Bloom Booster???

[NeonKraken]

When should I use my bloom booster? I own a few Phlas, two Oncidiums, and one Dendrobium. Thanky

[jkofferdahl]

If you WANT to use it, apply just aster you see spikes form. However, the use of such a fertilizer is unnecessary.

[NeonKraken]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

If you WANT to use it, apply just aster you see spikes form. However, the use of such a fertilizer is unnecessary.

Alright, How do I tell a spike from a root, I'm still pretty new at this. Thanks!

[jkofferdahl]

Well, different plants' spikes can appear differently, but a root tends to be rounder while a spike is pointier. But if you're not sure, just skip the bloom booster - when it blooms the flowers will be the same.

[NeonKraken]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

Well, different plants' spikes can appear differently, but a root tends to be rounder while a spike is pointier. But if you're not sure, just skip the bloom booster - when it blooms the flowers will be the same.

OK, thank you. Do I apply directly to the spike or just water the whole plant. Do I do it once or on a weekly basis or something. And one more thing.I just fed my oncidium which has two spikes with regular fertilizer. Can I somehow wash out that fertilizer and use the bloom booster? Thanks so much

[bil]

Don't get het up over fertilising.

I use a very low dose of K lite all year round, about 25 ppm nitrogen at every watering, and for Stans and Catasetum, about 150 ppm every watering.

I get great blooms.

[NeonKraken]

Originally Posted by bil

Don't get het up over fertilising.

I use a very low dose of K lite all year round, about 25 ppm nitrogen at every watering, and for Stans and Catasetum, about 150 ppm every watering.

I get great blooms.

Thanks bil~

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by NeonKraken

OK, thank you. Do I apply directly to the spike or just water the whole plant. Do I do it once or on a weekly basis or something. And one more thing.I just fed my oncidium which has two spikes with regular fertilizer. Can I somehow wash out that fertilizer and use the bloom booster? Thanks so much

Bil kind of addressed my point. I also fertilize my orchids essentially weekly, and use a very dilute formula. I use a 20-20-20, but the balance isn't overly important. Orchids use different parts of the fertilizer (the 20-20-20 balance in my case) during different active phases, so it may need more nitrogen at one time of the year, other nutrients at other times. This is where the so-called bloom booster comes in to play. When orchids spike and flower they use a lot of phosphorus (the middle number in the three). Someone at a chemical company somewhere decided to take advantage of orchid enthusiasts and produced a high phosphorus blend, then marketed it as beneficial to blooming. I can't say that it does NOT have an effect on how the plant blooms, but I CAN say that for 99% of us growing orchids, we'll never be able to tell the difference in our flowers. Orchids are going to get what nutrition they need when properly cared for, which includes normal fertilization. They store nutrients to have the energy for things like new leaves, new roots, and flowering.

One school of thought says that rather than using a bloom booster, or ANY fertilizer, when the plant initiates a spike it is better to stop fertilization altogether. The idea behind this is that too much of the non-necessary nutrients encourage the plant to grow roots and leaves rather than spikes and flowers. I've followed the "fertilize weekly, weakly" school instead, however, as Bil mentioned. I've been doing so for longer than I care to mention and am very satisfied with the flowers I get.

If you use it, just water the whole plant. Orchids absorb the fertilizer through their roots.
You can use it weekly, but apply it in a very weak dilution, say 1/4 of the label directions. Weekly, weakly.
Regular fertilizer isn't going to matter to the Oncidium, but, no, you can't wash out fertilizer.

Sorry to be so verbose.

[estación seca]

There is a lot to read about fertilizing orchids on the First Rays Web site. Look for the Free Information.

[bil]

The best advice I can give is relax. TBH, fertiliser is the least of it. It's a bit like vitamins in humans, Far less of it is needed than you think, and too much does way more damage than too little.
In orchids it seems that the less attention you give them the better.
As advised above, go to First Ray's site. He sells a very good, balanced fertiliser that is very low in potassium and other so called 'boosting' chemicals. His logic, backed up by observation in the wild and many years of use is that they do do better with less fertiliser, because they get so little in the wild.
Anyway, go to his site and read, read, read.