I need help with fertilizers - Don't know how to use them
 

Hiya

I have Orchid Focus - Grow (2.2 1.2 2.1)
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid
that I intend to use on my recovering phal poted in bark in a tiny 7 cm pot, has only one growing root, one that has a part been cut off, and a small new one.
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid

I usually use 500 ml lukewarm water that I run through 2 or 3 times through the bark. I water every 3 to 4 days as it dries fast.

1. If I were to use fertlizer in that water, how much fertiliser should I use (I have seringes that can measure as low as 0.10 mililiter)?
2. Should I run first some clean water (no fertilizer) and then run water with fertilizer?
3. How many times should I run the fertilized water through the medium?
4. Should I use fertilizer everytime I water?

That is all about this orchid.

Also I know people have said there is no point in using a bloom fertlizer but since I have it I don't want to pour it down the drain.
I have Orchid Focus - Bloom (1.8 2.4 2.6) that I intend to use on my other orchid.
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid
Picasa Web Albums - ChristiLuiza - Orchid
If somebody knows what that labes sais, please let me know as the orchid did not have a label.

It is poted in bark (mostly, I think) in a 12 cm pot and since I got it almost 3 weeks now I did not water it. When I got the wooden skewer out of the medium 3 days ago to replace it with the nice pink one the wooden one felt damp and cold. I guess it takes long to dry since it looks tight packed in a big pot.

When it is due for watering, I have mostly the same questions as before:
1 Do I run water before I run the water with fertiliser?
2. If I water nearly once a month, do I use fertilizer every time?
3. How much of the bloom fertilizer shoul I use for 500 ml water and how many times can I run that water through the medium?
4. Do I switch to the Grow fertilizer Imediately after there are no more flowers?
5. Is is wise to try to get it to flower again or should I wait for those existing flowers to dye and the cut the spike and repot so I can take a look at the roots and give the plant a new start in my home? It was bought from a supermaket (tesco) and I do not trust them very much...

I also have Orchid mist
Growth Technology
that I use to spray once a week both orchids, only on the leaf and aerial roots as they say on the label but I do not use 8 to 10 sprays per plant, maybe 3 max the small one and 6 - 7 for the big one. They say it is a "nutrient solution, pest repellent, growth enhancer, plant tonic and leaf conditioner"... not sore how much of that is true.

If you have any other suggestions besides the things that i thought to ask fell free to jump in. I need all the advice I can get.

Luiza:waving

Fertilizer PPM Calculator

this should help

most people will do weakly-weekly fertilizer. which means fertilizing weakly once a week. use the calculator to figure out how much fertilizer

its a good idea to flush the pot with clean water before fertilizing, but when you have lots of plants, it can be hard. i dont always flush my plants, but i do from time to time.

The latest ideas are to NOT water before you fertilize.
Most people fertilize with a weak solution once/week, but we all fertilize differently depending on temperatures and climate.
I'd hate for you to ruin plant's for want of saving some fertilizer, but I rotate a number of different types of fertilizer, so I guess you might decide to use the "bloom-booster", every (say) 4th fertilization. Just a suggestion.
How to deal with the current "spike" would depend on what type of orchid you have.
Tony

I use the Grow formula from orchid focus.

I just add it to the watering water every time I water. BUT every 5-6 waterings I flush through several times with plain water. This is to remove any build up of the fertiliser salts which (if they build up to high levels) can start damaging the roots.

I would run it through a few times just as you do with the water. Personally I actually stand them up to the top of the pot in water to soak for 5 min then let them drain.

I, like you, am using up some bloom formuler (a different make though) and I'm just using it on any of the plants whether in flower or not as a substitute for the other formula. Quite litereally I have one bottle downstairs and one upstairs and the plants get whichever one is closest when I'm filling the watering can. Not a scientific way but none of them seem to have minded :dunno:

Hi

Help, I have seen that fertiliser PPM calculator before and I have no idea how to use it. I introduce some values from the botle and it gives me other values and I do not know what they mean, how to use them or what I am aiming for.

Britbloke / Tony, I have 2 phalaenopsis, the links I gave in the post are for several pictures of the plants even if the links look the same in the post.
I do not know what can go into the category of a "week solution". The botles, with the values described in the original post, state that you should dilute 5 ml (1 teaspoon) to 2 liters of water but I do not know if that is a weak solution, if I can use this concetration once a week or everytime I water...

RosieC, since you use the same fertilizer as I have, how much fertliser to how much water do you use everytime you water? Do you folow the intructions on the botle (5 ml to 2 liters water) or do you use less fertlizer than 5 ml?

Many thanks
Luiza

follow what said but usually a teaspooon in a gallon should work... you give your phal the best condition possible (right humidity, light,and temp) and it will live beautifully! and of course lots of patience... and hands off to phals! HAHAHA! rooting hormone might help as well.

Hi

Help, I have seen that calculator before and I have no idea how to use it. I need to put in the values that the botle offers and the calculator gives other values that I do not know what they mean, how to use them and what to aim for. Could you explain, please? Thanks.

Britbloke / Tony, I have 2 phalaenopsis, the links I gave in the post show several different photos of what I was talking about even if the links look the same.
I do not know what can be categorized as a weak solution. The botles, with the values detailed in my post, state you should use 5 ml (1 teaspoon) to 2 liters of water. Is that a weak solution that can be used weekly or everytime I water or should it be weaker that that? If it needs to be weaker, how much fertilizer should I use instead of the 5 ml they suggest?

