Fertilizer for kovachii and others

[gdupont]

I have liquid Dyna-Go Grow (7-9-5), and would like to use it for my kovachii. Does that sound ok to use? The suggested dose is 1/4 to 1/2 tsp every time you water. More info.



I also have Jack's Classic All Purpose 20-20-20, water soluble, recommended dose:1/2 tsp per gallon per week or 1/4 tsp per gallon every time you water. More info



Third option is water soluble Orchid Plus by Better Gro (20-14-13), no urea), recommended dose: 1 tsp per gallon every time you water. More info



What should I use? Thanks.



I also have besseae, adreettae, Mexipedium xerophyticum, and Paphiopedilum tigrinum. Which would be best for those, and at what dosage?


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[No-Pro-mwa]

I would probably go with the Dyna gro but the Jacks I would not use for what you have. I don't fertilize my Phrags every time I water them because if you do it to much they will get brown tips on them from salt build up. Me I go about every 3 rd time with the 1/4 tsp to a gal. I try and go light on the fert but most of my orchids I fert about every time I water them. Just not my Phrags or my Masdevallias.

[Ray]

In my opinion, any and all of them are fine, but you should be applying them at VERY low doses, and frequently.

My recommendation for slippers (and most other plants, for that matter) is to flood the pots with large volumes of water containing a small amount of fertilizer at each watering. The amount of fertilizer is based upon the frequency of feeding.

While equating a concentration to a mass of fertilizer seems incorrect and odd (both are true), it does offer a good way to manage it:

I recommend about 75-100 ppm N be applied over the course of a week. If I fed once a week, I'd use 75. Twice a week, maybe 50 each time, or 3x/week, 25.

If you divide 2 by the %N on the label, that's a reasonable estimate of the teaspoons per gallon to use for 25 ppm N with any formula.

Grow: 2/7 is about 1/3 (close enough)
Jacks or Gro-More: 2/20 = 1/10

Double that for 50 ppm, triple for 75, etc.

[gdupont]

Originally Posted by Ray

In my opinion, any and all of them are fine, but you should be applying them at VERY low doses, and frequently.

My recommendation for slippers (and most other plants, for that matter) is to flood the pots with large volumes of water containing a small amount of fertilizer at each watering. The amount of fertilizer is based upon the frequency of feeding.

While equating a concentration to a mass of fertilizer seems incorrect and odd (both are true), it does offer a good way to manage it:

I recommend about 75-100 ppm N be applied over the course of a week. If I fed once a week, I'd use 75. Twice a week, maybe 50 each time, or 3x/week, 25.

If you divide 2 by the %N on the label, that's a reasonable estimate of the teaspoons per gallon to use for 25 ppm N with any formula.

Grow: 2/7 is about 1/3 (close enough)
Jacks or Gro-More: 2/20 = 1/10

Double that for 50 ppm, triple for 75, etc.

Hi, Ray,

Thanks so much for this advice, and thanks for offering such a quick and easy way to do it! I was sure that there had to be a simple method out there. Would you suggest I us this with RO or tap water?

[jkofferdahl]

?

[Ray]

When it comes to all orchids, the purer the water, the better. Period. End of paragraph.

However, the demand for purity varies greatly, as do the purity of the water supply. Do you need RO? It depends. Whatcha got to start with?

[jkofferdahl]

>

[estación seca]

Go to your water utility's Web site and look up your water quality report. Find the total dissolved solids and pH.

[gdupont]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Go to your water utility's Web site and look up your water quality report. Find the total dissolved solids and pH.

pH is 7.67, TDS is 207, Total Hardness is 150.

[estación seca]

The TDS level in your water is too high for Phrags. Don't use your tap water for them.

I have been told Paphs are OK with TDS up to 50 PPM including fertilizer, but Phrags should have even less. You need to collect rain or get RO or distilled water. But, I have read watering Phrags with pure water alone is not good; it causes osmotic problems with the roots. Better to have a low amount of fertilizer in the water.

The pH is not too far off. I have read Paphs and Phrags are much more susceptible to nasty root fungi at an acid pH so a somewhat alkaline pH is good.

When you mix a fertilizer intended for use with pure water the pH comes out correct. Michigan State University blend fertilizer (MSU) comes prepared for well water or for pure water. For my Paphs I use 1/8th of a teaspoon / 0.625ml of MSU formula fertilizer powder for pure water in 1 gallon of rain or reverse osmosis water. I have been told this is about as much TDS as Paphs should see. I use it with almost every watering.