fertilizer question
 

Hi guys, I bought dyna-gro liquid fertilizer. I was wondering if it's better to apply the fertilizer to my phals directly or water the phal first then use fertilizer? Thanks.

I'd add the fert liquid to the water you will water the phals with.

I do follow the instructions to mix the fertilizer with water. However, I was wondering if it's better to first water and soak my bark medium first and then pour the water/fertilizer mix.

I don't water first . The roots can't absorb the Fert. if full of water already :) Gin

Can't agree more with Gin. I might still eat if I'm full, but I dont think that applies to the orchids...

One reason given for watering first is to flush out old fertilizer salts. Flushing the plant, especially phals, is important but it can be done once a month on a day that you're not fertilizing. I know people who do it both ways with equally good results so I would say it's just up to you.

I think the idea of watering first is outdated unless you also use outdated fertilising strengths.

Many years ago people would fertilise monthly with a stronger solution than now advised. The stronger solution can burn the roots, but watering first can prevent that... just as Gin said above the roots can't absorb as much fertiliser if they've been watered. So with strong fertiliser this preveneted bun.

Current advise though is to use a much weaker fertiliser solution (about 1/4 of what was advised for monthly) and water weekly (or even more often). The weaker fertiliser is not in danger of burning the roots in the same way and fertilising dry roots will help them absorb more of it.

In my view, this is not only beneficial to the plants, but surely you get more fertiliser in the plant per amount of fertliser bought. In the old method most of it would run off and less would be absorbed, now we use a similar amount overall, but more evenly spread so more of it is absorbed. I'm not sure if that is true or not, but it seems logical to me.

The way fertilizer intake works is:

the cell wall regulates salts (fertilizer intake) in a way that salt travels through the cell wall towards the higher concentration. In general liquid inside cell is higher concentrated and therefore draws the hopefully weaker fertilizer towards it.

Different plants have different cell salt concentration. What is ok for a tomato is not ok for an orchid.

Burning occurs if one fertilizes too concentrated and now the salt/liquid from inside the cell is drawn to the outside. This works on the same principle as Reverse Osmosis.

My personal view would be to water first and then water with fertilizer. If a plant is "watering wet" it cannot get any wetter in one watering event but possible fertilizer concentration and damage is greatly reduced.

The way to see this: I put the shower on first before I apply shampoo or shower gel.

cheers apimom

I water with fertilizer 2-3 times with 15 min. intervals in between applications. Than I wait about an hour, then rinse with RO water, sometimes I add insecticide soap to my rinse.

I feel that fertilizers that aren't rinsed after application will break down the potting medium faster. Your plant will absorb what it need within an hour or so.

I do recommend you use dyna-gro @ 1/4 strength, weekly.

Ether way should be ok if you use weak strength.