Ok so there seems to be a general consensus that this would be caused by magnesium deficiency, which is really reassuring as I can easily fix that! Looking at the images in the link provided, I do notice those spots on some of my potted Phals that get a lot less attention and can easily see it being a small lack of minerals. I’ll definitively add Magnesium to every watering for all my plants going forward.
However, I still feel like my Phal Bellina spotting is a bit more severe then what I see when searching mineral deficiency photos. Also, it gets regularly fertilized with Dyna-Gro Orchid Pro™ 7-8-6 which contains many trace elements including Magnesium and Calcium.
The analysis of Dyna-Gro Orchid Pro™ 7-8-6 is:
Total Nitrogen (N) ……. 7.0%*
Ammoniacal (NH4)……. 2.6%
Nitrate (NO3) …………. 4.4%
Phosphorus (P2O5) …… 8.0%*
Potassium (K2O) ……… 6.0%*
Calcium (Ca) ………….. 2.0%*
Magnesium (Mg) …. 0.5%*
Sulfur (S) …………. 0.05%
Boron (B) …………. 0.02%*
Chlorine (Cl) ……… 0.1%*
Cobalt (Co) ……….. 0.0015%*
Copper (Cu) ……..… 0.05%*
Iron (Fe) ………………. 0.1%*
Manganese (Mn) ……. 0.05%*
Molybdenum (Mo) …. 0.0009%*
Nickel (Ni) ………….. 0.0001%
Sodium (Na) ………….. 0.1%*
Zinc (Zn) ………………. 0.05%*
I use this fertilizer mixed at a Ratio of 2ml/US Gallon of Reverse Osmosis water. Occasionally use regular tap water which is of very good quality here. I use it in 1 of 2 watering on my mounted Phals which is about once every other day to allow minerals to wash away. Is this quantity of Mg not sufficient at a point where the leave could deteriorate that much?
I also have Dyna-Gro Mag-Pro® 2-15-4 which was told is used as a bloom booster. I would normally start using it in conjunction with the other fertilizer when the plant is about ready to set spikes and keep using until flowering is over. I was actually about to start that regimen with my summer bloomers.
The Analysis of Mag-Pro® 2-15-4 is:
Total Nitrogen (N) ……. 2.0%
Ammoniacal (NH4) …… 1.1%
Nitrate (NO3) …………. 0.9%
Phosphorus (P2O5) …… 15.0%
Potassium (K2O) …. 4.0%
Magnesium (Mg) … 2.0%
Sulfur (S) …………. 1.5%
I would normally add about 2.5ml/US Gallon of water (mixed with equal quantity of the other fertilizer).
So at this point, I’m wondering can this P Bellina actually be suffering from Mineral deficiency knowing the quantity and concentration of minerals it is currently getting? And is the Mag-Pro suitable product? What quantity and frequency? I don’t want to end up with Mineral toxicity either!! Thanks
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