Urea?

[Phal grower]

Hi. I have been reading here and there on the forum that orchids can't utilize urea based nitrogen. I have been using miracle grow orchid food brand fertilizer and noticed that most of the nitrogen comes from urea. I was just wanting some feedback on this subject. What do you use for your plants? Is there anything readily available at the big box stores thats any good? I got mine fertilizer from wal-mart and figured that since it was for orchids it must be ok, now I'm not so sure. I've also read that if you plant in bark that you should use a 30-10-10 ratio. Is this true? Thanks everyone.

[RJSquirrel]

you reading skills and comprehension are excellent

Tru that barked based media needs a higher nitrogen bec the bark eats it up and it doesnt get to the plant so you have to bump it some so the plant can have some too. This also causes the bark to breakdown and you to repot on a regular basis.
Moss and Granite chip users like myself can use a more evenly balanced fertilizers. I have been using Peters Cal/Mag which is 15-5-15-5-2. Calcium and magnesium being the 5 and 2 respectively. The nitrogen based urea is 2.05%., 11.75% Nitrate nitrogen, and Ammoniacal Nitrogen 1.2%.

You can use the Peters 20 20 20 and add about tablespoon of epsom salt to each gallon of water for magnesium and add lime pellets to the mix as a top dressing for calcium. You can use calcium nitrate also but its hot on the Nitrogen side and you wont need anymore Nitrogen with the peters 20 20 20.. You might not be able to find the Cal/Mag in smallish quantities bec this is a more greenhouse growers oriented type fertilizer and why I suggested the peters 20 20 bec it is readily available just about everywhere.
Your hardware store fertilizers typically dont add Calcium and Magnesium. Your orchids need these elements for healthy shiny leaves and strong fibers

[Ray]

The microorganisms that decompose the bark are what consumed the nitrogen. However, in modern culture, one tends to repot and replace it well before the population can grow sufficiently to have a significant influence on the plant's nutrition.

I read one theory that malnutrition wasn't from the critters taking the nitrogen, but that by the time the medium was that far gone - i.e., with that big of a bacteria population - the roots were similarly far gone, leading to the nutrition issues.

If you feed regularly with a 30-10-10, you will see great foliage growth and likely very little blooming, as the excess nitrogen quashes it.

[Phal grower]

So many different opinions, I guess I need to just experiment and find out what works for my own growing situation. Thankyou for your ideas

[WhiteRabbit]

I believe that urea based nitrogen is not usable to the plant at lower than a certain temp - 68, 70 degrees ?

So for myself, I don't use urea based during cool weather months (I keep heat set low, too, so even inside plants aren't often getting that warm in winter)

[Orchid126]

Ray has more knowledge about plant nutrition in his little finger than I have in my whole body. Listen to him. He's the Man.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Orchid126

Ray has more knowledge about plant nutrition in his little finger than I have in my whole body. Listen to him. He's the Man.

[Kelo]

Urea requires high temps in order for it to work so unless you have warm weather when using urea you might as well throw your money away. I'm using Akerne's rain mix hat is an absolute delight to use and together with my seaweed extract my plants are going nuts! I am fairly certain that you can buy it in the States. (You use such a tiny amount too!)

Akerne Orchids: Akerne's RAIN MIX

[Phal grower]

Well I got rid of the urea and went with something a little less heavy on the nitrogen. I will have to look into the seaweed extract as well. What kind do you use? You all have so much more knowledge than this newbie, thats why I love this site and continue to learn everyday. Thankyou all. Matt

[Kelo]

Matt, you're going through what the rest of us had to do too - learn! lol I use kelp. I have a four pint milk container that I fill with kelp and leave it for a couple of weeks to make the extract. It reeks like a 150 degree toilet but it seems the worse it reeks the better it is. I also add one B1 tablet and add it at a rate of one tablespoon per four pints of water/fertiliser. It takes a few weeks for the plants to utilise it and begin to grow better. It's also excellent at root production. If you're not near the sea you can buy kelp on line. Search for one of my threads/posts for 'kelp' and you'll find more info from others too on the extract making etc.