13-3-17 Fertilizer

[Sharyn]

Went to a local orchid greenhouse the other day - a small operation. Unfortunately, the owner wasn't there so I didn't ask many questions. I purchased some fertilizer, obviously packaged by the owner. When I asked what kind is was, the reply was, "It's university fertilizer." Ok, what the heck is university fertilizer? I note that it has a low number for flower production and a higher number for root developement. The directions call for 1/2 teaspoon per gallon to be fed every 2 weeks. Would this be considered a balanced fertilizer? I figured if they use this on all their orchids, I should be able to use it on all of mine.

This fertilizer thing drives me nuts!

[fred]

with other members help i think this can be sorted for you.

I have not heard of the brand university before.

What you have is only for groath with orchids.
Groath fertellizers are high in Nitrogen.
A flowering fertillizer is needed also.
As a flowering fertellizer is low in Nitrogen
I ferteillize my Orchids with Campbell,s, Groath and Flowering.
I feed all my orchids one a week with groath fertellizer once the flower spikes are finished.
As soon as winter starts I stop useing the groath Fertellizer.
my orchids get a light mist spray of water ( tank water ) in the cooler months.

As soon as winter is over I then use the Flowering one.
I feed once a week mixed in with water aded to the pot.
Also a light mist spray on the leaves of the plants.

In between fertellizing I use tank water for my plants.
I hope this helps you

[janet_a]

i'm too lazy to go down and get the bottle, but could it be MSU fert?

[fred]

hi janet a
hehe you are to lazy to get the bottle well it is sunday...hehehe
oh sorry almost for you.
go on get the bottle and let us know please
as I find this interesting.

[Sharyn]

Oh, come one Janet, go get the stuff and let us know! I too am curious if it's something like MSU formula.

[janet_a]

-grumble grumble-

ok my bottle of tap water msu says


4.75 - 1 - 5.75

i feed it at 50ppm for the plants in semi hydro (1 tsp/gal) and 150ppm (3 tsp/gal) when i'm using it as regular fertilizer for plants in media, once a week.--oh duh--once every *two* weeks. -smacks self-

my bottle is greencare msu but pkged by firstrays so it has a firstrays label. i suspect yours may be the same, sharyn.

--so if my math is right, what you've got is 3x strength of what i've got. mine also has iron manganese zinc copper boron and molybdenum in trace amounts.

[arleneg]

That's not a balanced fertilizer. A balanced fertilizer will have the same ratio, like 20-20-20 or 10-10-10. Check the label to see what the ratio is for nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. I'm guessing that your fertilizer may be urea free.

Originally Posted by Sharyn

...fed every 2 weeks. Would this be considered a balanced fertilizer? I figured if they use this on all their orchids, I should be able to use it on all of mine.

This fertilizer thing drives me nuts!

[Sharyn]

Janet, I think you're right. Sounds very similar. Thanks for getting up off your and helping me out here! Just kidding - thanks for the lesson. I don't know what other trace elements may be present because it's a hand written tag.

Arlene: I've been just about everywhere to find a balanced fertilizer with no luck. The big box stores don't carry it, and even an orchid greenhouse doesn't carry it - so I think I'm going to have to resort to an online order. I didn't think finding an orchid fertilizer would be so much of a hassle. I already have a small supply of fertilizer but both of them have more nitrogen than anything else. I can tell you from very little experience that my Dens. do not like it - therefore, my quest to get something balanced, or at least something with less nitrogen.

Suggestions welcome.

[Maddy]

Cactus fertilizers are low in nitrogen, but may be a little too high in phosphorous.

[fred]

the fertellizer I use has a rayio of 10.13.16
its made up of

nitrogen present as nitrate form 5.9%
nitrogen present as ammounium from 5.9%
Total nitrogen 11.8%
Total phosphorus water soluble present as mono ammonium
phosphate 13.2%
Total potassium present as potassium nitrate 16.6%
Zinc present as zinc sulphate 0.01%
Molybdenum present as sodium molybdate 0.01%
Cobalt present as cobalt sulphate 0.002%
Manganese present as manganese sulphate 0.05%
Iron present as Iron EDTA
Boron present as bonic acid

I would feed this once a week.

[pikevi]

hi,

I thought The high nitrogen content is for growth and high Phosphorous is for flowering and high potassium is for plant metabolism and (balance)osmotic pressure.

fred: Your earlier post suggests othewise. can you please clarify that?

Thanks.

[fred]

sorry about that
thanks for pointing that out.
It does not help posting when one has visitors.
I went back and fixed that up.
I use the campbells 11-13-16 all year round.
As I only grow small growing orchids I find this the best.

[BillC]

Hi Gang, I just thought I would put in my 5cents worth:

N = Nitrogen '7'-9-5
Nitrogen is the first major element responsible for the vegetative growth of plants above ground. With a good supply, plants grow sturdily and mature rapidly, with rich, dark green foliage.

