Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: Neil on September 25, 2009, 04:17:22 PM

Title: Slow release fertiliser
Post by: Neil on September 25, 2009, 04:17:22 PM

Has anyone used a slow release fertiliser for their terrestrial orchids? If so what one and what quantity did you use?

Title: Re: Slow release fertiliser
Post by: Eric Locke on September 30, 2009, 08:52:52 PM

Quote from: neil on September 25, 2009, 04:17:22 PM

Has anyone used a slow release fertiliser for their terrestrial orchids? If so what one and what quantity did you use?

Hi Neil

Have not tried this myself ,but I was told by someone many years ago that they tried this with Pleione and lost them all  :'( , so beware.

Eric

Title: Re: Slow release fertiliser
Post by: Neil on October 02, 2009, 07:59:22 PM

Thanks for you reply Eric, Looks like I will have to do some experimentation then.

Title: Re: Slow release fertiliser
Post by: Stephen Vella on October 23, 2009, 08:31:49 AM

just to add that some slow release fert can actually be faulty and release too much so the dose is an over dose and this is when the orchids will suffer. Also some of the slow release only work at certain tempretures usually higher temps. Buy a reliable brand.

Title: Re: Slow release fertiliser
Post by: Paul T on October 23, 2009, 11:40:52 AM

Eric,

"Many years ago" could easily have been one of the older varieties that were more heat sensitive (i.e they dumped fertiliser if it got over a certain temperature).  Fertilisers of any decent quality are much more reliable now.

I tend to treat my Pleiones just like my bulbs (except I don't bury them) and when repotting I add some pelletised chicken manure, slow release food suitable for bulbs, and detergent additive to stop the pot becoming water repellent.  I don't have the wide range of species though.... mine tend to be hybrids that more or less look after themselves, if the damn possums don't decide that the bulb in winter looks like a tasty treat and take a nibble out of the bulb (sometimes such a big nibble that there is no bulb left).  ::)

Title: Re: Slow release fertiliser
Post by: Eric Locke on October 23, 2009, 09:56:13 PM

Paul you could well be correct about an older version of slow release fertilisers.
As I mentioned earlier,I have not tried these at all.
I tend to only use a small amount of Bone Meal mixed in the pleione compost and follow this with various liquid feeds during the season.

Eric

Title: Re: Slow release fertiliser
Post by: Stephen Vella on October 24, 2009, 12:02:12 AM

Interesting Eric that you mention bone meal i hear some growers here doing the same and like you Paul with the pellet ferts but buried beneath theh roots. Nurseries that grow Cymbidiums use this method.

cheers