies around
The most simple rules upon fertilizers are:
- know your water quality
- choose the type of fert accordingly
- dilute enough
- wash out regularly
- get a life

Rest is litterature save if you're fine tuning overwise perfect conditions, or plan a phal factory in Netherlands.

[Joseia]

I am also starting to wonder how important fertilization is to orchid growth. I have plants at my home that I regularly fertilize with K Lite, and plants in my office that I have only fertilized once, maybe twice, in the past year. Some of the office plants are divisions of plants I have at home. The environment in my home and office are very different, so it is not easy to compare. But the plants in the office are growing nicely, three of them have flowered (they never flowered in my home!) and they seem pretty darn healthy.

So yeah, maybe fertilization is much lower down on the list of cultural requirements for successful orchid growing.

[Optimist]

I usesome kind of powdered seaweed. The small greenhouse I get it from divides it into gallon bags and sells in by the pound. I don't know what it is. All I can say is that orchids really respond to a good organic seaweed. One pound lasts me all year.

caviat. Ialso feed them fish tank water, a shot of epsom salts in the spring, some superthrive, a few top dessings of calcium...

[lepetitmartien]

Light, temperatures, air movement and air humidity are prominent imho.

Some people in their conditions can grow effectively their orchids with no to little fertilizer for years. And some persons may see one day the interest to add some fert…

There's no point into feeding to the max plants that are not already thriving in their conditions.

But we are a bit away from the subject of the thread, as we are into generalities and not specifically organic ferts.

I have not tried organic fertilizers yet (save nettle water for specific uses) as the products available here are not detailed enough for me to decide it'll be ok for orchids or compatible with the water types I can have or mix. I have already had carencies once so I don't want to jeopardize a recovered health with such experiments.