MSU Fertilizer-where to buy, who to trust

[dshallpost]

If you use MSU Fertilizer, where do you buy it? And has it worked out well for you?

For those who are new to this: MSU, or Michigan State University, developed a formula for an orchid fertilizer that has become widely used. But there is no one manufacturer or distributor -- there is (or was) blue MSU, pink MSU, gray MSU, all from different suppliers.

So -- if anyone has any light to shine on this topic, I would like to know: who is a reliable manufacturer/distributor of the MSU fertilizer (granules, not liquid)?

(I have some of the blue granules and am running low. Need to restock . . . .)

[estación seca]

Kelley's Korner and Sunset Valley Orchids are two places I know sell it. I don't see it on the Web site right now at SVO. Give Fred a call if you like.

Michican State staff described only two formulations: For THEIR well water (which contains minerals), and for pure water (RO or rain, which lacks these minerals.) Color has nothing to do with it. Not as many people now have well water as have tap water, so it is often sold as either for RO water or for tap water.

Kelley's Korner also sells KLite, which is a low-potassium fertilizer. Many people here think this works very well.

I fertilize plants differently in different potting mixes and fertilization frequency. I calculate concentrations in parts per million of nitrogen. You can read a lot about fertilizing at the First Rays Web site. Ray formerly sold MSU and KLite.

I have MSU. I have not noticed a difference between MSU and a 20-20-20 like MiracleGro here. Maybe my warm temperatures have something to do with this; my plants are in growth much of the year.

[Mountaineer370]

I only use a very small amount of it and it has lasted me a long time, but when I bought it, mine came from Repotme.com. They still sell it.

[WaterWitchin]

I still have about half a large container. Lasts a long time, because I don't remember to fertilize very often. I got it from First Ray's. I don't think he stocks that anymore, but think he now has something similar called "Lite" something or other. Apparently quite a few here use it.

Hopefully someone who is more versed or pays more attention to fertilizer issues will chime in here. Just my

[Ray]

The original MSU formulas, as well as K-Lite, a derivative of the MSU RO formula developed specifically for epiphytes, are manufactured by Greencare fertilizers of Kankakee IL. Just about everyone who sells them gets it from their sole distributor.

They all have a blue indicator dye in them, but those dyes are pH sensitive, so if the material absorbs moisture and reacts with the fertilizer, the color can change. It has absolutely no impact on the quality of the products.

Roberts Floral Supply has their own versions manufactured for them, and if I recall correctly, Wayne has them add a pink indicator.

The liquid stuff is made by RepotMe, by dissolving one pound of the powder product in a gallon of water. I have several problems that: as I have stated many times, it is labeled deceptively and illegally. The label reflects the powder, not the contents of the bottle, which is actually less than 1/9th of that.

Next, I don't know if they just use tap water or pure water to dissolve it, as I used to do, so what's in their water that you don't know?

Finally - and this is a real concern I have just learned about from someone on another forum - consistent use of their product may lead to calcium and/or magnesium deficiencies. Here's the scenario I suspect leads to that:

When calcium-bearing fertilizers are dissolved in water, the calcium compounds are the least stable, and can relatively easily precipitate, given time, usually combining with any magnesium present. Make a concentrate, and that precipitation happens faster and more extensively. If the water used already has those alkaline minerals in it, that will occur even faster.

When I made liquid versions of the two formulas, I used RO water that was heated and agitated, so I am confident the complete formula was transferred into the individual bottle. If that is not done, especially if it is not packaged right away, it is possible that the calcium and magnesium will precipitate, never even making it into the bottle.

Referring to the "I see no difference" comment above, that is not surprising in the least, as anything that might happen from a different "diet" might not be noticeable for a very long time, especially in plants that grow as slowly as orchids. That does not mean though, that selection of the proper formula doesn't matter.

Think about us as an analogy: if we choose the right combination of fats, sugars, carbs, etc., and consume them in the right ratios and quantities, we will be quite healthy. Shift the mix and quantity, and all sorts of problems can ensue.

Orchids have evolved to survive on the unique and meager supply of nutrients that cascade out of the forest canopy when it rains. It seems logical to me to try and match that chemistry as well as we can, and that's where the idea of K-Lite came from.

[WaterWitchin]

Was hoping you'd chime in Ray. And now I know why the water turns blue when I mix it into my R/O.

[Mountaineer370]

I didn't specify in my post above, but the stuff I got from Repotme.com is granules. I see from their site that they sell both the granules and liquid. Mine is blue, for whatever that's worth.

[Ray]

The powder from RepotMe is the same Greencare stuff with a high price and an outrageous shipping cost.

A hint: If, when handling it, you turn blue, wash with ammonia. It will neutralize and decompose the dye.

[dshallpost]

Thanks everyone. Just found that you can buy the Greencare product on Amazon or directly from Jim's Orchid Supply.

[Ray]

Search and shop around for the best delivered price.

You can buy K-Lite through Amazon as well, from several vendors including me. My price is the best, but not as good as it is buying it directly, as the firstrays.com price includes shipping.