Fertilizer Question

[Becca]

Hi have a question about fertilizer. I use the MSU type fertilizer, once I mix it with water, how long is it good for? I like to keep water in buckets for dunking mounted plants in daily. I keep the same plant to the same bucket of water so I am not mixing the orchids in the same water. Also, is it okay if the top layer of my MSU fertilizer in the container turns a bluish color? I was wondering if it means the part that turns blue will no longer be good after a certain period of time. Any advice will be much appreciated!

[Ray]

Once in solution, the fertilizer is essentially fine indefinitely, as long as it's not contaminated or you allow the water to evaporate.

Dyes are added to the formula so it is apparent that you're dealing with a solution, not plain water. Those dyes are pH sensitive, so as the top surface of the fertilizer absorbs moisture from the air, it changes color. It does nothing chemically to affect the fertilizer, but it does affect you if you meter the powder by weight, rather than volume.

For the average person using "x teaspoons per gallon", it's meaningless.

[Becca]

Thanks Ray! So if I soak a plant in a bucket of fertilizer water, does this mean the water is now contaminated and no good to soak the same plant in again the next day?

[Ray]

I doubt it.