Fertilizer questions and "weakly, weekly" clarification?

[emmajs243]

Yup like already said, it is still good to supplement cal/mg once a month! And DollytheHun! What do crushed egg shells do for Catts!???!!!!! That seems so easy and simple to do that if it helps them, sign me up! But what is the reason???? How much do you apply once a month??

I really liked all the micronutrients in the MSU fertilizer! however, I haven't looked into very many other fertilizers....some but not a ton yet to really know how they compare! I know they do have a time release version though but I am sure any fertilize will be beneficial!

[fishmom]

Egg shells are a source of calcium. A few spoonsful added to a mix provide a nice, slow, constant source as it leaches out. Alan Koch (Gold Country Orchids) has recommended this for years. Chick scratch and dolomite chips are similar sources.

[emmajs243]

Fascinating!! So follow up question, do you need to take extra care in the type of eggs you use or is any egg ok? Since it's just for the orchids, you don't have to boil them first or anything right??

And sorry Kilmiquix! Totally jacked your post momentarily! The egg shells just seem so easy to do and I can tell believe I hadn't heard about it yet! I totally am just swept away right now!!

[fishmom]

No special eggs, cooked or not. I save all shells, keep them in a baggie, and crush them inside that to minimize mess.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Kilmiquix

I wish I could feed at every watering, but there is no way that I can fertilize at every watering. While I CAN water daily, I have to do so in the dark. (I leave for work before the sun comes up, and I don't get home till the sun has set.) And when I fertilize, I generally mix up about 6 milk gallon containers. There is no way I can do that in the morning before work.

SO, Sunday is fertilizer day. 6 gallons of fertilizer with each gallon containing 1 tbs of epsom. (The epsom is new).

As I no longer grow in a greenhouse with a metering system injecting fertilizer into the water, I no longer feed every time I water, either.

For weekly feeding - my current regimen - I apply 75 ppm N fertilizer. Divide 6 by the %N in your fertilizer; the result is the teaspoons/gallon for 75 ppm N.

One tablespoon of Epsom Salts per gallon, applied weekly, is overkill. That much once a month is plenty.

The MSU fertilizer for PURE water has 13.2% N, 8% Ca and 2% Mg. That means that if you're applying 75 ppm N, you're applying 45 ppm Ca and 11 ppm Mg.

FWIW, I just went through some leaf analysis data - no orchids, but a wide range of grasses, grains, fruits, vegetables and trees - and the ratios of N:Ca:Mg averaged 100:49:11, suggesting that the ratio in the MSU formula (100:63:15) is more than adequate. Likewise K-Lite, a derivative of the MSU RO formula, at 100:78:23.

And yes, seeing the solution pour though the pots can be disheartening, but if you calculate the cost-per-gallon, it's not THAT much.

[Kilmiquix]

Thanks, Ray! That makes me feel loads better.

I'm thinking that I might switch to spraying on the fertilizer solution instead of pouring the gallon jugs. Saturating the plant and bark with the weak solution should do the trick, right?

Thank you to everyone for your patient and thorough help.

And no worries about thread jacking! I learned, too!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Kilmiquix

I'm thinking that I might switch to spraying on the fertilizer solution instead of pouring the gallon jugs. Saturating the plant and bark with the weak solution should do the trick, right?

I am not a fan of foliar feeding of orchids.

Yes, the CAN take up nutrients through the leaves, but its not nearly as efficient as through the roots. Plus, there are differences in foliar uptake rates between ammonium-, nitrate-, and urea-based nitrogen.

Then there is also the fact that some orchids have waxy cuticle layers on the leaves - intended to prevent water loss - that also prevent contact of the solutions with the portions of the leaves that can absorb the nutrients. Phalaenopsis area notable example, with mature plants having a lot thicker cuticle layers than do seedlings.