What do you use to fertilize your Neos?

[LinhT]

I order the Biogold from an online bonsai supply store but I can't remember the name. The HB-101 I purchased on ebay. I don't use them simultaneously, though. I grind up the Biogold pellets with a mortar and pestle, then add it to the water. The plants are watered with this mixture about every 3 to 4 weeks (basically, when I remember). The HB-101 is a liquid. I put about 10 drops per gallon of water and water the plants with this about once a week, on the weeks I do not use the Biogold.

Glenn at NWO uses the Biogold pellets on the plants at his nursery. and Satomi from SE suggested the HB-101 to me. At OL, they just use their brand of fertilizer called Green Jungle.

[coffeecup]

Thanks Tracy, this is very helpful!

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by LinhT

I order the Biogold from an online bonsai supply store but I can't remember the name. The HB-101 I purchased on ebay. I don't use them simultaneously, though. I grind up the Biogold pellets with a mortar and pestle, then add it to the water. The plants are watered with this mixture about every 3 to 4 weeks (basically, when I remember). The HB-101 is a liquid. I put about 10 drops per gallon of water and water the plants with this about once a week, on the weeks I do not use the Biogold.

Glenn at NWO uses the Biogold pellets on the plants at his nursery. and Satomi from SE suggested the HB-101 to me. At OL, they just use their brand of fertilizer called Green Jungle.

Tracy, what kind of dilution do you use for the HB-101 and do you also use it as a foliar application or just in the medium? Looking at their websites, the dilution recommended varies depending on type of plant between 1/1000 and 1/10,000.

How to Use HB-101 | HB-101 Plant Vitalizer

HB-101 / HB-101 WEBSITE | Flora Co.,Ltd

HB-101 Ingredients / HB-101 WEBSITE | Flora Co.,Ltd

I see that their USA website also offers a free sample.

Also searching the web a find several seemingly unrelated fertilizers (and fish foods) named BioGold. Is it the BioGold original from dallasbonsaigarden on ebay perhaps?

Biogold Original Organic Bonsai Fertilizer 900gram Package F127 | eBay

I also found the Japanese manufacturer's website:

Welcome to Biogold Web!! organic fertilizer ::: What is Biogold? :::

[Skayc1]

I use Better-Gro orchid plus, it's not 20-20-20 though, It's only 20-14-13 None of my Orchids are in bloom right now, 1 phal I was given last July, It bloomed till december & is having a bit of a rest. the other three are rescues I got on the 10th, They need more root growth. My first one came in orchid bark, I'm getting ready to replant it, in a mixture of Leca & bark, I'm also looking for one size bigger pot, as the roots are coming out the bottom of the tray. I'm learning so much on this site! With my first orchid It was a just add Ice, and I didn't know better, now I do, I'll be giving them a soak with distilled water with a weak amount of the fertilizer. & will set up a humidity tray. plus two of the rescues may be put in bags as well...

[Jayfar]

Hi Skayc1. I don't want to be a nag, but just as a helpful FYI, the forum within the orchidboard that you posted to is Orchid Board > ORCHID ALLIANCES > Vanda Alliance - Neofinetia, in other words discussions specific to the Japanese species Neofinetia falcata. You may want to look for threads under other sections of the board that are more relevant to Phals or orchids generally. On the other hand, you certainly are welcome to peruse and post to this section and learn about a whole other addictive subculture among orchid growers (of course many of us also grow Phals and others as well). I was growing Phals almost exclusively until I got hooked into the Neo scene a few months ago.

Originally Posted by Skayc1

I use Better-Gro orchid plus, it's not 20-20-20 though, It's only 20-14-13 None of my Orchids are in bloom right now, 1 phal I was given last July, It bloomed till december & is having a bit of a rest. the other three are rescues I got on the 10th, They need more root growth. My first one came in orchid bark, I'm getting ready to replant it, in a mixture of Leca & bark, I'm also looking for one size bigger pot, as the roots are coming out the bottom of the tray. I'm learning so much on this site! With my first orchid It was a just add Ice, and I didn't know better, now I do, I'll be giving them a soak with distilled water with a weak amount of the fertilizer. & will set up a humidity tray. plus two of the rescues may be put in bags as well...

[Skayc1]

sorry, I'm new to this site & only looked at the title of the thread.

[coffeecup]

Originally Posted by Skayc1

sorry, I'm new to this site & only looked at the title of the thread.

No worries! Just be forewarned, if you hang out in the Neo threads, you'll get hooked to these little plants! Welcome!

