Quote:
Originally Posted by Asian Cymbidium Empress
My Jap vendor told me that he only use slow release, never liquid fertlizer. I apply slow release in the spring only and I use a very diluted liquid fertlizer twice a year, that's it.
I was also advised by my Japanese vendor as well, any additional plant hormones will prevent them from blooming.
|
I don't mean to question you or your vendor, as you both are far more experienced and knowledgeable than me, but I have to ask: is there a specific reason why? Like is there a scientific explanation?
I don't mind the idea of only using slow releasing fertilizer, if I can find one that works best for these plants, but when it comes to something like hormones, I don't know why after receiving a plant that's likely been
- shipped from somewhere in Asia
- wound up at some American vendor, likely in California
- was potted in some media prior to being put up for sale
- plant was then unpotted and then shipped to wherever else in the country/continent
- plant was then potted again to hopefully it's new more permanent home
that I wouldn't give it some probiotic solution and something like Kelpak to help it recover some from it's journey and help it better establish roots in it's new home. Maybe I could understand only doing that for the first few waterings, but even something like having a schedule of watering it with some probiotic solution like Quantum Total could only be beneficial for the plant.
Is the reason for minimally fertilizing because these plants are usually grow in more mineral and inorganic substrates? Do these substrates provide enough minerals on their own?
I understand there's been a culture that was defined over hundreds of years in East Asia, but I would like to have more solid and scientific reasons as to
why that culture works.