| September
is the crucial time of year for our orchids. The long,
hot days and nights of summer are limited. A welcome
cooling phase is on the horizon.
Since the best growing season is coming to an end,
our orchid collections should be at their peak. Everything
should look fantastic. Now is the time to insure the
best growth for next season.
We are top-dressing our orchids with Nutricote Total
13-13-13, 180 day formula, at the rate of one teaspoon
per 6 inch pot. Smaller pots receive less; larger pots
receive more. This excellent time-release fertilizer
is sold at Home Depot as Dynamite 13-13-13 in the red
tube.
Dynamite (Nutricote) is not a kick-ass nutritional formula
that is a cure all or a fertilizer that will promote
rapid, soft growth. Instead it gradually - emphasis
on gradually - releases its nutrients basically depending
on temperature and water.
Phalaenopsis are notorious for yellowing lower leaves
and the subsequent loss of these leaves. Chemically,
a blooming plant increaes its use of magnesium. Mg is
literally sapped from the lower leaves causing them
to yellow and drop. Dynamite virtually stops this problem.
Good Growing!
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