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Tracy, what kind of dilution do you use for the HB-101 and do you also use it as a foliar application or just in the medium? Looking at their websites, the dilution recommended varies depending on type of plant between 1/1000 and 1/10,000.

How to Use HB-101 | HB-101 Plant Vitalizer

HB-101 / HB-101 WEBSITE | Flora Co.,Ltd

HB-101 Ingredients / HB-101 WEBSITE | Flora Co.,Ltd

I see that their USA website also offers a free sample.

Also searching the web a find several seemingly unrelated fertilizers (and fish foods) named BioGold. Is it the BioGold original from dallasbonsaigarden on ebay perhaps?

Biogold Original Organic Bonsai Fertilizer 900gram Package F127 | eBay

I also found the Japanese manufacturer's website:

Welcome to Biogold Web!! organic fertilizer ::: What is Biogold? :::

I'm not sure of the dilution ratio but I use 10 drops of HB 101 in 1 gallon of water when they begin growth in the Spring. As the temps get even warmer and they grow like nuts, I use 20 drops of HB 101 per gallon of water. I use this solution to completely water through the plants.

It is the Biogold from Dallas Bonsai. You may want to just start with some HB-101 first and see how your plants respond, since both products are pretty expensive.

I've been a lot better about using the HB 101 regularly this season. Since I almost lost my entire collection last fall, I've been taking better care of my Japanese minis this year. I don't know if it is the shock from last year's frost or the more regular usage of HB-101 but in terms of new growth, roots and spikes overall, this is my best season so far. Many of my plants don't look as nice as they use to due to the frost damage but the growth is noticeably greater this season. I don't know if I would buy more Biogold but I did fork out the $90 some dollars this Spring for more HB-101. I think it's worth it. I don't want to give the false impression that this is some kind of holy plant liquid. It seems to have helped my plants take up water and nutrients better. Everyone's growing conditions may be different though, so stick to what works for you. To any new growers who are having problems with neos, fertilizer is probably the last thing you have to worry about. If your plant is stressed for whatever reason, you may want to look at other growing factors first. Unfortunately, no fertilizer or "revitalizer" will recover a stressed neo. Hope this helps.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by LinhT

I'm not sure of the dilution ratio but I use 10 drops of HB 101 in 1 gallon of water when they begin growth in the Spring. As the temps get even warmer and they grow like nuts, I use 20 drops of HB 101 per gallon of water. I use this solution to completely water through the plants.

It is the Biogold from Dallas Bonsai. You may want to just start with some HB-101 first and see how your plants respond, since both products are pretty expensive.

I've been a lot better about using the HB 101 regularly this season. Since I almost lost my entire collection last fall, I've been taking better care of my Japanese minis this year. I don't know if it is the shock from last year's frost or the more regular usage of HB-101 but in terms of new growth, roots and spikes overall, this is my best season so far. Many of my plants don't look as nice as they use to due to the frost damage but the growth is noticeably greater this season. I don't know if I would buy more Biogold but I did fork out the $90 some dollars this Spring for more HB-101. I think it's worth it. I don't want to give the false impression that this is some kind of holy plant liquid. It seems to have helped my plants take up water and nutrients better. Everyone's growing conditions may be different though, so stick to what works for you. To any new growers who are having problems with neos, fertilizer is probably the last thing you have to worry about. If your plant is stressed for whatever reason, you may want to look at other growing factors first. Unfortunately, no fertilizer or "revitalizer" will recover a stressed neo. Hope this helps.

Thanks, Tracy, that's a great help. I think I'm going to try the HB-101; I have the free sample on the way, which I imagine is probably a minuscule amount.

As for the Biogold Original, the ebay seller has info on the formulation, while, oddly, I couldn't find any such information at all on the manufacturer's site. It has, some, but not all of the standard micro-nutrients, so I think I'll stick with my regular ferts (MSU and K-Lite, mixed or alternated), Cal-Mag, KelpMax (every few weeks) and whatnot. Usually, I just take the leftover fertilizer solution from doing my Phals and cut it to half strength.

Biogold Original
Major Fertilizer Elements
Nitrogen N 5.5% of total weight
Phosphorus: P 6% of total weight
Potassium K 3% of total weight
Minor Elements
Iron Fe .12%
Copper Cu 50mg/kg
Molybdenum Mo 27 mg/kg
Sulfur S .5%

A NPK formula of 5.5/6.5/3.5.

[coffeecup]

Where are you guys getting HB-101?