Amazing New Fertilizer

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

One more comment, David. I am not using RO water nor have I ever used it, and at least one of the fertilizers I was using claimed to have trace elements as well.

That is very interesting, more so than any argument I saw in the AOS article. Still, if you follow the argument in the AOS article; that it takes years for the potassium toxicity to build up, then by that token I would wonder if it might take years for a deficiency to show up.

What is the analysis of your tap water and at what strength and frequency are you using k-lite and what sorts of orchids are you using this on?

I still see no rational mechanism for potassium toxicity such that potassium needs to be supplied at no more than 1/8 the level of calcium.

[ronaldhanko]

I am using K-Lite the way I have always used fertilizer, a small amount (around 1/16 tbsp) in two gallons of water with every watering, using just water every third or fourth watering, not very scientific, but it has always worked.

My collection is primarily Pleurothallids witht he emphasis on Masdevallias, and New Guinea Dendrobiums with a mix of other miniature species (the PNG Dendrobiums reportedly being very sensisitve to fertilizer).

Our water quality is very good, but I have no idea as to its PH or the actual ppm of salts in the water. I did find this report on line: http://www.lyndenwa.org/wp-content/u...ity-Report.pdf and perhaps it is of help.

The change in switching to K-Lite was so dramatic I can still hardly believe it. The Masdevallias and other plants greened up and began to grow much more vigorously, the PNG Dendrobiums are bursting with flower buds and everything looks better.

I grow potted plants in live sphagnum and the mounted plants also grow in a lot of live moss to the extent that I have periodically to remove quantities of moss, and that may be a factor in all of this, but the bottom line is still that this had worked for me.

I said to Molly that I have never seen such a dramatic change in my plants in 35 years, and what I cannot quite believe (except I saw it) is the change happening almost overnight, and this after being quite dubious about all the claims regarding different fertilizers.

[DavidCampen]

That certainly is an interesting result. Though for purposes of determining the cause it is unfortunate that you made significant changes in 3 variables - Ca/Mg, P and K - all at once.

Orchids that I buy often look chlorotic, indicating some sort of deficiency, but the new growths after I get them look dramatically better - a nice uniform light green with no chlorosis.

[ronaldhanko]

I really don't have the time or interest in experimenting. The change in fertilizer was in part a matter of desperation since my Masdevallias especially were in decline and I could not find a reason, and also a result of reading the AOS article which seemed to describe exactly what what I was seeing in my plants. Now I know that "it works" does not always mean a theory is correct. The application of the "germ theory" to milk fever in cows by injecting antiseptics worked, but it was later discovered that the injection of distilled water worked just as well. There very well can be variables in this whole matter that have not been taken into account, but the bottom line for me is not the science but simply that thus far it works.

[ALToronto]

Ron, the higher pH that you would see with K-lite could also have played a role in the improvement you saw. Live sphagnum is very acidic, and conventional fertilizers also drop the pH of water, sometimes considerably. So you could have been growing your plants in a pH of 4 or thereabouts. This is too low for most plants, and the nutrients in the fertilizer solution also become less available to the roots (but they stay in the moss).

pH and TDS meters are about $15 each on amazon; there is really no excuse not to have them.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

No Ray, I'm far from "close minded", but I'm not gullible either. How long ago were you promoting MSU as the ultimate fertilizer or 125 ppm N as the proper dosage? Now you're on to seaweed and K-Lite. Seems to be the chemistry magic of the month.

GGMM - first let me state clearly that your attack is unfounded and totally out of line, as my comments were not aimed at you in the first place. However, if you choose to assume so, maybe that should tell us something.

I never "promoted MSU as the ultimate fertilizer at 125 ppm N as the proper dosage." What I DID do is follow that regimen and report my observations, which were positive. If you were attentive to my comments in a broader sense, you also know that I constantly promote the fact that one person's experience has no bearing upon its applicability to another.

Over time I have learned that IN MY ENVIRONMENT AND GROWING REGIMEN, the dosage was too great. So shoot me, since that is an indication that I am observant, open-minded, and willing to accept something different.

Nor have I ever stated that K-lite is the "be all, end all." All I have stated is that the concepts behind it make sense to me to a degree that makes me want to experiment. If they don't to you, so be it.

As far as the seaweed extract is concerned, yeah, I will promote that - precisely because I see great things happening, and like to share good stuff. I may be a trained scientist, but I am also aware that I can jump to conclusions based upon too little evidence, but in the case of KelpMax, I have documentation from professional horticulturists, and most recently the head groundskeeper for the Phillies, to back me up.

The fact that I have been attacked by someone who has on occasion stated stuff as being gospel makes me laugh and "urinates me" at the same time.


Ray Barkalow
Sent using Tapatalk

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

No Ray, I'm far from "close minded", but I'm not gullible either. How long ago were you promoting MSU as the ultimate fertilizer or 125 ppm N as the proper dosage? Now you're on to seaweed and K-Lite. Seems to be the chemistry magic of the month.

Please refrain from personal attacks

Please everyone keep this discussion friendly.

[S&K Maley]

Don't know what all the fuss is about, we found the article interesting as we are always happy to read about others experiences and what the most current cutting edge trials to further better culture.
We are happy to see others are seeing beneficial effects from something new and if ,over time the benefits are observed by others we may try it ourselves, if someone dosn't want to follow the cutting edge well don.t
We all owe Ray a debt of gratitude for the work he puts in to spreading knowledge about better orchid culture on the web. We use his site alot, have recently put 6 plants into S/H, use the fertilizer calculator etc. So rather then attack new ideas we are forever thankful to Ray [and so are our plants]
So what we have to say is Ray, keep up the good work and please keep us informed how the k lite trials are going and look forward to more cutting edge article in 'Orchids' rather then more of the same.How about some articles on S/H.
Last, some of the people posting should read the article about 'niceness' and attracting people to the hobby not shootting down new ideas and insulting others

[quiltergal]

I'm just curious enough about K-Lite to give it a try. That said I prefer to understand why something works, and not based on conjecture or anecdotal "evidence". I would really like to see this studied scientifically by professionals.

[orchidsarefun]

1) it amazes me that people automatically construe any criticism of an article or product as a personal attack. What's with that ?
Its not mandatory for you to use or follow anything you read about on the internet, and if you want to use it based on hearsay, then go for it. Further - if you go into any big-box store, there are at least 3 or 4 orchid fertilisers for sale. My view is that if there is a fertiliser that was close to "perfect", we would be seeing a lot of competition using basically the same formulation. Common sense ?
2) orchids' basic reason for existence is to reproduce. That is bloom. Its all well getting fantastic foliage and roots, but if you don't get the blooms, then it all seems a bit pointless ? And I am referring to blooms more than you would normally get. My one phal had 3 stems this year, the most ever, and the only thing that changed was me introducing an orchid fertiliser called Jacks in to the alternate fertiliser regime. A blossom booster ! Yep - I have read many dismissive comments about using a blossom booster. Well you can take it ( or leave it ) from me, that it works !
3) the moral of the story is that you should be open-minded about just about everything orchid. What works for someone, may not work for another person........and as someone else has said - if you can't get cultural conditions right, then nothing, including fancy fertiliser formulations, is going to help you !