Slow release fertiliser

[Neil]

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

[Eric Locke]

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

[Neil]

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

[Stephen Vella]

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.

[Paul T]

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). 

[Eric Locke]

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

[Stephen Vella]

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