Fertilizer

[tucker85]

Like Camille said the plant will use what it needs, it won't overdose on potassium. Any fertilizer is better than none. Use what you have until you can locate something better. If you can locate a fertilizer that gets most of it's nitrogen from nitrate, rather than urea or ammonium, it will be better for your orchids. Also your orchids need micronutrients so try to find a fertilizer that contains micronutrients. Those are usually referred to as complete fertilizers. If the package says to use 3g/L every two weeks I would recommend you use 1.5g/L once a week. In the middle of the summer I fertilize my vandas twice a week.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by jorgelascu

I need to know the name of 16-21-27 NPK fertilizer containing, for Vandas, because I can not get any

Don't worry about getting a specific name of a fertilizer. Look for a balanced fertilizer where the three numbers are close to the same (20-20-20 or 8-7-6). Also try to get a fertilizer that contain micronutrients. It should say so on the label.

[Ray]

Don't let knowledge (or mythology, in some cases) about nutrition in terrestrial plants "contaminate" your thinking about orchids. Sometimes the info applies, but in some cases, it doesn't.

For example, about 30 of us in about 20 US states and Canada, Norway, France, Holland, and Israel are experimenting with a new fertilizer dubbed "K-Lite".

K-Lite is 12-1-1-10Ca-5Mg, with all of the trace elements. Bill Argo, the guy who developed the "MSU" fertilizers, derived the formula from the MSU stuff for us.

This formula was created in response to recent studies suggesting that excessive potassium, whether applied-, obtained from- or accumulated in growing media, can have a negative impact on the health of plants, especially in the absence of adequate calcium and magnesium levels.

One of the lines of logic is that most epiphytes live in very potassium-poor environments (phosphorus as well, but plants don't need much P, anyway), so have lost their ability to manage the uptake. If the plant takes up too much, it can actually block the uptake of calcium and magnesium, and they are critical nutrients.

I've been using it exclusively for about 5 months so-far, and see no signs of deficiencies. In fact, they seem to be doing very well. Some are reporting better growth...

[jorgelascu]

Originally Posted by Ray

Don't let knowledge (or mythology, in some cases) about nutrition in terrestrial plants "contaminate" your thinking about orchids. Sometimes the info applies, but in some cases, it doesn't.

For example, about 30 of us in about 20 US states and Canada, Norway, France, Holland, and Israel are experimenting with a new fertilizer dubbed "K-Lite".

K-Lite is 12-1-1-10Ca-5Mg, with all of the trace elements. Bill Argo, the guy who developed the "MSU" fertilizers, derived the formula from the MSU stuff for us.

This formula was created in response to recent studies suggesting that excessive potassium, whether applied-, obtained from- or accumulated in growing media, can have a negative impact on the health of plants, especially in the absence of adequate calcium and magnesium levels.

One of the lines of logic is that most epiphytes live in very potassium-poor environments (phosphorus as well, but plants don't need much P, anyway), so have lost their ability to manage the uptake. If the plant takes up too much, it can actually block the uptake of calcium and magnesium, and they are critical nutrients.

I've been using it exclusively for about 5 months so-far, and see no signs of deficiencies. In fact, they seem to be doing very well. Some are reporting better growth...

I'm from Argentina, I want to know if the k-lite I can buy from internet? or marketed in South America

[Ray]

Originally Posted by jorgelascu

I'm from Argentina, I want to know if the k-lite I can buy from internet? or marketed in South America

Firstrays.com is the sole source. For places where shipping is costly, I seal two pounds of the powder in a plastic bag and use a small, flat rate box from the USPS.

[dries666]

Actually, here in Belgium u might be able to order some of Akerne's rain mix, it is a mix they created and perfectionned for themselves and they are now selling it for us too. u can see it on their site Akerne Orchids: Akerne's RAIN MIX ®

And i also think that the shipping costs from belgium could be alot less than from other parts of the world, u should inform urself on their site

greetz!!

[camille1585]

Akerne rain mix is actually the MSU fertilizer from what I've heard. But they only have the formulation for pure water, not for tap/well water.

[dries666]

And what would that mean if u use it with tap water in the long term?

[camille1585]

Good question, but I don't know.