Which one from Orchid Bloom and Grow

[Orchid2016]

Hi, after some rot problem during last winter, I recovered my phal.
After three months, it started to grow two new branches.
In that period I used orchid focus grow thinking it were good for the plant, but now I didn't understand if I had to use Orchid focus bloom when it started to grow that new branches.

Which one I had to use?


Regards

Eugenio

[Ray]

There is no such thing as a bloom-boosting fertilizer for orchids. That is nothing more than a myth perpetrated by marketing folks.

When it was first recognized that orchids are particularly demanding of nitrogen, the late Dr. O. Wesley Davidson of Rutgers University, invented Mir-Acid (30-10-10), the first chemical fertilizer, and the plants responded well, so the orchid community jumped on the band-wagon heartily.

After a while, however, it was noted that plants were not blooming as well as they had. Realizing that to be due to over application of nitrogen, they diluted it in their formula with inexpensive phosphorus compounds, and dubbed it a "bloom booster", when in reality, it didn't "boost" anything, but "allowed" the plants to bloom by limiting the nitrogen.

Orchids are actually not particularly demanding of nutrition. That Orchid Focus product looks to be OK, although lacking in magnesium, so I'd recommend adding Epsom Salts to it monthly.

[Orchid2016]

Epsom Salts?!...I'm looking for it.
Regards for reply.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Orchid2016

Epsom Salts?!...I'm looking for it.
Regards for reply.

Epsom salts (sali di Epsom) should be available inexpensively at your local farmacia.

Use the plain type that has no added scents, etc. 1 cc per liter of water should be sufficient.