Fertilizer/Calcium

I shudder to remember the unpleasantness here when MSU vs. Beer Formula was discussed. However, I remember being asked to post the results of the test I ran...over the winter...with like species, same size and stage of growth: one watered with the beer fert. and the other with MSU. Here are the results:

Roots on the (your) left with MSU. Roots on the right with beer forumula.

When Mark Randall was here Friday, he took pics of another two we compared...hopefully he will find this and post the photos.

Now...I have no special interest in MSU at all. Healthy roots, to me, are more important than size of leaves or plant. Healthy roots will support a plant for years to come.

PS The reason you see more Perlite in the left root ball is that the roots have held the ball together.

Edited to say that the hoyas are NOT H. naumanii....the hoyas are both H. montana. My mind went out for a sandwich while I was writing this!!!!

This message was edited Jan 21, 2008 7:31 AM

This message was edited Jan 22, 2008 4:14 PM

This is the photo of the other rooting experiment- both also H. naumanii. The rooted cutting on the left had beer fertilizer, the one on the right was watered with MSU fertilizer at 100ppm (right, Carol?).

Right, Mark. 1Tbsp. per gallon.

Calcium, in a form that is available readily to the plant (not all forms are) is essential for cell structure and soil less mixes are deficient in it.

This is NOT a rant about MSU Uber Alles...but rather a follow up to a previous discussion and the results of the trial.

Carol

This message was edited Jan 21, 2008 6:50 PM

Thank you so very much for the information on the experiment Carol, as you know I'm really new to hoyas but one of the first things I learned was that healthy roots was the key for a beautiful and happy plant. Also, they play a big role in the blooming part.
Thank you Mark for the pictures, they illustrate Carol's experiment well.
Lourdes

Carol and Mark,

Thanks for posting the results of the test. I myself have used nothing but MSU for tapwater for about eight months at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon and I will never use anything else. I love what it has done for my plants. Also, it is cheap, and it is easy to use.

Doug

The results look great. I guess I missed the earlier discussion so could you please tell what MSU stand for.

Bea

Bea,

MSU stands for Michigan State University, and it is a fertilizer they developed for use with soil-less potting mixes. There are two formulations one for tapwater and one for rain or RO water. It is available at many online stores that specialize in Orchids. You will also find it if you do a search on ebay.

Doug

Thanks Doug

I will have to do a search and see if I can find it. The results sure look good.


Bea

I get mine from www.firstrays.com (sorry, don't know how to do the hyperlink). I think they have reasonable shipping. I was quite pleased. They also have the larger varieties of perlite.

Interesting experiment, and thanks for sharing the results with us!

I've never used either of the fertilizers mentioned, but good root systems are most definitely the most important factor regarding any plant.

Thanks duncanji for the link above, too. Those are, indeed, great prices for the quanities offered!
Perhaps a stupid question, but I note that it's stated the MSU available is an *orchid* fertilizer. Are there MSU fertilizers for other plants, or do we use the orchid formula shown on the firstrays website store?

I'm guessing we wouldn't want to use this on plants considered 'foliage' plants?

Well, from what I understand the MSU fertilizer is formulated for orchids, which are also mainly epiphytes like hoyas. So while orchids are not foliage plants, they have about the same nutritional needs as hoyas.

That's what I figured from the little bit I read - thanks for answering my ?, duncanji.