Orchid fertilizer tips

Let's start our post with my latest bloom....RLC Summers Creation

Not all fertilizers are created......Since Ive been keeping orchids, I have began to fine tune my watering procedures. Ive started to check the ph of my water to keep it around 5.8/6. Ive been switching around fertilizers and have found that certain fertilizers will adjust the ph of your water to 6 for you. How cool!! There is no such thing as a good or bad fertilizer. You just have to know how to use it.

Quick facts, PH will effect micronutrient absorption.

MiracleGro Orchid Fertilizer

Now, this is not a bad product and it gets a pretty bad rap. I ha e noticed that when I add it to adjust water, it raises ph, so I have had to use more ph down with this.

Better Grow Orchid Food

I love this product! It pre adjusts my water to 6.0 for me at the recommended 1 teaspoon dosage. For my cattleyas and phrags, I do have to add some ph down, but not much. This has magnesium in it and does a great job of greening up your plants.

MSU Fertilizer for hard/tap water (Red Jar)

This is by far my favorite foodm It is a little on the steep side at 20 dollara for a small jar but the higher potassium dosage paired with the a idifying quality of the fertilizer is hard to beat. This formula was designed for hard water folks like us here in Ohio.

Comments

Problem with PH in Ohio

Water in Columbus, Ohio is very hard and alkline. For the longest time I was using tap water but my plants were developjng nutrient deficiencies left and right and my orchids had leaves covered in calcium deposits. So,I started adjusting my ph. I use PH down products to get the overal ph to a 6.o. Then, the addition of fertilizer will get the ph to drop a little to 5.8. Since I haved started this new water regime, my orchids are putting out multiple growths per orchid and numerous more flower spikes. These are some flasks of the new babies we will have for sale soon. Cattleyas for days!!

Bucket Orchids

I am very excited. My Coryanthes Misasii has arrived. It is very hard to find information on this species of orchid, but it is very cool. This orchid has a unique way to get pollinated. It fills this "bucket" with fragrant syrup, an orchid bee falls in, and has only one way to get out. It crawls through a small tunnel where the orchid places the pollen sack on the bees back. Very interesting. From a distance they look like flying butterflies. Some look a little naughty up close, but hey, they are just flowers. The care for this orchid seems like it would want to placed in spaghnum moss. Usually these orchids drop their flowers downwards, so they should be potted in a basket. The misasii has an erect flower spike, so thankfully, I'm okay there. It is a heavy feeder and i'm assuming with the way it uses liquid, it is a heavy drinker. I will keep you guys updated, but mine has a new growth. here's to finding out a new orchid. Good news, the pseduobulb ...

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