Seaweed Fertilizer... - Orchid Board

calypsoB · #1 08-21-2011, 08:56 PM

So I went down to the beach and brought home several large pieces of seaweed and put it into a container of water. I was told to leave this for a couple of weeks and then I could fertilize the orchids with this water. BUT I have a white coating on the the top of everything. The water underneath is green and doesn't seem affected. Is this how it is supposed to be? Do I strain it and remove the seaweed which isn't decomposed as well as the white stuff? Thanks all!

Zoi2 · #2 08-21-2011, 09:10 PM

I am sorry I can't help with the seaweed but until someone with more experience chimes in, here are two You Tube videos that are pretty interesting.
Joann

How to Make Seaweed Fertilizer - YouTube

Make Your Own Seaweed Fertilizer - YouTube

calypsoB · #3 08-22-2011, 01:20 AM

You know it is a small world when someone in Kansas send me a video of a place I grew up on an internationally used orchid forum.

Thanks! I'll see about the blending and removing the white stuff!

Ray · #4 08-22-2011, 09:52 AM

In my opinion, your seaweed "fertilizer" will be incomplete nutrition for your plants, and at most should be used as a periodic additive.

calypsoB · #5 08-22-2011, 10:50 AM

I was really looking to give it something of a boost outside of my weakly weekly for root growth. I do tend to need to water my plants about 2x a week if they are in bark. Thanks for the heads up!

Kelo · #6 08-22-2011, 11:43 AM

Seaweed extract should not be thought of as a fertiliser. It's merely a boost to your plants as it has very little nutritional value. I, too, get a white scum that floats on the surface but this wont cause any damage to the orchids. I add a tablespoon per four litres of water/fertilised water. I have been feeding my plants with seaweed extract almost every week since March and there has been nothing but improvement but that's only working under my regime so yours will be different. Once the water has gone dark with the seaweed extracting it can be ready to use. You can also add it to plain, fertiliser free water too. Remember that it will reek to high heaven in another week. Don't tighten the cap too much or you might end up with a loud bang!

Kelo · #7 08-22-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calypsoB

So I went down to the beach and brought home several large pieces of seaweed and put it into a container of water. I was told to leave this for a couple of weeks and then I could fertilize the orchids with this water. BUT I have a white coating on the the top of everything. The water underneath is green and doesn't seem affected. Is this how it is supposed to be? Do I strain it and remove the seaweed which isn't decomposed as well as the white stuff? Thanks all!

Can you post a picture of the white stuff and seaweed, please?

This may be of some help too.

Seaweed Products - Orkney Seaweed Company_index