Fertilizing - Orchid Board

orcdfrk · #1 08-07-2006, 04:07 PM

I'm familiar with the term 'weakly weekly' regular growth fertilizing but at what time would you start with a blooming formula? Would you start it as soon as a spike appears or would it be when you want to encourage a spike to form. Help

littlefrog · #2 08-07-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orcdfrk

I'm familiar with the term 'weakly weekly' regular growth fertilizing but at what time would you start with a blooming formula? Would you start it as soon as a spike appears or would it be when you want to encourage a spike to form. Help

I don't mess with changing formulations. I use the same fertilizer year round. In the winter or when dormant, plants get less fertilizer (since I water them less), and more when they are actively growing.

There is a lot of debate about the merits of 'bloom boosting' fertilizers for orchids. I'm unabashedly in the "don't bother" camp, but I'm sure somebody will disagree. To me, it is far more important to be consistent about giving food than any magic formula. I think a lot of the 'fantastic results' people get with new fertilizers or magic potions are due to the fact that you are more likely to actually _use_ the fertilizer or magic potion, and hence more likely to see results. Once the novelty wears off, the next magic potion will yield similar results when it is used consistently...

wallyworld · #3 08-07-2006, 06:26 PM

I am the same way, I use fertilizer every time that I water. I used Rays website to figure the 125 ppm of N that I use and I have been using Dyna-Gro 7-9-5. Since I have over 80 vandas and assorted plants, I use a syphon mixer that makes it go a whole lot easier. I make a concentrate and then water with the syphon doing the mixing. I do not use a bloom booster type of fertilizer mainly because I never seen it help. You will just have to experiment to find what works best. By the way I see it, if the bloom booster actually works and you start using it after the bud as appeared, then why use it?

At least that is the way that I see it.

Wally

justatypn · #4 08-07-2006, 09:22 PM

You's both have made it a lot easier for others to see the pro's / con's. I myself use Shultz for orchids and Peter's for my other plants and have been using the same formula without changing to blooming and my plants and chids seem to be happy and doing well. I feed my chids every watering accept when I do a complete drain through to release salt buildup. I do not have the experience and success as you's both do, and its great to know I so far have followed your patterns. Happy chids makes Cheryl a happy orchid grower

cb977 · #5 08-08-2006, 08:34 AM

Hi...you need to be consistent with your fertilizing but I did learn something recently from a grower friend...
when you are fertilizing, you are not inducing the plant to produce a spike, just keeping the plant healthy...the spike will come when it is ready anyway. Once there is a new spike or growith, a little extra treat will help it to advance but it doesn't cause the growith to occur.

My feelings on fertilizers and schedules...read as much as you can, listen to other people's advice and hints...then, combine it all and come up with your own educated choices using the basic information you've absorbed.

Sandra Billeter · #6 08-08-2006, 11:46 AM

I agree with Susanne that everyone has to develop their own "best system" and find out what works for you. I don't think any of us are knowledgeable enough to be able to scientifically evaluate the exact effects/non-effects of which fertilizer we use. In a personal conversation with Mack Holmes at Carter and Holmes, he told us he rarely ever fertilizes his personal orchids. However, they regularly fertilize the commercial greenhouses. In a converstaion with the owner of Akatsuka Orchids in Hawaii, he told us they fertilize every time they water. They use growth formula (high nitrogen) for 2 weeks, then Bloom formula (low Nitrogen) the next week, and plain water the 4th week to flush salts out. They water/fertilize everything the same way regardless of type of orchid or stage of growth or blooming.

We have recently switched to fertilizers that contain micronutrients. What seems to work for us is Bloom booster Aug - Oct for Phals, Jan - Apr for Catts & Oncidiums, Year round for Dens, and 2 times a week for Vandaceous. We use growth formula the rest of the time and we always mix at label strength and fertilize weekly except for Vandaceous which we do 4 to 5 times a week. A lot would also depend on how many plants you have and how much time you're willing to take. We're happy with our results and that's the key as far as we're concerned.

Sandra in South Carolina

cb977 · #7 08-08-2006, 02:15 PM

Hi Sandra

You fertilize your dens year-round? I'm surpirised to hear that...the majority of dens that I have call for a rest period. I do know a few people whom I consider to be very knowledgable in growing their 'chids, who don't follow the suggested rest period and their 'chids are grogeous. Very interesting

ScottMcC · #8 08-08-2006, 03:33 PM

for the dends, does it matter if they're deciduous or not? what I mean is, some of them are evergreen, which to me would seem to indicate that year round fert is ok, whereas the deciduous ones would need a rest period.

does this make sense? I just got my first dend so I am definitely looking forward to hearing from people about this issue.