Do you guys use just one fertilizer, or do you supplement with another? For example, I've used MSU and I also spray with diluted Eleanors - is this overkilll? Thanks!
Karen
fertilizer regimen
Hi Karen! I have been using Better Gro orchid fertilizer, either bloom booster formula or regular. The Hoya seem to like it. I have wanted to try Eleanors. What is your dilution ratio for your foliar spray?
Barb
P.S. Tell Bets I said "hey!".
Edited for typo.
This message was edited May 20, 2008 9:50 AM
I started using MSU this season my hoyas have suddenly taken off! I bought a huge H. kerrii about five years ago, for example, for the first time since I purchased it it's forming buds at every peduncle (about 15).
I also mist my plants with the same MSU formula....I guess a logical question would be, what are the signs of over-fertilizing?
Julia
Hi Barb! I use a bottle cap/quart of Eleanor's. And I will tell Betsy you said hey!!
Julia - hmmm - that is the question, isn't it - anyone have any experience with the signs of overfertilizing?
Thanks!
Karen
Karen, major over-fertilizing will show leaf burn, like Christine says. Minor over-fertilizing will probably produce lots of soft, large-leaved growth and a lack of flowers.
I know there are those who swear by Eleanores. I was very underwhelmed by it...it did NOTHING for anything in the GH. I use just MSU @1/2T per gal. of water once a week or once every two weeks. I try to keep it really simple....
Carol, I've been adding MSU every time I water my plants - once a week or more...should I cut back?
Julia
Julia...I would just watch for salt build up. After reading this thread, I think I may be using too much fert.....
IMHO a little bit every time is better and a large hit every once in a while.....
C
So, if you have salt build-up, what can you do about it ? And does the tap water
contribute to that also ?
Paula
I believe that a simple 'flush' with plain old water will help rinse the salts out of your potting medium.
A lot of folks will water with ferts 4/5 feedings (or similar numbers) and give a thorough watering on the 5th feeding with only clean water, making sure to 'flush' the pot so that the clean water runs through for a little bit. This should help from any deposits building up in your soil and/or soiless mix.
Thanks - that's good to know...
Paula... The make up of your tap water will be different than anyone elses'. You might call the Kona Outdoor Circle hot line and find out if the Kona water is considered 'hard' or not.... Generally, letting your tap water sit out, exposed to the air for 24 hours will flash off the chlorine and flouride added to it...tropicals really pout when they get too much heavily treated tap water.
Some people with really hard water will add a bit of vinegar to break down the salts in the water (some forms of calcium will not breakdown on their own).... Best to have is a good analysis of your tap water, let it stand out in the air for a while so the chemicals flash off. BEST is to collect rainwater in a large tank...
yes, flushing the pots can get rid of the salt build up....
HTH
Great, thanks Carol. That's exactly what I wanted to know.
So, I will call and find out about my water and I will also leave it
out to sit a day or so before I water my plants.
I don't have anywhere to collect rainwater ( also mosquitoes, uuggh ).
Too bad, cause these past few weeks we've had our fair
share of rain !
Paula
You live in an apt? I have seen collections here where they used a small sheet of corrugated roofing metal, say 3' wide and 3' tall. get an old length of gutter (dumps are wonderful for that)...put the gutter so it will run into a 5 gal bucket and the sheet metal so that it will flow into the gutter...prop the roofing up at a slant.
Corner of roofs work too. Actually, you can run a piece of wire or a string down from the roof where it will channel the water down...and put the other end in a bucket! i catch water all the time around the GH ...garbage can lids...anything. When 2 days go by, I pour it into an empty detergent bottle....
I just put up a potting bench on my deck to find that I have a leaky gutter over it. That is where the watering pot goes. Fills overnight if it rains.