2 fertilizer questions: probiotics and IBA
 

1: I received a new (to me) fertilizer for Christmas and it includes several different ecto and Endo mycorrhizae as well as probiotics, humic acid on top of being 5-5-5. I've read several posts regarding the probiotics and mycorrhizae but have no idea about the concentration I should dilute this to if I use on orchids. Picks included of label.

2: also received a root stimulator that is 0.0004% I3B and 4-10-3. Should this be weakened based on the I3B or the fertilizer content for use on orchids? I have only phals at this point.

Thanks in advance!

1) the mycorrhizae are of little value, as orchids have VERY specific relationships, and there I see a near-zero chance the ones in that formula are appropriate.

2) the nitrogen is from insoluble sources, so of almost no value to orchids.

3) it appears to be a great product for fortifying SOIL. save it for your landscape plants and veggies.

Can't help with the other product. What's I3B?

Thanks for the response Ray! I'll use it in the flower bed this spring😉. Sorry for the I3B abbreviation; I thought I had seen it used before. It's indole-3-butyric acid 0.0004%.

From what I can see of the first label, it is meant to he used as a top dressing. Epiphytic orchids wouldn't like that. I could imagine it helping terrestrial orchids if some of those organisms broke down organic matter in the soil and released nutrients.

Wash your hands after using those. Bacillus cereus causes lethal food poisoning if it grows in human food. Its natural environment is growing on decaying organic matter and grains.

The second product also looks to me like a top dressing or soil amendment.

Thanks for the heads up on the bacillus Estación. I'll snap a picture of the root stimulator when I get home from work this morning. It's already in solution and dilution directions are for houseplants... Brand name escapes me at the moment. I wouldn't be interested in using it except I have a rescue phal that decided to abort growing roots when they were only 1/2 to 1 inch long.

I thinks that's more commonly called "IBA"

When Phal roots stop growing at that length, it's usually some combination of root tip being damaged, they aren't getting wet often enough, or the humidity is very low.

The plant moving in the pot can cause the first. It's recommended orchids be staked securely after repotting so they don't wiggle, which can damage root tips.

I've adjusted the thread title to IBA... Thanks for the clarification Ray! But to my question, should I dilute based on the fertilizer numbers 4-10-3, or the IBA concentration of 0.0004%?

Estación: it just had the stubby root when I received it so I did stake it on an inverted clay pot with sphag around the base of the plant. Humidity has been fairly stable between 55 and 60 percent and temperature doesn't drop below 65f. Once/if new roots begin to grow I'm thinking it might be a good candidate for mounting. Any advice is always appreciated!

On a side note it is amazing to me that the roots are so sensitive to mechanical damage. You'd think in the wild anything from animals stepping on them to pieces of tree or bark falling would make it very tough to grow. Sorry for the long post!

All Phals do well mounted, if you can water every day.

In the wild conditions are pretty good, and they grow fast. There are a lot more roots for animals to step on.

Lol! Point taken on the wild!