im scared to try anything stronger than Eleanors, can you guys/gals suggest anything else. i fertilize everything else 1/4 strength every other watering or when the fertilizer can happens to be the closest to grab. just new to this semi hydro thing, liking it already! lots of success with this method. i just dont know how to fertilize now ........ how weird ;)
jaci
semi hydro fertilizing
I, too, use Eleanor's when I have it (most of my hoyas are in hydroton), but I haven't had it in awhile and have just been recycling aquarium water for watering - seems to be doing the job!
Good question!
Kelly
I really like the Eleanor's VF-11 plant food and use it on everything. Sometimes I add a little fish emulsion fertilizer or a drop of super thrive. When I'm feeding my orchids, if I have water left, I've been known to use it on other blooming plants too, just because I don't want to waste the water.
I must admit though, I am lax at fertilizing. I don't seem to do it on a regular basis. I keep telling myself I'm going to get better and get into a routine but I'm a lazy gardener so when I feed my plants, it's sporadic, maybe once every month or so from April through September when I remember it!
I think I remember reading somewhere, maybe here on this forum? that Hoya's don't really need a lot of fertilizer?
Speaking of Eleanor's ... I'm down to one last bottle, and must order more! I wish they had a distributor here in Florida, I got an e-mail last year from them saying they were looking for a Fla. distributor, but for now I have to order it on-line. When googling awhile back I found a site for an Ace Hardware outlet that had some really good deals ... hope I can find it again!
I use MSU fertilizer, the same as in my potted up hoyas, every time I water, but not until there is a good root system. I mix it 1/4 tsp to a gallon of water. In the winter I fertilze a bit lighter, but never completely stop. Its important with semi-hydroponics though to flush out your containers periodicially. I'd forgotten this and just did it for the first time time this weekend. I plan on doing it monthly from now on.
Christine
I use MSU fertilizer as well. I know people swear by Eleanors, but it never impressed me and SuperThrive is really spendy (I use Hormex for rooting...same formula as ST with an added root hormone and less $$).
In the spring I foliar feed with Fish Fertilizer for a good N boost. I like the MSU Fertizer a lot!!!