vanda spike stops growing

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by hanzy08

That is really frustrating! I hope mine doesn't dry up... Do you ever consider that it might be the pesticide you are spraying on it?

I sure its not the insecticide i'm spraying because I have used it before and I have lots more orchids and they flower freely. Plus I dont spray often at all, only when its a change of season when I know pests a prevalent.
Hence why its particularly frustrating.

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

I sure its not the insecticide i'm spraying because I have used it before and I have lots more orchids and they flower freely. Plus I dont spray often at all, only when its a change of season when I know pests a prevalent.
Hence why its particularly frustrating.

I see.. Im pretty new to vandas and im still trying to get to know them. I found out they require more of everything but once they bloom, they are really spectacular and even non orchid people turn their heads and ask what kind of plant it is. Hope yours finally bloom after all the work you put on it.

[BradGC]

I guess that "kelpmax" is a seaweed extract.
I've heard that seaweed fertilizers are more of a root growth hormone than an "npk" based fertilizer.
I don't know the product so I'm just taking a guess. The seaweed extract that I sometimes use doesn't actually have a npk rating on the bottle.
If yours is a hormone, it will "tell" the plant to grow roots instead of flowers.
You can try slowing down on the seaweed and giving your browser plants a boost of higher potassium and phosphorus fertilizer.

This is only a guess because I don't know the levels of your fertilizer

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by BradGC

I guess that "kelpmax" is a seaweed extract.
I've heard that seaweed fertilizers are more of a root growth hormone than an "npk" based fertilizer.
I don't know the product so I'm just taking a guess. The seaweed extract that I sometimes use doesn't actually have a npk rating on the bottle.
If yours is a hormone, it will "tell" the plant to grow roots instead of flowers.
You can try slowing down on the seaweed and giving your browser plants a boost of higher potassium and phosphorus fertilizer.

This is only a guess because I don't know the levels of your fertilizer

I also feed my plants every watering of regular fertilizer in dilute proportions. I only use kelp max every other week. I also think that the energy is diverted to making roots instead of continuing the spike. I am thinking of cutting back on kelp max actually...

[BradGC]

Yes I think you're right.
From what I understand about seaweed extract, it's basically telling the plant to grow roots but isn't actually giving them the energy to do so, but they might add nitrogen to do that. It's great fit vegetative growth but can inhibit flowering