Fertilizing Phalaenopsis
 

Hello all.


I just posted this very same question in the Catt and Vanda forums. I think at this point in the hobby, I need to start tailoring and refining my culture conditions for each type of orchid that I have so that I can hopefully achieve better results (I've gotten over the "I can't believe it's still alive stage, I think, and I'm ready to step it up, so to speak. LOL)

Anyway, I wanted to know what ratio of fertilizer you use and what your growing conditions are? I've read online and on the OB people using different levels/ratios of fertilizers, but what are the optimum fertilizer levels for phals? I've read on First Rays that fertilizing may also depend on the growing conditions of the plants, and that a University greenhouse fertilizes at 250ppm at every feeding.

I just purchased MSU 19-4-23 from First Rays and for 250ppm it would be 1 tsp. per gallon at this ratio.


What fertilizer do you use and what is the ratio? What are your growing conditions?

Most of my phals are outside in hot and humid south florida.

I grow in a g/h, zone 6. I use 1/4 t. per gallon of MSU for pure with 4-6 drops of SuperThrive for the winter months and switch to 1/2 t. with ST for the spring/summer months. It is the same routine whether they are potted or mounted. I flush about once a month.

Brooke

You only want 125ppm N to grow your orchids. 250ppm N is waisting fertilizer. I also use the MSU fertilizer and have tried it at differant rates but find that the 125ppm works best.

Jayme

I use MSU that I got at repotme.com in the liquid form. I use 1 oz. per gallon (as directed). Honestly, I really don't notice a difference from the generic orchid fertilizer you can get in Home Depot. I use every other watering.

I use 125ppm N of whatever fertilizer I happen to be using, at every single watering (I flush out the pots once a month too). The orchids bloom and grow very well. 125ppm N works just fine for all my orchids (except the masdie which gets much less(90) and the cyms which gets a bit more (150)

Keep in mind that 250ppm N is for commercial growers in their optimized growing conditions. Everything they do is to have super fast growth, and the plants need more food. We need a few years to get a seedling phal to bloom. The factory growers only need a bit over a year. Also, you don't know the frequency of the application. In the past, it was thought best to fertilize strongly and rarely (like once a month) but it seems that now, weakly weekly is better.

I grow under lights in my basement. I use MSU also, but I rotate it with Neptune's Harvest Fish and Seaweed. Smells awful, but my plants are nuts for it. I also use a small amount of Superthrive on occasion.

I may be claassed as a commercial grower....though not a big one yet.
I use 21-21-21+te weekly. I mix two teaspoons fert. to 4 gallons and that goes for all plants....They seem to be doing well with no side affects whatsoever.