Look what i found.

[bodaciousbonsai]

I have bought alot of orchids from japan & china, all the growers told me they do not fertilize their orchids at all, That being never. I believe if you have the proper medium that the orchid species thrives in. That will give the plant all the micro & macro nutrients it needs inorder to thrive. flora and fauna have alot to do with this niche of the complex order of life.

[rogerman]

I plant my dendrobium's and cattleya in a coconut block made from coconut husk.... My plants need very little fertilizing..... I'm more worried about how much sun they get.... I'm going to have to put an extra layer of shade cloth over my shade house.

[Ray]

The idea of a "bloom booster" was tied to extra phosphorus by marketers of fertilizer many years ago.

Back then, bark was pretty much the basis of all potting media formulations, and it was noted that over time, plants grew less-strongly. Scientific work determined that the microorganisms that consume the wood as it decomposed also consume a lot of nitrogen. That led to the development of high-nitrogen fertilizers like Mir-Acid (30-10-10), developed by Dr. O. Wesley Davidson of Rutgers U., to compensate. Unfortunately, it was found that the use of high-nitrogen fertilizers also led to a reduction in blooming.

The fertilizer manufacturers then added inexpensive phosphorus compounds in order to dilute the nitrogen, bringing it back to a reasonable level. That's where the marketing folks got involved, which led to the recommended regimen of feeding the high-nitrogen blend during the "growth phase" of a plant, then switching to a "bloom booster" well in advance of the plant's blooming period (i.e., "undoing" the nutritional overloading of nitrogen).

Keep in mind that back when a lot of this was being studied, most cultivated orchids were cattleyas and cymbidiums for the cut-flower industry, so the timing of blooming was reasonably fixed - especially compared to the variability of today's complex hybrids and much broader selection of genera - so such a treatment was a viable option, and the "booster" hype was an easy sell.

A few years ago, Dr. Bill Argo challenged the booster myth and the associated feeding regimen, so did some digging into the specific nutritional needs of orchids, and developed a formula that could be used at all times and would completely satisfy the needs of the plants. He did some testing with the assistance of folks at his alma mater, Michigan State University, and that formula is now marketed as the "MSU Fertilizer" for pure water.

My own experience with it (every watering for the last 5 years) backs that up.

I have compiled a bit more in this arena on my website: Plant Boosters

[rogerman]

I agree with what you have said. I myself feed my plants water out of my fish pond and my plants have responded well to it.
I have no access to this miracle fertilizer...... I hadn't even heard of it before i saw the article. I only put this thread up for discussion..... maybe i did put it in the wrong board though and i'm sorry for that.

[flhiker]

Thanks Ray, That's why I use your fertilizer.

Hey Rogerman, no need to feel sorry. Your post did generate a discussion and I have learned because of it. Thanks
Maybe someone knows where you may get it!!

[texdave]

I tracked the article to a website given below. It's a mail order orchid sales operation.

[texdave]

I tracked the article to a website given below. It's a mail order orchid sales operation.

Camp Lot A Noise Online Greenhouse has orchid species, hybrid orchids, orchid care info, orchid supplies, flasking service and photos of orchids.

[rogerman]

Thats where i got that from. I would never buy from a mail order place because theres more than enough stuff here. Secondly, it was only up for discussion.

[texdave]

I tracked the article to a website given below. It's a mail order orchid sales operation.

[rogerman]

you've already said that bye bye