Hydroponic fertilizers....

[tucker85]

I agree with you. I just bought some Floranova and guy at the hydroponics place says it's one of the top nutrients that they sell. The lable specifically mentions how much to use on orchids. Thanks for the help.

[orchids3]

Tucker,
Could you post the NPK and micronutrient content of
floranova? Is it on the package? Any good fertilizer should have such a list of its composition. Many commercial fertilizers do not list composition because the ratios are not strictly maintained. If not strictly controlled then the company cannot list them. Some packages may grow your plants well and others may kill them. To me its more important to know and understand whats in the fertilizer than to have a for Orchids lable on the package.

[tucker85]

Floranova grow is a 7-4-10 with magnesium 1.5%, calcium 4%, sulfur, boron, chlorine, cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc. I'm not recommending it I just plan to experiment with it a little. I'll let you know the results.

FLORANOVA™ SERIES
Liquid Super Concentrated Nutrient

• The marriage of hydroponic & organic gardening methods.
• Extremely easy to use.
• Outstanding for all plant types.
• Superb for Hydroponic, Soil-less, and Soil Cultivation.
• Super Concentrated and pH Stabilized.
• Optimum nutrient absorption is aided by Natural Humic Extracts.

FloraNova represents a breakthrough in fertilizer technology, as it gives users both the strength of a dry concentrate and the ease of a liquid. This unique formulation of highly purified minerals and natural additives combines the benefits of hydroponic as well as organic gardening methods. FloraNova, one part formulation, combines all the elements required for hydroponic cultivation, plus it is extremely concentrated. A very small amount of FloraNova mixed with fresh water will provide your plants with proper nutrition. FloraNova works superbly in hydroponic environments, as well as with both soil-less mixtures and soil grown plants.

Remember that due to its high concentration, FloraNova must be shaken vigorously before each use!

[orchids3]

Does it say wheather the Nitrogen source is Urea,
Nitrate or Ammoniate? It is my understanding that the Calcium ratio to Magnesium ration is best at 5 to 1 with 5 being the Calcium. One of the local professors recently gave a talk that addressed Micronutrient toxcisity so its nice that the micros are there but be careful! If it were my collection I would do a scientific study before I got carried away with it. Would like to know how you make out.

[tucker85]

Thanks for the concern. I'm not going to get carried away with this I'm just trying it out. I've used many different fertilizers over the years and to tell you the truth they all perform about the same so far. Floranova has no urea. 0.9% Ammociacal Nitrate and 6.1% Nitrate Nitrogen. By the way what fertilizer do you use and how do you like it?

[Ray]

"Hydroponic fertilizers" differ from "regular" ones in that they provide supplemental nutrients that terrestrial plants would ordinarily get from SOIL.

As we mostly don't grow in soil, one might say that ANY orchid fertilizer is a hydroponic fertilizer.

[bnegrete]

Hey everyone!

From "General Hydroponics" has anyone used the MaxiGrow (10-5-14) or MaxiBloom (5-15-14)? I think they're meant for general purposes but I'm having a hard time finding specific orchid supplements in Mexico City, these can be shipped to me.
Thanks!

[rick84]

Ray is right everyone. Hydroponic fertilizers are not the same as fertilizers for soil plants. Traditionally in a hydroponic system sterility is key so Nutrient origin is mainly synthetic. Organic sourced nutrition or additives to hydroponic fertilizer rely on microflora to breakdown unavailable componds. Without complete knowledge in organic hydro, the plants are most likely to have root problems from pathogenic microbes due to the lack or underpopulated beneficial microbes and oxygen. Plus in time nutrient deficiencies. As we all know plants have a need for primary nutrients N-P-K, secondary nutrients Ca-Mg, and micronutrients/ trace minerals. The purity, availability and amount that is water soluable are very important in choosing a fertilizer.

In an organic system there microbes (bacteria) that break down the organic and convert to nitrogen. But before turning into nitrate (what plants use) it is first converted into nitrite and is toxic to plants and will eventually kill them. The "organic" in anything will rely on a diverse microflora population to properly work. Some attack others that are bad (and good) and others work symbiotically. Do your research first to be successful.

In a hydroponic system plants are without a natural buffer (soil) so the water is now that buffer. Nutrients also have to be immediately available when the plants need them. These two main factors of purity and PH coincide with each other as nutrient availability is dependent on PH. Like I mentioned above plants have a N-P-K need and we want the purest minerals for them while fulfilling there needs.

Potassium Nitrate it covers-- N and K
Calcium Nitrate is covers-- Ca and N
Magnessium Nitrate it covers-- Mg and N
Mono Potassium Phosphate covers-- P and K
Magnessium Sulfate (Epsom salts) covers Mg and Su

We have all primary and secondary right here. Now we need micro/trace nutrients. They are not all the same only the one that are chelated (key-lated) are acceptable for use in hydroponics. Those nutrients in concentrations of ≤ 100 parts per million (ppm) in plant tissues are described as micronutrients and include iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), boron (B), chlorine (Cl), molybdenum (Mo), and nickel (Ni). Micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu are easily oxidized or precipitated in soil, and their utilization is, therefore, not very efficient. Chelated fertilizers have been developed to increase micronutrient utilization efficiency. The word chelate is derived from the Greek word chelé, which refers to a lobster's claw. Hence, chelate refers to the pincer-like manner in which a metal nutrient ion is encircled by the larger organic molecule (the claw), usually called a ligand or chelator. Each of the listed ligands, when combined with a micronutrient, can form a chelated fertilizer. Chelated micronutrients are protected from oxidation, precipitation, and immobilization in certain conditions because the organic molecule (the ligand) can combine and form a ring encircling the micronutrient. The pincer-like manner in which the micronutrient is bonded to the ligand changes the micronutrient's surface property and favors the uptake efficiency of foliarly applied micronutrients.

If you are still set on an organic approach to you orchids I would suggest Humic and folvic acids foliar feed with microbe inoculation and a tad bit of molasses to stimulate the microbes to activate. Soluble humate powder acts a natural soil and plant growth stimulant. It is a dark black powder with an 80-86% humic acid content. It is easily assimilated by plants and some of its main functions include improving plant immunity, improving plant metabolism, improving plant root development, improving the supply of plant nutritional elements and increasing the formation of ferments.

Humic Acid promotes the increased accumulation of chlorophyll, sugar, amino acids and more and improves the efficiency of nitrogen utilization, allowing for reduced fertilizer rates. One of the primary actions of Humic Acid is to increase the plant’s ability to withstand the stresses of heat, drought, cold, disease, insect and other types of environmental or cultural pressures. Humic also increases general plant productivity, in terms of yield, as well as plant stem strength. Within the soil, humic stimulates soil microorganisms, promoting Humus.

[rick84]

LOL- I suppose nobody cares enough about the understanding fertilizers. Trial and error here huh. If the bottle's label says "for orchids" that's good enough I guess, just as long as there is no urea. Im sorry, I just find that very comical.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by rick84

LOL- I suppose nobody cares enough about the understanding fertilizers. Trial and error here huh. If the bottle's label says "for orchids" that's good enough I guess, just as long as there is no urea. Im sorry, I just find that very comical.

I disagree. Just go over to Slippertalk.com and do some searching, or do that here. There are a lot of us that are studying/researching fertilizers, although I think that the formula is likely the "fine tuning" part of the process, with frequency and concentration being far more important.



Ray Barkalow
Sent using Tapatalk