A problem about how to refer to fertilizers

[cirillonb]

I have been forever frustrated with how people recommend the use of fertilizers. They say 1/4 or 1/2 strength, etc. For a new grower this has to be very confusing. There is a great difference between a fractional concentration of a common garden fertilizer, say MiracleGro and a specific orchid fertilizer, say the MSU mix. I know, the experts will chime in now and talk about total dissolved solids and Nitrogen concentrations, and that is all well and good. But the people who respond to "newbies"[how I hate that term] with percentages with no further references, are not helping the questioner. Now, it may be said that, if someone fertilizes on the low side, that probably is better for the orchid than the reverse (excluding some heavy feeders.) I know this habit is ingrained in the orchid literature (it is seen even in Barker and Barker) but it is a shame, and perhaps the experts here can be somewhat more specific.
There...I got that crankiness out for the week.
Nick

[camille1585]

I agree and share your crankiness about it, saying just 1/2 or 1/4 strength makes absolutely no sense! There is a huge difference in 1/2 strength of a 'normal' fert (like a 20-20-20) and 1/2 strength of the already diluted 'orchid' fertilizers (like a 5-5-5 for ex). That is why I prefer to use ppm to measure. Ray's calculator on his site does the calculations for you. It takes most of the guesswork out of fertilizing. I agree, if we just give proportions, additional details about the fertilizer in question must be given.

[Ross]

I think Ray has addressed this at Plant Nutrition There really isn't a lot to discuss here. What is the concentration you are after, and how do you deliver it. Such terms as 1/4 strength mean nothing, unless you know 1/4 of what. Let's all read Ray's primer and quit asking this esoteric question, please?

[BikerDoc5968]

While I would agree, that this horse has been kicked well past death, Ross we have to lighten up just alittle....I know there's 5' of snow outside your orchid window but this fertilizer thing will never go away, so just enjoy the view....it makes one's life soooo much more enjoyable.

[quiltergal]

My all time favorite is weekly, weakly. I'm with Ross give me something measurable any day. If Ray's fertilizer calculator was a sticky at the top of this forum then we wouldn't have to answer this question quite so often.

[Ray]

There is a really simple methodology that I recommend:

Divide 10 by the %N in the fertilizer formula. The result is the teaspoons per gallon to use for 125 ppm N, so if you round up or down for measuring convenience and sloppiness, you're still OK.

Use that solution for 3 out of 4 waterings, flushing with plain water for the 4th. If growing in s/h, 4 out of 4.

[lostonthebeach]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

If Ray's fertilizer calculator was a sticky at the top of this forum then we wouldn't have to answer this question quite so often.

:iagree:
A stiky would help. It would be helpful for the newer readers who are unsure, and an easy reference for all of us.

[Learner]

Years ago, when I taught Zoology 101, I would get the same questions with every group of freshmen. I never minded the repetition because it helped the rest of the class who had the same question but was timid about asking. I suppose I could have told them that I answered that question last year and was tired of it, but that would have been of no help. Nick and Camille should keep asking their questions. They help a lot of beginners. Besides, we don't want them cranky. Jim

[camille1585]

Ok, I'm getting lost here. When did I ask questions? And what questions are you referring to? I think we were just making the statement that saying fertilize at 1/2 strength does not mean anything in itself, since you don't know what initial fertilizer concentration the person is referring to.

[Learner]

Sorry about that. I interpreted a concern for clarification to be a question for clarification. Mia Culpa.