Do Cyms need fertiliser in the winter

[Hedge]

Originally Posted by orchids3

Myself I would never use 6-30-30 on my cymbidiums.
The middle 30 is phosphorus and does not make plants bloom. Would rather see 6-4-20 Cal Mag called a bloom booster. Have talked to experts who formulate fertilizer and they agreed with me - but they keep making the hight Phosphorus fertilizer because people keep buying it.

Hurray! I also think high potash (K) is the answer to blooming problems, nice to find someone who agrees with me! I have resorted to using half strength good tomato feed (which incidentally also contains Mg and Boron ) to get some reluctant plants to flower. The high Phosphorus message is put out by many orchid books and journals, and I have never been convinced as it flies in the face of what I was taught on my gardening course.

thanks

Heather

[Hedge]

thanks for your photos, Val and Graham, I think I may have flowers on the way after all

[Bobfharris]

Originally Posted by orchids3

Bob
I would use a teaspoon of 90 day time release or a Tablespoon of 360 day time release - doesnt the length of time it takes the Fertilizer Prills to release make a differance? In my opinion it does.

Sorry Harry.. I was offline a few days as I am traveling.. Now in San Francisco area for some nursery visits and seeing friends and giving some talks after seeing my Mom on her 90th birthday in Boston

I use the 180 day Nutricotes at 1 tsp per gallon. (with the two formulae in the previous posts). 180 day is nice as i can change the formula's with the grow and bloom cycle. Also the rate I use and timing works with the regimen I use for fertilizing the liquids. But it is also nice for beginners as they can easily remember that say Jan to June is one and July to Dec is the other (ie 10-17-17)

Reminder the time release dating is also temperature depended based on the 70 degree ideal temperature.

[Sienna]

Thank you all for your pics I have been trying to find this exact info for a while. I just went to investigate my collection and most of the shots are new growth (as I thought), but one may just be a spike! Thank you again, just great!!

[RosieC]

I actaully think mine has a couple of spikes. I was looking at it in the greenhouse at the weekend and they are getting very spike like... but growing VERY slowly!

[Hedge]

weeee!! On four plants, I have had three spikes, one each on three of them!!
The other may be spiking only more slowly. I lost one spike due to bud blast, no doubt caused by my having to repeatedly rehouse my plants as the window fitters moved around the house.The one which I bought out of bloom as a reduction is sitting there tantalizing me by not opening its buds, but it is a very large bud, so definitely not a mini variety. I'll post pictures when I get a chance to take some!

PS The windows are great, and so are the new doors. Thanks to my Mum in law!!