foliar feeding - Orchid Board

LinhT · #1 10-14-2009, 02:11 AM

I know some people don't believe this works but for those of you who do this religiously.....have you seen a difference in your leaves? Are there any particular types of orchids that benefit from foliar feeding. I also read about spraying the undersides of the leaves to get it best absorbed?

Also is it a different concentration of fertilzer solution used for foliar feeding or same as what you would use to water the medium of the plant?

johnblagg · #2 10-14-2009, 07:46 AM

I use this method constantly ...LOL every day.

I use excatly the same mix I use to fert with "I grow S/H so overwatering is not a issue" and yes the underside is the side for plants with waxy shiny leaves that will be best for this.

They have done studies with radio isotope tracers that prove the chids do get nutes this way also> I just read something on it recently on springer link

as far as differences go the only thing I can say is my catts each have three eyes in active growth at once .....But s/h has a lot to do with the fantastic growth I see too.The other thing you have is the white build up you will get on leaves folair feeding is going to cause some issues in how clean the chids will look ....Its not really harmfull but it can be unsightly

LinhT · #3 10-15-2009, 07:31 PM

Thanks, John! I appreciate the info.

slipperfreak · #4 10-15-2009, 11:23 PM

I have always done this so I can't say I've seen a difference whether it is done or not, but I have never had any problems doing it.

Being a slipper specialist I read a lot about them, and I can say that such esteemed slipper growers and breeders as Harold Koopowitz are big believers in foliar feeding for Paphs and Phrags specifically.

LinhT · #5 10-15-2009, 11:36 PM

Hey Joe, nice to see you back on OB. I've been wondering about the foliar feeding thing mainly because of my kovachii hybrids. I guess I tend to grow them in higher light and perhaps that is why the bottom leaves tend to get yellow. higher leaves look really the "right" green. I can't fertilize the media more since alot of phrags can sensitive to it. So I've been trying to spray the bottom yellow leaves or starting to yellow leaves to see if it makes a difference.

I was just wondering if everyone uses the same concentration of fert/water as what they'd use to water the media. Sounds like the answer, is yes.

slipperfreak · #6 10-15-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinhT

Hey Joe, nice to see you back on OB. I've been wondering about the foliar feeding thing mainly because of my kovachii hybrids. I guess I tend to grow them in higher light and perhaps that is why the bottom leaves tend to get yellow. higher leaves look really the "right" green. I can't fertilize the media more since alot of phrags can sensitive to it. So I've been trying to spray the bottom yellow leaves or starting to yellow leaves to see if it makes a difference.

I was just wondering if everyone uses the same concentration of fert/water as what they'd use to water the media. Sounds like the answer, is yes.

Well yes - the way I do it is when I water/fertilize, I drench the leaves. Now I know that many would say "You drench the leaves?! Don't the crowns rot from water getting trapped in the growths?". But rest assured, I prevent rotting by watering in the morning, and maintaining excellent air movement, so that the leaves dry off quickly.

Growing in high light, if it were the reason for your plants' yellowing, would give yellowish top leaves as well. Are you growing the plants in s/h? Is it just one or two of the lowest leaves yellowing or are many yellowing? How old are the plants?

LinhT · #7 10-15-2009, 11:53 PM

I got them as seedlings last winter. It's just the bottom leaves that are getting old, turning yellow. Do you think it's not the light issue?

slipperfreak · #8 10-16-2009, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinhT

I got them as seedlings last winter. It's just the bottom leaves that are getting old, turning yellow. Do you think it's not the light issue?

No I wouldn't say it has anything to do with light if the upper leaves are still green. Most likely the plants are just losing their lower leaves naturally to allocate resources to the growing parts. As long as the new leaves are maturing larger than the older leaves, the plants should be fine.

harleymc · #9 10-16-2009, 08:26 AM

Without studying heaps of variables about how you are growing your plants, the light, yadayada...
Yellowing of older leaves in many families of plants is caused by plants relocating mobile nutrients. Nitrogen gets moved from old leaves to new leaves.
Low nitrogen (sort of) equates to good levels of phosporous, potasium & the traces - this is fine, the trade off is lush foliage vs. flowering.
Don't worry about OLD leaves yellowing ;-)
google plant nutrients for peace of mind,
and watch those NPK ratios on the fertalizer packs
have a bloomin' good time ;-)

harleymc · #10 10-16-2009, 08:38 AM

I just saw that this was a thread about seedlings...
my bad!
the comments above relate to flowering size plants.

For seedlings you want more nitrogen than for mature. keep that foliage as long as you can. Foliage leads to photosynthesis in the early stages of life... which leads to faster growth, BUT only if ALL plant nutrients are present.

Stomates (openings from the inside to the outside atmosphere )are on the under side of leaves. that's where absorbtion will occur.

good luck