fertilizer-2 questions

[VickiC]

Hi,
Sometime back, I began watering weakly-weekly using "Dyna-Gro Liquid Grow 7-9-5 plant food" mixed with water from our home carbon block water filtration system but now I have switched to distilled water. Ray tells me that I cannot continue to use this fertilizer with distilled water without adjusting the PH of the solution up a bit. I know nothing about adjusting a PH, so could you please tell me how to do this?

Question #2: I like this fertilizer, and would like to continue to use it, but is there a different one that you would suggest I use with distilled water while still continuing my weakly-weakly watering routine?

I would appreciate your advice.....thanks in advance,
Vicki

[VickiC]

I'm sorry.....I forgot to tell you that I've been using approx. 1/4 teas. per gallon of distilled water for my weakly-weekly watering.
Again, thank you in advance for your help,
Vicki

Originally Posted by VickiC

Hi,
Sometime back, I began watering weakly-weekly using "Dyna-Gro Liquid Grow 7-9-5 plant food" mixed with water from our home carbon block water filtration system but now I have switched to distilled water. Ray tells me that I cannot continue to use this fertilizer with distilled water without adjusting the PH of the solution up a bit. I know nothing about adjusting a PH, so could you please tell me how to do this?

Question #2: I like this fertilizer, and would like to continue to use it, but is there a different one that you would suggest I use with distilled water while still continuing my weakly-weakly watering routine?

I would appreciate your advice.....thanks in advance,
Vicki

[Becky15349]

Vicki, I think it would be wise for you not to use distilled water. Many people think that using distilled water would be good for their orchids due to the lack of dissolved solids, salts, etc, but actually the absence of these things can cause problems because the water is not pH balanced.

Most people use regular water, and if you do this, you can use any fertilizer you want without having to wory about pH. Is there a reason you were using distilled water to begin with? Just wondering...because I've had more problems with it than its worth, IMHO.

~Becky

[VickiC]

Hi Becky,
I've been using distilled water because I thought that I read somewhere here on the board that it or RO would be better than tap water for our orchids. I was apparently mistaken though, so I'm glad to know that I can use regular water instead.....that will be much easier for me. By the way, maybe I should tell you that I have checked and the PH of our local water is approx. 7.2-7.5. If there's anything else I need to know, I really would appreciate it if you help me.
Thank you,
Vicki

Originally Posted by Becky15349

Vicki, I think it would be wise for you not to use distilled water. Many people think that using distilled water would be good for their orchids due to the lack of dissolved solids, salts, etc, but actually the absence of these things can cause problems because the water is not pH balanced.

Most people use regular water, and if you do this, you can use any fertilizer you want without having to wory about pH. Is there a reason you were using distilled water to begin with? Just wondering...because I've had more problems with it than its worth, IMHO.

~Becky

[Ray]

Vicki,

Back when I used Dyna-Gro "Grow" formula in RO water - same pH problem as with distilled - I found that by usiing equal amounts of the fertilizer and Pro-Tekt, the pH was pretty good.

Even if you use anothyer adjuster (pH Up, for example), it is still a good idea to use a pH meter or at least test strips (available at most pet stores that sell aquarium supplies) to verify that it's in the 5.5-6.5 range, or not too far outside of that.

I switched to the Greencare (MSU) Orchid Special for RO water becuase its chemistry is designed specifically to be used with pure water, so there is no adjustment necessary.

Personally, I like starting with pure water, as you know exactly what you're giving your plants, making changes easier to control.

[VickiC]

Hi Ray,
Since I have read your last response to me, I have found that the PH of our regular tap water is 7.2-7.5. What do you think about me switiching again from distilled to tap....and if you approve, what fertilizer do you suggest I use?

I'm sorry that I most likely make little or no sense concerning this "water and fertilizer situation", and am having a hard time understanding the info you have explained to me. Most things about it are soooo confusing because I know so very little about all of it. I have absolutely no doubt that your advice is 100% accurate, but I just can't grasp the details. If you are not totally frustrated with me, I would certainly appreciate your advice.....as always.

Thank you,
Vicki

Originally Posted by Ray

Vicki,

Back when I used Dyna-Gro "Grow" formula in RO water - same pH problem as with distilled - I found that by usiing equal amounts of the fertilizer and Pro-Tekt, the pH was pretty good.

Even if you use anothyer adjuster (pH Up, for example), it is still a good idea to use a pH meter or at least test strips (available at most pet stores that sell aquarium supplies) to verify that it's in the 5.5-6.5 range, or not too far outside of that.

I switched to the Greencare (MSU) Orchid Special for RO water becuase its chemistry is designed specifically to be used with pure water, so there is no adjustment necessary.

Personally, I like starting with pure water, as you know exactly what you're giving your plants, making changes easier to control.

[quiltergal]

Vicki, it kind of depends on your plants. I have several that are very sensitive to hard tap water. Phrags, Masdies, Aer., among others do not like tap water. For these I always use distilled water. Everything else gets tap water and doesn't seem to mind. The Greencare MSU Ray mentioned comes in two formulas. One for well and tap water, and the other for RO or distilled water. No adjustments to PH are necessary. I use both and love them.

[Lagoon]

I was just about to say the same as Terri!
It depends on what you're growing. I use distilled water on my masdie and some of my phrags, they need it or the slowly turn freaky brown/ black and die. Some 'chids don't want the calcium.

I use to use dyna gro, now I use Miracle-gro. I can pick this up at the local stores.

[VickiC]

Thanks for the info, Terri and Gloria. I'm gonna put all of the advice together that everyone has given to me then figure out from there what's probably gonna work best for me......or rather I'm gonna TRY to figure it out!
Thanks again,
Vicki

[Lagoon]

Thats the way, Vicki