Fertilizer

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by Ray

By law (and, in my opinion, as a matter of honesty), fertilizer labels must give the concentration of the ingredients contained.

In the case of MSU RO formula, the powder is 13-5-15, meaning 13% nitrogen by weight, 5% Phosphorus as P2O5, and 15% potassium as K2O.

My understanding is that the folks at RepotMe dissolve one pound of that powder in water to make up a gallon of solution for their liquids, but they still label it as being a 13-5-15 formula. In reality, what your getting from them is only roughly 10% of that, making it a 1.3-0.5-1.5 formula.

Thanks for explaining that. I'm using the MSU powder, which I happened to buy from them. Of course, all of us would be dissolving it in a certain amount of water before feeding it; but that said, if a vendor is going to dilute it for you first, it would seem appropriate that they advertise the diluted strengths.

I've purchased from a few different vendors over the past few years, and I find it's always wise to shop around and do your homework. I have not yet found just one that fits all my needs.

[Ray]

It's stories like these that make me sad I downsized First Rays...

[Chris17]

I use Roberts Flower Supply (orchidmix.com)

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by MT-Phal

Hey All,

I just noticed that Ray no longer has fertilizer on his site. Can someone point me of where I can order some good fertilizer online or buy locally in Los Angeles? I had been using the MSU mix and I think my plan has been doing pretty well on it.

Any tips appreciated. Thank you.

Sunset Valley Orchids in Vista, CA carries it. They also go to essentially all the LA/Orange county shows, so you should be able to pick some up without paying for shipping, or driving very far.Or you could to down there for their Open House http://fascinationoforchids.com/2017/svo.gif

[greenpassion]

Question for Ray. I use the MSU granular formula for well water, from Repot Me. Do they mislabel that as well as the liquid form? I have to say since I switched from Dyna Gro to the MSU, all my orchids have exploded with growth, and I'm having the best bloom ever. I went with the MSU formula from your advice, but I wasn't aware that it could differ from vendor to vendor....

---------- Post added at 07:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:40 PM ----------

Hmmm. I just compared the amount per gallon on Kellys Korner's site and Repot ME's site. Kelly's says (this is for MSU granular for well water) to use 1 tsp per gallon. Repot Me says 1/2 a tsp. ???

---------- Post added at 07:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:48 PM ----------

I also compared the micronutrients, and the one from Repot Me has higher micros than Kelly's.

---------- Post added at 08:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:56 PM ----------

I stand corrected. The MSU micronutrients from Kelly's is higher in zinc and copper, but a bit lower in iron, Boron, and Molybdenum. Not sure if this is good or bad. I'm in the dark about this stuff, but I totally trust Ray's opinion.

[Ray]

Thank you for the vote of confidence. Trust me on this one: You are overthinking it.

Fertilizer is probably the least important aspect of orchid culture, and the percentages of minors in a formula doesn't even show up on the radar. Pick a complete fertilizer formula, make sure your plants are getting nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium - they need very little of those - and all of the rest of the minerals will be adequate.

Feed a very small amount of fertilizer consistently (I prefer every watering, so I won't forget), and forget about it, focusing on everything else.

For a plant to gain a pound of mass - a year or two for large plants, a lifetime for small, Andean species - the plant must absorb and process about 25 gallons of water, and only about 5 grams of fertilizer nutrients.

[fooferdoggie]

I have been misting mine with fertilizer. but I am wondering would it be better to dip them instead so it gets under the moss? this is how mine are mounted.

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[greenpassion]

Thanks Ray. It's good to know that I'm over thinking something rather than under thinking something

[bil]

Originally Posted by fooferdoggie

I have been misting mine with fertilizer. but I am wondering would it be better to dip them instead so it gets under the moss? this is how mine are mounted.

What I do with small mounts is, I spray them all over, and when I get to the end, I go back and spray them for a second time.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by fooferdoggie

I have been misting mine with fertilizer. but I am wondering would it be better to dip them instead so it gets under the moss? this is how mine are mounted.

Orchids, in general, are not particularly good about picking up most nutrients by the foliar route. You certainly can spray them, as bil suggested. Just make sure the roots are wetted when you do.