S/H Phal seedlings - liquid fertiliser - how much?

[OzPhal]

Hey Everybody,

I'm new to S/H but to date am loving it! the root and leaf growth is just amazing, the vigour, colour and general appearance of the seedlings is amazing.

I have about 45 Phalaenopsis seedlings growing in 100% perlite with a light gravel covering. They're seedlings and i have seen new leaf and root growth. I just went out and purchased some liquid fertiliser it's made by "Growth Technology" here in Australia and is listed as containing the following:

Typical Analysis %w/v

Nitrogen 1.29
Phosphorous 0.31
Potassium 1.01
Calcium 1.00
Magnesium 0.40
Sulfate 0.15
Iron 0.031
Manganese 0.0095
Boron 0.0021
Zinc 0.0020
Copper 0.0010
Molybdenum 0.0005

Now firstly is that a pretty good mix? is there anything that i should supplement it with? secondly, how much should i apply? I have a reservoir that the pots sit in and that is permanently filled. Should i go with little continously and then flush every few weeks? or should i go with a dose, allow it to sit for a few days, then flush and fill with plain water? any thoughts/advice?

Kind regards

OzPhal

[MT-Phal]

Ray has said that the longer you wait to flush the resevoir, the more toxic it becomes since the pH changes and whatever waste the roots release get into it. So I think flushing often is the best way to go.

[Undergrounder]

Hey mate good to hear its going well! I am using the same fertiliser as you. I add in about 100ppm for seedlings (additional to the ppm of the tap water), but for plants straight out of flask i don't actually fertilise them at all for a few months.

If you don't have something to measure the ppm with, try giving them a dose which is half of the 'weak' recommendation they have on the carton. I can't remember what that is but that's about what i use.

I only need to flush the pots out about once every 4-6 months. And the reservoir gets cleaned at the same time.

Because the reservoir runs out every week or two your basically replacing the water fairly regularly anyway so i wouldn't be overly concerned about the buildup of 'toxins' or pH change.

Just be careful and don't introduce any non-flasked plants into the same reservoir because its possible to spread virus that way. I say possible, because i haven't seen it happen yet, but people who have never tried it in their lives keep telling me its bound to happen (?). But definitely be mindful of what you put in the reservoir and don't cross-contaminate with dirty blades just to be sure.

P.S. good luck on the weekend! Your a braver man than I.

[Ray]

I fertilizer everything at 125 ppm N (and the rest follows along). If you divide 13 by the %N on the label, the result is the milliliters to make up a liter of solution.

Than looks like a reasonable balance, but hoo-boy!, did you pay for a lot of water!