Which fertilizers? ratios?

[Normkp]

Hi,

Now that I have my new orchids home from the show (Den. Brass. Lc Onc Phal) it's time to start feeding them.

First, what about the fertilizers I have now? Do I give them away? I have a couple of McClellen preparations, their bloom formula 6-30-30 and their 6-25-25. I also have Miricle Gro 15-30-15 (don't laugh). But I don't know where to start. I've read enough to know lots of you like Worm Tea and some talk about the MSU formula. Both seem expensive. Is that just how it is.?

Norm

[articuno75]

The OVE wormtea is not expensive. It's the shipping that's gets ya. Two of our beloved members here can get it for you at better shipping rates. Jerry Meola and Arleneg. The tea is concentrated and makes a ratio of something like 50 to 1. (1/4 c. to a gallon of water) The tea can also be recaptured and reused. Some members don't like the concept of this idea due to risk of contamination, but a lot of other members practice this method. (I do ) The tea is good for up to a year (concentrated form) and prepared tea is good for a couple of months if you're recapturing.

I also mist with the tea and this is where I lose my stuff. (I need to buy more )

Can't tell you about MSU, I never used it.

As for the Miracle Gro I won't laugh at you. I have it too and have started re-using it here not too long ago. Truthfully I have seen some results in root growth and my Iwan. Appleblossom is growing like something fierce. So I'm not going to totally knock MG just yet.

Rule of thumb for fertilizer is "weakly weekly" and on the 4th week give it a good flush so that any residue is removed. You don't have to worry about this with wormtea.

Hope this helps

[Andrew]

The 15-30-15 should be OK as a general fertilizer. The 6-30-30 and 6-25-25 can be used as 'bloom boosters' to encourage better quality flowers but they probably won't provide enough nitrogen for good growth if used year round on their own. Realistically, NPK ratios are not as important as people make them out to be. MSU's formulations are supposed to be excellent but if you're not growing your plants under optimal conditions you may not see any difference between it and any run of the mill complete fertilizer. People on this forum have had a lot of success with Worm Tea but the vast bulk of awarded cultural certificates have been achieved without it. Tackle the real issues of light, temperature, water/media, humidity/airflow etc and bother about 'which fertiliser' later.

[FLaCo]

I agree with Andrew. Although, a fertilizer is a important eventually...it is more important to get your plants' perks right. Find that balance of light, water, air and good 'airy' medium like bark chunks and/or charcoal.

It is easy to want to do many things at once with orchids. This 'orchid anxiety' or OA for short can sometimes lead to over water, fertilizing etc. You are off to a good start since already you are online looking for information.

I believe your ferts are good enough just keep in mind when applying/mixing the solution... that more isn't always better.

[Hummer344]

I have never been a fan of Miracle Grow products. They didn't do the job for me in my garden. Since you are in the bay area you probably have an OSH in your neighborhood and you can get Grow More Orchids foods there. I have had good success with them but I also change products at a whim. Last year I used the growth formula in the spring and thought I had better, & more growth. The rest of the year I use the balanced formula. I don't use the bloom stuff at all. I recently bought some worm tea and used it on my orchid on a stick. I didn't see anything that one might call an immediate improvement but will use it for a few more months & see what happens. All that being said, you will get many opinions about fertz on the forum. You just have to pick one and go with it.

[mbasden]

I always thought the Algoflash products work good. And I also do the recapture method. Here is a quick link. Give it a look.Park Seed: Seeds and plants for vegetable, flower, annual and perennial gardening.

[FLaCo]

I use the Better-Gro stuff. Some nurserys even regular Peter's 20-20-20. I might switch to that and see what goes on.

[FLaCo]

By the way is the ratio of the worm-teas you guys use?

I bought a bag of of worm-castings and plan on making my own bags using coffee filters.

[tom499]

I would agree as said before.

I use fertiliser occasionally. Most plants will get two or three waterings with a growth fertiliser in the spring, then really i dont bother much, just the occassional watering.

Some people wont bother to fertilise atall, depending on the plants, as the media itself will have what the plants want.

Wormtea has been proven to be a good all round fertiliser as well as an aid in dealing with insects.

But again, like with normal fertiliser, just abit here and there. Plants dont need large amounts, it will just wash through and be wasted.

[Normkp]

I love you guys! Together your posts have taken away most of the mystery. Practicle info about worm tea and others, plus perspective. "Tackle the real issues of light, temperature, water/media, humidity/airflow etc and bother about 'which fertiliser' later," as Andrew says. It's the context and perspective that all of you provide that makes this forum such a teasure.
Norm

[jay]

The MSU seems to be expensive, but you get a large tub and only use 1/4 teaspoon per gallon. It goes a very long way.

[jerrymeola]

Normpk

I would not use either of the formulas you have. High Phosphorus fertilizers only work if your plant is deficient in Phosphorus. In a healthy plant, Orchid or tropical, Phosphorus will kill the beneficial microbes in the pot.

Orchids will bloom on their genetic schedule and 'Bloom Boost' is a great sale ad but does not work and is detrimental to the orchid.

Use a balanced fertilizer 20-20-20 or 13-13-13 etc.

I am not opposed to Miracle grow but use the balanced formula.


MSU is good for much of the country but is balanced for their water conditions. They are high in Calcium for example and reduce the amount in their fertilizer. They balance the fertilizer to utilize the PH of their water, which is appropriate for most of the country. Michigan water is probably similar to most of the Northern states and the PH is probably accurate for most of the country.

There is no single solution for everything. Trial and error is still the best.

FlaCo
soaking casting will not do much of anything for you. Castings are a true fertilizer but dissolve slowly. It would be better to add it to your potting medium and it will fertilize your plants as they are watered. I am running some experiments on this method but no reportable results yet. The casting are dry so they will never have the live microbes of a liquid tea extracted directly from the worm bed.

[FLaCo]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

Normpk


FlaCo
soaking casting will not do much of anything for you. Castings are a true fertilizer but dissolve slowly. It would be better to add it to your potting medium and it will fertilize your plants as they are watered. I am running some experiments on this method but no reportable results yet. The casting are dry so they will never have the live microbes of a liquid tea extracted directly from the worm bed.

Thanks for the heads up; this way I don't waste my time.