Use of Chemicals to improve growth
 

I'm new to the forum and don't see where I can start a new thread so I'm just jumping in here under chemicals. I followed a posted link about using minerals to help propagate. Here's the site BM-1 TERRESTRIAL ORCHID MEDIUM - Orchid Culture - B138 My method of buying orchids is to get the spent ones from an Oriental market and repot and hope for surprises. Usually we have the run of the mill paphs in the supermarket. Other than that, I troll the plant store on the day of new shipments and will buy what catches my eye. My conditions are not optimum as we have very cold winters in Ontario and grey skies for months. So the hanging plants in my glass room are not in a steam bath but at 60 degrees at night 68 degrees day with 55 percent humidity. I would like to use some of the grow better ingredients to improve new growth. Can people take up a discussion around how they feed their plants using any products to improve success.

Hi ormondsview,

I have created a new thread for you as that way it should be seen better. To start a new thread, just go to the sub-forum you want to post in and there should be a 'New Thread' button near the top. Just press that to create one.

I'm afraid I'm just a simple grower. I fertilise with a balanced fertiliser and that's it. Seems to work well for me and I've so far not seen the need for anything else.

You could make a post under "break the ice" (at the very top section of the forum). and introduce yourself to all 16,000 of us. To make a new post go to the forum page, choose the subject you want to post under, go in to it and right at the top, is the new thread button. Hope that help alittle. Can't help with your question I use standard products as well. Liquid seaweed, superthrive, and fish emulsion. They all work great. Welcome to the Orchid Board.

Well I hope someone jumps in soon with some answers for you, in the mean time welcome to the Board and Seasons Greetings!!!

Welcome to the board!

In my opinion, there is nothing one can add to boost a plant's natural performance.

Maximum growth and flowering occurs in a plant that is completely happy - correct light levels, temperatures, humidity, lots of air to the roots, and adequate water and nutrition. In other words, a stress-free environment. Increasing any of those parameters does nothing positive.

"Booster" chemicals don't. They might reduce or eliminate something that inhibits the plant, but they cannot "add" to the plant's natural capabilities.

I also contend that fertilizer is of "second tier" importance - it may affect how well a plant grows (captive cultured plants are usually better than ones in the wild), but it is not a "life or death" requirement. A poorly fed plant may not grow or bloom well, but one that is poorly watered or that does not get adequate gas exchange at the root system can die.

As you do a lot of "rescuing", one thing I can vouch for is under-pot heating (thanks to Ross for "turning me on" to this).

This is not anything new or spectacular, as the use of bottom heat is a long-standing method of getting seeds to germinate quickly, but by putting a plant on such a mat and heating the root zone, the plant is "pushed" into active growth as if the season had changed. it is an excellent way to get new roots to grow, and will help "break dormancy" in some, as well.

I have started to play around with some plant growth regulators. Mostly to get cyclamen seed to germinate. You can’t just put these chemicals on the plant and expect to have Audrey from The Little Shop of Horrors the next day. If too much or too little is used then the wrong thing will happen or for many of the hormones if it is not the right time then not much will happen. On top of this if a plant is sick then forcing the plant to grow can cause extra stress. One time I had an Oncidium that had gotten root rot so then I applied a concoction of root stimulators, well I got roots there was a solid mass of roots but nothing else the plant died in a very short time. I would agree with Ray that if you want to nurse a plant back to health then proper heat, light, and water are the best bet.