BioGrow

[Johnny B]

My friend and neighbor recently got an all natural fertilizer made by a company called Biobizz. It is called Bio-grow. He has been using it on his houseplants including a few orchids. His house plants have taken off growing like wild fire! I am wondering if anyone on here has used it on there orchids? From everything I can tell it should work great for chids. Here is a link, let me know what you guys think? Thanks in advance for your reply!

BioBizz Bio-Grow from Growco Indoor Garden Supply

[Ray]

It is an interesting product, but I would have a few concerns.

It is sugar-based, which is purported to favor the growth of soil-borne bacteria, which aid in nutrient uptake. That's great in theory, but doesn't apply too well to orchid media. What might that do for mold growth?

It has absolutely no phosphorus in it, which is an essential nutrient element.

Some of the vitamins they list have not really been shown to affect orchids, although I know from my own experiments that dome can be a benefit.

There is a lot of potassium, and there are some information out there that epiphytes' overall health may be negatively affected by excessive K, especially when it exceeds the Ca?Mg availability, which the product apparently does not contain.

[katrina]

Is it sticky? Being that it's made from beet sugars makes me think sticky and if it is...it might attract unwanted visitors during the warmer months.

Also, it lists the nutrient content as NPK: 2-0-7 -- which means it's missing phosphorus all together. P is necessary for root and flower development...I wouldn't want to use a fertilizer that is lacking in this nutrient.

[1joyceh]

I have used all the biobizz products, they work great in veggie gardens...but is one of those lines where you need several products to make a complete nutrition plan for your plants. It is best in soil....not great in hydro or semi hydro, too much particulate matter that just stays there....building up and building up...and...as Katrina pointed out...is sweet and does attract visitors...

[Johnny B]

I appreciate the advice, I have used it twice along with my orchid fertilizer. It seems to have really perked my orchids up. It is sticky, and very thick. Once a month I also use epsom salt. That seems to help green things up quite a bit also. I do have another question regarding rooting hormone. Would it hurt my chids to put a little bit of KLN in the water for my plants during each watering, only until I saw more vigorous root growth. I have not been happy with the roots on most of my orchids, and really want to see more roots!

Thanks for the advice,

Johnny B

[1joyceh]

I occasionally put a little root stimulator in my orchids that look a little slow in the root department...but lately been finding the seaweed extract is doing pretty much the same....for the babies...so tried it on some catts and the roots are taking off!
glad the biobizz is doing well for your orchids...I would just flush a little more often when using...prevent buildup...

[Johnny B]

I did notice the build up on a couple roots, it seems to be a bit of a brow residue. It came off when I watered with my normal fertilizer and water. I think I will use it on them every 3 weeks or so. I guess as it gets warmer out I will need to be a bit more careful depending on where I keep my chids. If they are outside I am pretty sure I will have to spray them to keep the bugs away. I already use an organic snail/slug bait to keep those buggers away. They love that new growth on the roots and leaves way to much to ignore them. Thanks as always for the great advice, I will keep you all posted.

Thanks,

Johnny B

[katrina]

I'm confused. Why would you use something that is going to attract pests and then spray to keep the pests away? Why not just NOT use the stuff that's bringing them in?

Using pesticides...organic or not...should be a last resort. Insects can build up immunity to the organic ones also.

BTW, I wasn't going to say anything but...well...here goes. Nothing beats good culture for growing better roots. If your plants are weak in that area then you should be looking to your culture first...not to a product. Especially if you feel all of your orchids are lacking in the root department. There's nothing wrong w/a little boost added in (I use seaweed from time to time) but it's not going to solve a culture issue. I hope that made sense.

[Johnny B]

It certainly does Katrina, and it is much appreciated. I should have been more clear when I was talking about the pest being attracted to my plants. Some of the areas I move them to in the summer, regardless of what I do with them, draw in slugs. I am going to try a few different things this year. I have read on here that copper repels these slimy little things. I have a couple ideas with copper to see if that prevents my needing slug bait. I suppose a ring of salt around my benches would work good until it rained. I feel like I am more prone to kill off roots as opposed to seeing them flourish. My plants that I tend to less frequently seem to have more root growth. Humidity is one thing I battle with all day long, we have forced air in our house. Even with a humidifier I don't have many options where I can grow my plants in my house. I have really good West and North windows in our dinning room. There are 2 vents in this room however. So this brings the humidity down greatly. I mist the leaves on the plants regularly that seem to want more humidity. The large majority of my plants are in my basement where I have a large grow light with large mirrors surrounding my orchids. This provides them the most light possible, but it is cooler in the basement(64 day 60 at night). The chids I have down there seem to really do great, I don't have forced air running on them all day long. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated. Thanks as always for your advice, I learn so much every time I go on this site!

Thanks,

Johnny B

ps. sorry for being long winded.

[Brooke]

You are putting too much emphasis on humidity inside your house. Everyone living where there are real winters has the same issue you are experiencing. If your orchids are potted, you can use a more moisture retentive media and water more often. If you have mounts you may have to water multiple times a day. Spraying the foliage makes you feel better but really doesn't help your 'chids.

Have you ever used a light meter to determine how many fc's you are providing in your basement grow area?

Brooke

[Johnny B]

No I have not Brooke, I will do that and see where I am at in the basement. I have a few potted plants in all sphagnum moss, they seem to do pretty good. I water them on average once every ten days. I use the bamboo skewer method for watering. I wait till it is almost dry then water my chids. This has prevented me from over watering, which I must say I was guilty of when I first started playing with orchids. I do feel a little more successful, the past two winters I have had a problem either under watering or over watering and shriveling up the pbulbs on my chids. Since I became a Geek, I have learned to be more patient with my chids, and I am happy to say I have more happy plump pbulbs then ever before, and I have saved several thanks to the vast amounts of information and resources on this site! So thanks to everyone who has been kind enough to share there knowledge.

-Johnny B