Physan & Fertilizer

[chrisa]

Hello everyone,

Can I mix Physan 20 and fertilizer together? I fertilize every week and once every three months I just water with Physan only. The method that is used is that I mix my fertilizer in a bucket and use a syphon attached to the watering hose. Just to save time, I may be just getting lazy, I would like to mix the Physan and fertilizer together.

What do you think?

[cakedaddy]

It depends on the fertilizer...some will precipitate(sp?).
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[sammywolffox]

Good morning Chris,
You raise a very interesting question. Like you I grow my orchids in a sunroom. I believe growing in a sunroom just makes a person a glorified windowsill grower because you still have to move each orchid individually for watering, treatment etc. No matter how careful I try to be, I sometimes injure new growth. No matter how carefully I look at my plants, to evaluate health/condition, I occasionally spread pests and disease. If something could be added to to water/fertilizer that would retard the spread of pests and disease it would be very beneficial. I would like to know the strategies others use to efficiently water/treat orchids when they do not have the benefit of a greenhouse. Thanks for your post.

[raybark]

I don't think it'll be a problem, but that's easy enough to test: Next time you water/feed, fill a cup with the solution, then add a few drops of Physan. If there is no effervescence or precipitation, you're good to go.

[chrisa]

Sammywolffox- Bingo! I am transitioning from a sunroom grower to a greenhouse; trying to plan a strategy because I do see some "algae" in the pots, not sure what is causing it but it is primarily in the Paphs that I water twice a week.

Ray, was hoping you would chim in. Currently, I am following the regiment you suggested using your seaweed extract (LOVE IT!) and your MSU. I know what effervescence is, but what would precipitation look like?

[sammywolffox]

I wonder if other products could be used that would be as effective or possibly more effective? Some of the products that come to mind are Neem Oil, Bayer 3 in 1 or a broad spectrum fungicide such as tetrachloroisophthalonitrile.

[raybark]

Chrisa - precipitation would be the settling of solids.

Sammy - I try to avoid oils, as they can lead to burning if applied incorrectly. I would not use the Bayer product as it is a combination that includes insecticides, and preventive treatments of insecticides are definitely to be avoided. Physan is a pretty good general disinfectant and algaecide, but I lean toward Oxidate (pump spray bottle) or Zero-Tol (hose-end sprayer), which is hydrogen peroxide stabilized with peroxyacetic acid. It is very effective, and as far as I can tell, offers absolutely no phytotoxicity, even in the most sensitive of plants.