DynaGro - Bloom question

[Slobo]

Does any of you uses the DynaGro-Bloom fertilizer to promote flowering. What is the best ratio to dissolve it in a gallon of water? Also, my watering regime is weekly at the ratio of 125 ppmN.
I have phal that has a new spike coming out and was thinking to give it a little bust. I should mention that this phal didn't bloom for more than a year.

Thanks for any advise,

Slobo

[Cym Ladye]

Slobo,

The mistake many people make is to assume that you use a 'bloom' formula when the plant is in bloom. The fact is that the time to start using bloom is long before you see the spike emerge and to INDUCE bloom.

For your phal I would suggest a weak, balanced fertilizer applied at 1/4 or less the strength recommended on the container each week all year long. Examples 13-13-13, 20-20-20 etc. There are many brands out there and DynaGro is but one. Most have different formulas they produce and whichever one is easiest for you to obtain, go with. Consider it like a health club: If you do not go, it will not help. Almost any fertilizer is better than nothing.

Cym Ladye

[tucker85]

Like the previous post says, bloom fertilizer is used to induce spiking. Once the spike has started there's no reason to use it. In fact bloom fertilizer has very little nitrogen and the plant needs nitrogen to grow the spike and flowers. I would just use a regular balanced fertilizer on it.

[Slobo]

Thanks Cym Ladye and Tucker85,

One more lesson learnt today. Much appreciated.

Slobo

[Ray]

"Bloom boosters" do not do diddley to induce spiking or blossoms. It's marketing hype.

Dr. O. Wesley Davidson of Rutgers University devised one of the first commercial "chemical" fertilizers, Mir-Acid, which was markets for azaleas, rhodies, and orchids (among others) that prefer some acidity.

Unfortunately, the heavy use of a high-nitrogen blend will quash blooming in orchids. To get around that, they diluted the nitrogen in the formulation by adding inexpensive phosphorus minerals, and VOILA' - the plants bloomed again. The marketers claimed the product to be a bloom booster, and the myth stuck. In reality, by diluting the nitrogen, they had removed the blocking of blooming, not boosting anything.

In fact, orchids need very little P in their diets, and adding more does nothing for the plants.

The best way to get plants to bloom is to feed them well and completely, not overdosing anything, and give them excellent overall culture. That way they can exercise their genetic disposition to do so.

In the cases of phalaenopsis plants, it may also (depending upon the species in the background), require about two weeks of an average growing temperature 10°-15°F lower than where they have been growing in order to initiate spikes. Nothing chemical will substitute.

[Slobo]

Thanks so much Ray for taking time to explain this to me.

Slobo

[ezil]

Don't throw your Dyna Grow Bloom out - I have heeded Ray's advise and not regretted it. My supplier was out of the regular fert. and only had the Bloom formula left. I bought it, used it until the new shipment was in, and will use it off and on until it's finished. It really will not make a difference.

[Slobo]

ezil thanks for the reply,

No I'm not going to trow the fert. I will use it eventually.

Who is your supplier?

Thanks

Slobo

[dounoharm]

i use the same fert year round and my orchids all bloom on time and with gusto....msu for tapwater is all i use....gl

[Slobo]

Thanks dounoharm,

I was looking for long time to find MSU fertilizer but apparently it is not available in Canada. I really need to check regulations to see if I can buy it in States and have it ship to Canada.

Slobo