Seaweed/Fish question

[Dave Deane]

I'm hoping someone here can help me with this. I have a lot of fish and seaweed left over from growing giant pumpkins in the summer time. I still pretty new to keeping orchids but I have read that quite a few people on here use both. I am just wondering how one would apply|(foliar?) them and it what concentrations.

I also have a lot liquid fulvic and humic acid, does anyone here use either of those for orchids?


Thanks for any advice,

Dave

[tucker85]

I use liquid seaweed on my orchids. It's very effective at stimulating root growth. I use it at the strength recommended on the label but I live in hot, sunny South Florida so you may want to start out with half the recommended strength. I use it once every two weeks during the spring and summer. It can be mixed with your fertilizer or applied separately. I spray it on the leaves, roots and potting media. Orchids are not good candidates for foliar feeding but, because of their shape, I think most of the product will eventually wash down into the root zone. Liquid seaweed is a supplement only, you still need to use a fertilizer. I haven't used fish emulsion or fulvic or humic acid so I don't have any opinion on them.

[MrHappyRotter]

From what I've read, most of the experts agree that foliar feeding isn't terribly effective in a lot of orchids. There are a number of reason that come into play and a number of factors to consider.

First, orchid foliage isn't generally well suited for absorbing nutrients from the environment. In addition, some compounds and nutrients simply can't be absorbed through the leaves. Plus, unless you're using a wetting agent, it's likely that anything you spray on the leaves will bead up, dry up too quickly to be of use, and/or then will be blown or washed away later.

In fact, much of the benefits of foliar feeding have been attributed to the fact that eventually the nutrients that get sprayed on the leaves end up being blown or flushed down into the root zone where it can be effectively absorbed.

All that being said, I do some limited foliar feeding periodically (gotta hedge your bets). I don't bother with fertilizers and supplements like seaweed, I go for standard fertilizers (i.e. water soluble salts) since those are better absorbed through the leaves. I usually mix at similar rates as I do when I water/feed (1/8 - 1/4 recommended strength) and I add a drop or so of baby shampoo or dish detergent to act as a wetting agent.

Again, I can't say it actually helps, but it definitely doesn't seem to hurt.

[Dave Deane]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I thought that about the foliar feeding for orchids but I wasn't to sure. The leaves are just so different from the pumpkin leaves that I have normally used it on.

I have been using a regular orchid fertilizer and adding seaweed at the same time. I was just wondering what the ratio might be because the seaweed that I have came through a giant pumpkin group that buys it in bulk and then re-bottles it to sell at a discount to members. There are no actual directions to follow for any plants.

I use one ounce per gallon for pumpkins, but I imagine that is probably to much for the orchids. I've been using half an ounce per gallon(soaking the roots) every two weeks and have been seeing good results.

Just want to make sure that I am not over doing it with the seaweed.

Dave

[MrHappyRotter]

The benefits of seaweed extract are that it contains phyto nutrients that help stimulate root growth, and it contains a lot of micro nutrients that can sometimes be lacking in standard fertilizers.

I think most seaweed products I've used recommend feeding at 1 oz per gallon rate. As a general rule, I always use 1/8 to 1/4 recommended strength when feeding the orchids, so your 1/2 strength isn't too far out of line.

Seaweed extracts are classified as nutritional supplements, so generally, they aren't something you should use at each feeding. Personally, my routine is to feed weakly with every watering, meaning I mix in a small amount of fertilizer each time I water. I use my seaweed extract once or twice a month, so you also seem to be doing the right thing with your feeding frequency.

I will say, purely from anecdotal evidence, that once I started using seaweed extract, I noticed a significant improvement in root growth and root health, so I think it's a worthwhile supplement. I don't say this about every "snake oil" that hits the market, for instance, while I use Super Thrive periodically, I never noticed the improvement in growth that I've seen with seaweed extract.

Anyway, using the seaweed extract at 1/2 strength, twice a month like you mentioned should be fine. Again, you probably already know this, but seaweed is more of a supplement, so you'll still need to use a regular balanced fertilizer as well.

[ALToronto]

Fish/seaweed products vary greatly. Does the label or manufacturer's website list the N-P-K values for it? If they're all non-zero, then you can also use it as a fertilizer.

I use Neptune's Harvest, which is 2-3-1, and I mix it up to 20 ppm of Nitrogen, which amounts to 1 tsp per 2 litre jug. I use it once a week, the rest of the time I use K-Lite. Also, once a month I skip the fish and use K-Lite with a heavier dose of KelpMax (Ray's seaweed supplement).

[Dave Deane]

Thanks for the responses guys,

I believe the seaweed I have is from Neptunes Harvest - the 0-0-1, and the fish is separate and I'm not sure where it is from. Just waiting for a message back to confirm where both came from. I have been mixing the seaweed and fish once a month and apply to my orchids.

I have also used a regular orchid fertilizer (19-31-17 - Shultz orchid food)that I picked up from Home Depot from time to time.

So if I use the fish I shouldn't need to use a regular fertilizer?

Also, what do you use to add nitrogen?

Thanks for the help,



Dave

[Ben Belton]

I used Neptune's Harvest. The one with the fish and seaweed. I put a tablespoonful per gallon of water and watered my plants (mostly Phals) with it. They loved it. It sure does stink they place up. I don't think it is any better than just using MSU though.

I live in NC hot humid summers at the beginning and dry at the end.

[MrsH530]

This has been a really helpful discussion for me to read! Thanks for your expertise and advice, everyone! I have been wanting to make the jump to using seaweed because I am not pleased with the results of KLN, and this has totally convinced me to bite the bullet and get some in! Thanks!!

[Dave Deane]

I've been using the seaweed/fish on my orchids for about a year now. I was always kind of guessing at the proper amount that I should be using, and I was always trying not to over do it.

The results from last year to this year are very noticeable. Last year I had two plants spike and they both gave me 8 flowers each. This year those same two plants are just about to flower. Both with over 20 buds/flowers on each of them.

I don't know if it all because of the seaweed/fish or a variety of other things as well but I will definitely keep using both products.

Thanks for the help everyone,

Dave