P = Phosphorus 7-'9'-5
The second major element in plant nutrition, phosphorus is essential for healthy growth, strong roots, fruit and flower development, and greater resistance to disease.


K = Potassium (Potash) 7-9-'5' The third major plant nutrient, potassium oxide is essential for the development of strong plants. It helps plants to resist diseases, protects them from the cold and protects during dry weather by preventing excessive water loss.

7-9-5 is just the makeup of some guy's idea of what he thinks is good fert. Many firms produce differing levels of NPK for different types of plants, and as others have mentioned, suggest that different formulas should be used at start of growth season and at start of fruit/flower development. What you use depends on your own experience. Maybe Cynthia could post some basic general rules on orchid fertiliser, (She may have already done so!) Bill

[fred]

BillC
thanks for your 5 cents worth.
myself I think its worth a dollar.
thanks for your imput its very interesting

[pikevi]

I use 'Schultz' 19:31:17 and 'plantprod' 25:10:10

Every third application is 25:10:10. I am not sure if should cange that sequence around!

[Sharyn]

Billc: I wonder if the grower is using this higher potassium level in this formula because of the cold, dry winters here? Does that make any sense? I've just never seen a formula like this 13-3-17 and really wasn't sure what it meant. Thanks for your explanation. Just when I think I understand the fertilizer stuff - I have a new query!

[dennis]

sharyn here is my fertilizer from MSU 13-3-15-8Ca-2Mg for pure water (reverse osmosis and rain water)

here is thier other one MSU 19-4-23 for tap water *(Ideal for the Northeast region Well or Municipal water supplies)
instructions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSU fertilizer was formulated at Michigan State University with the help of PhD Bill Argo of the Blackmore Company. The closest to nutritionally complete of any orchid fertilizer on the market.#


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MSU 13-3-15-8Ca-2Mg for pure water (reverse osmosis and rain water)



Formulated for a regime of constant feeding.

Depending on you growing conditions a nitrogen PPM of 100 to 150 is a good starting point. This will satisfy most nutrition requirements safely for growing in slightly less than ideal growing conditions i.e. lower light or temperature.



To achieve this a slightly heaping 1/2 teaspoon and a full teaspoon of MSU per gallon produced the following analysis:



.6 tsp

103 ppm - nitrogen

10 ppm - phosphorus

99 ppm - potassium

For a TDS of 177ppm per gallon.



1 tsp.

172 ppm - nitrogen

17 ppm - phosphorus

164 ppm - potassium

For a TDS of 353ppm per gallon.



If your growing conditions are ideal you may wish to MAX OUT your nutrition at 250ppm.



1.5 tsp. or MSU produce the following analysis:

257 ppm - nitrogen

26 ppm - phosphorus

126 ppm - potassium

For a TDS of 529ppm per gallon



MSU - Guaranteed Analysis

Nitrogen (Nitrate 12.5%)

(Ammoniacal 0.7%) 13.00%

Phosphorus (as P2O5) 3.00%

Potassium (as K2O) 15.00%

Calcium 8.00%

Magnesium 2.00%

Iron 0.18%

Manganese 0.09%

Sulfur 0.09%

Zinc 0.04%

Copper 0.04%

Boron 0.02%

Molybdenum 0.02%



Components: boric acid, calcium nitrate, copper sulfate, iron EDTA, magnesium nitrate, manganese sulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, sodium molybdate, zinc sulfate.

[Sharyn]

Perfect Dennis! Almost the exact formula. This helps me a bunch. Thanks so much for your replies. I'm still on this upward learning journey and thanks to you and others, I feel blessed that you and the other forum members share your knowledge and helpfulness to those of us still learning.

[retiredbikelady]

When I first started out with this forum, Jerry told me to use a balanced fertilizer. So, I switched from Orchid fertilizer to the Peters All Purpose 20-20-20 that I use for my other plants. I fertilize weakly weekly, and my Dens put on a beautiful show at Christmas, and my Phals are just blooming all over themselves right now. This forum is a great place to learn about Orchids.

Junebug..........Southeast Florida

[Sharyn]

retiredbikelady: Love your avitar. Thanks for your reply. I forgot about Peters. I've been out looking specifically for orchid fertilizers and I didn't even think about regular plant fertilizers.

[kmarch]

I used to use Rapid Gro African Violet fertilizer on some of my orchids. It was a weak balanced, 7-7-7.

-Kevin

[Fabolusus]

I have been using the MSU fertilizer for a year now and it really does work great. This article might help:

http://www.msu.edu/~goddengr/publica...blications.htm

[Joaniep]

Thanks once again everyone for all the interesting and informative fertilizer information and links. You are all so generous with the time you take to share your orchid knowledge. It's much appreciated.

[Sharyn]

Fabolusus: Thanks for the link. After reading the article, I went back and checked the container I have. Oops! Looks like the old eyes weren't working. It's actually 13-3-15 as described in the article. So now I'm sure it is the MSU formula. Thanks for your help. And, a big thanks to all of you with your kind advice and knowledge.