Fertilizers, Pesticides, which one how often?
 

Hi Friends,

I'm new to orchids and have a separate post a couple of days back titled 'Phalaenopsis Help for an amateur'.

Now I've got 2 orchids, the phal above which is barely surviving as well as a newer dendrobrium which seems to be thriving from my gradual increase in knowledge about orchid care.

I have some questions and would be grateful if some light would be shed on my ignorance:

1) What is the difference between orchid pesticide, fertilizers and this thing which I bought yesterday in a bid to save my dying Phal? (refer to pic - fert 1 & 2)

2) How often do I use them?
is it advisable to zap a few sprays of my (environmentally friendly) pesticide at the base of my dendrobium every few days should i see those really tiny mites appear? I saw a couple of them recently.

3) This growth hormone supplement - is it even mean to be used on healthy plants? How does it differ from fertilizers?

4) What would be a recommended schedule for fertilizing orchids? I'm watering my dendro about every 5 days. It's one of those small to medium sized ones that sit on your table.


Thank you for the help that's coming in. :biggrin:

best regards,

Milan360

Move your dendrobium away from you Phal that is sick. I would also treat you dendrobium now for spider mites.

Orchid pesticides, kills bugs on your plants.

Orchid fertilizers, feed your plants plant food. I do weak weekly feedings. Meaning I use half the strength of the fertilizer so its a weaker form. An I also use it weekly. For 3 weeks out of the month then the 4th week I flush with just water no fertilizer at all that week. This washes away any salts that is left behind on the pot or the roots of you orchid.

Your growth hormone supplement you purchased I don't know what that is. Since your in another country I would ask around there. Or call the supplier. They can tell you how to use it correctly.

Here were I live there are hormone powders that produce new roots or shoots and even kaki's which are new baby orchids. There are gels, paste and powders. Which one you use all depends on what you are trying to do with it as a result.

If you have mites, use an acaricide that will kill the damn things. Don't mess about. Only use a pesticide if you have a problem.
Fertiliser? It's best to use a really weak solution every time you water. As for your Den, some need a winter rest, some don't. Best to work out what it is.

Go to Ray's site (Google First Rays) and read up on his info pages.

With the numbers...makes me think it's a fertilizer. It might also have additional ingredients to promote growth/root growth. But I'm in a different country so maybe I'm wrong, however if it does contain fertilizer, I wouldn't have use it with any other fertilizer.


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The stuff in the photos is a fertilizer with a 21-21-21 formula. For weekly feeding, I would recommend no more than 1/4 teaspoon per gallon (or roughly 0.33 ml/L).