Fertilization............

fertilization
Most orchids grow above ground (usually attached to the tree) and they get food from rain water that contains nutrients content (nutrients) that low levels, most orchids are not "heavy eaters".
Nutrient processed by plants through photosynthesis in the leaves of a process that will produce the carbohydrates needed for growth and development of orchids.
Nutrients can be obtained from compound fertilizer containing the main content of Nitrogen, and Potassium Phosporus (K), or commonly abbreviated as NPK. The percentage of NPK elements are usually listed on the label. For example: 45-10-10, means the fertilizer contains 45% Nitrogen, 10% and 10% Phosporus Potassium.
Nitrogen is important for plant growth (vegetative growth). If the excess will lead to growth in excess of normal (overweight) and will slow down the flowering (growth generative). Conversely, if the lack of nitrogen will cause plants to be stunted.
Phosporus useful to set up several activities to like: the formation of cells, encouraging root growth and stimulate flowering (growth generative). Phosporus deficiency will also cause the plants to be stunted and dark green leaves.
Potassium is useful for healthy growth. Shortage will cause the plants to be stunted.
In addition to the basic elements (N, P and K) or the so-called macro nutrients (macronutrients), plants also need other minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron etc which are usually called micro-nutrients (micronutrients) because the plants require only very little compared to N, P and K.
Fertilizer is ideal if the addition of nutrient elements also contain micro nutrients.
Based on construction materials, fertilizers generally divided into 2 types, namely:
• Fertilizer artificial / synthetic, ie fertilizer made from bahan2 chemical processing.
Example: Grow More, Hyponex, Dekastar, Vitabloom, etc..
• Organic fertilizer, which fertilizer made from organic bahan2 like manure (compost), fish oil, etc..
The procedure recommended fertilization:
• The seeds of plants given fertilizer with a high content of N (45-10-10).
For teens plants given fertilizer containing N, P, K-balanced (20-20-20).
And age of flowering plants can be interspersed with high P-yield fertilizer (10-40-15).
• Apply fertilizer with a lower dose of the rules listed on the packaging. Less is better than most.
Excessive fertilization is useless because the orchids are unable to absorb food quickly.
Salt that arise (shaped like a white crust) on the media and around the pot, or the end of the black leaves are a sign of excess fertilizer. Roots will be black if exposed to salt it, and if ongoing can cause plants to die.
• Apply fertilizer in the morning (7-9 hours in the morning), because the morning sun to help the distribution of these nutrients.
Avoid fertilizing during the day because it can burn the leaves.
• We recommend that you first flush the whole plant including the leaves with plain water before spraying fertilizer.
• Spray the fertilizer into other parts of plants (roots, stems, leaves) including the lower leaves.
Nutrients that enter the leaf through the stomata (mouths leaves) will be processed faster than those entering through the roots, because the process of photosynthesis in leaves was also performed.
There is an interesting article (click here) on plant breeding with the help of the sound of birds singing or garengpung.
• Once a month, soak or spray continuously orchid pots with clean water for a few minutes to clean and remove the remaining salt that may arise from excess fertilizer in the planting medium. Besides, to remove all remaining media destroyed plant.
• Fertilizer can be mixed with insecticides or fungicides according to their proportion.
• Do not give fertilizer on the sick plants.
I myself now more use of organic fertilizers (TopSoil, Neem Oil, etc.) rather than synthetic fertilizers. The surplus, environmentally friendly and drawbacks, rather smelly.
From several sites and nursery orchid lovers abroad, they use English salt (Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate) as a supplement (additional nutrients) for the orchids. Magnesium (Mg) is one of the essential micro-nutrient elements for growth and the beginning of the process of flowering orchids. In rain water, ground water, artificial fertilizer (Grow more, Hyponex, etc.) already present in the amount of Mg element a bit.
British Salt cheaper and can be purchased in stores or pharmacies chemistry. I myself have tried to measure 1 / 2 teaspoon for 2 l of water and given 2 weeks into other parts of the plant (leaves, stems and roots). Until now has not seen tanda2 negative effects.
Please read the orchid-lovers experience on this British salt and it never hurts to try.
Orchid consists of various kinds (genus) and the above information is to orchids in general.