RosieC, since you use the same fertilizer as I have, do you go by the instructions on the botle (5 ml to 2 liters) or less that that? If less, what is the concentration you use?

Many thanks
Luiza

I'm using 3ml in general. Now the scientific people will cringe at my reason... 3ml is what my measuring pipet holds, so I just go with one pipet full :blushing:

I've been intending to use the calculator and work it out but not got arround to it. I think I understood the calculator when I looked. I'm not home now otherwise I would go get the bottle and do it now.

I use weaker solution of certain plants though. My Masda's get about 1ml to 2 liters and not as often. So do the Restrepia's although I'm not sure if they should have it weaker like Masda's or not, I just tend to treat them similarly.

I would fertilize just as Rosie describes, about 1/2 the recommended rate. Most people fertilize weekly, the saying is "weakly (1/2 strength), weekly".

Hi Rosie

Great! I was thinking I should use 1/4 of the recommended concentration (5 ml to 2 liters) on the label. That would be 1.25 ml per 2 liters resulting in aprox 0.3 ml per 500 ml which is the measure I use for watering. Hope that would be weak enough.

Do you think it would be safe to use this concentration for every watering and maybe every 2 or 3 waterings to use normal water?

Luiza

I flush with normal water arround once a month and I use fertiliser every watering between that. When flushing make sure you run lots of water through the pot, the idea is to flush out any build of of the fertiliser salts.

Hi Rosie, Tony (Britbloke) and Frostedeyes

Under thread called "How much MSU fertilizer to use (Repotme)" I have been advised that I should aim for 125 ppm N everytime I water. They say you find out how much fertiliser to use in order to get to 125 ppm N by dividing 10 to the value on N given by the label and it results in number on teaspoons of fertlizer per gallon (3.78 liter)

Orchid focus Grow has 2.2 N therefor
10/2.2= 4.55 (about 22.72 ml) teaspoons per 3.78 liters
or 6 ml per 1 liter

Given that information and the advice I got from you I am back in confusion. I really don't know what to do or what question to ask next...

1/2 recommended rate (or 1/4 or other) means strictly nothing without knowing what fertilizer is used. When you're using a fertilizer dosed for 'normal' plants (such as a 15-15-15 for example), then saying to use 1/2 strength on orchids is somewhat accurate, but if you're using a fertilizer which is for orchids to begin with (like the one in question, 2.2-1.2-2.1) feeding 1/2 the recommended rate is basically like feeding them nothing.

Yes, that calculation is absolutely correct if you are shooting for 125ppm N. A lot of people use that as their target value (as I do) while fertilizing at most waterings. Like I mentioned in the other thread, I use the same fert at 6ml/L on my orchids and they are doing wonderfully.

If you feed the 5ml per 2L like you mention earlier, then you are feeding them less than 60ppm N, which is less than even what people give fertilizer intolerant orchids like Masdevallias.

We all pot,water & fertilize according to our needs and results.
I use MSU fertilizer (specially formulated for orchids using RO water). At 13-3-15 the grower (with many years of successful growing) recommends 1/4 tsp/gal once a week, which gives 44ppm of N using the calculator.
I'm not disputing that 125ppm is a commonly held target.
I can tell you my plants do wonderfully on that diet...

i shoot for 115 ppm N. because its always better to under fertilize than to over fertilize, not saying that 125 ppm N isnt a good number. i have some sensitive plants, so i just fertilize to the lowest common denominator

I agree. Mine is a rather unscientific measurement. If someone else has calculated the figures then I would go with that.

125ppm is far from overfertilizing, unless you are only dealing with masdies and other salt intolerant orchids. 125 is meant to be an average that will work for a collection with orchids having varying food needs. On French forums, growers have recommended shooting for 100- 150ppm (the high end having no ill effects) and only 90 during the winter when plant growth is extremely slowed down for most people. Professional growers who have optimal cultural conditions,( so optimal growth) push it as far as 250ppm N. We dont have those conditions so that amount would burn roots. Just goes to show how much influence culture and environment has on the plants, and how it affects the way we should feed them.

that is a big difference! but i have some salt intolerant 'chids, so its just easier for me. to make it lower

I agree. If you have a collection of mainly salt intolerant orchids, then it makes more sense and is easier to use less. You can always give the others more once in a while. But for me 99% of my plants are in the intermediate range of salt tolerance/need, so it makes more sense to use a higher amount for everyone. Once in a while during the growth season I give my food hogging cyms up to 160ppm N.

if i were you, id be doing just what you are.

Hi everyone

Oau! This has been an interesting debate! Many thanks for all your input, it was really very helpfull and good things have come out of it. As for me I finally understood how that calculator works and what I should be aiming for when I fertilise. I finally know what "weak" means. What is even better I can now always calculate for myself how much I need to use from the label on the botle.

This morning I watered and fertilised both my phals with 100 PPM N (if they are ok with that will increase next time).
I used the Bloom one for the phal with flowers (3 ml of fertiliser in 500 ml water)
I used the Grow one for the small recovering phal with one root ( 2.2 ml fertiliser in 500 ml water).

Luiza