Howdy Y'all,
Is nutricote a good fertilizer for paphs? I am not sure of the numbers, but I was told by a local grower it is really good, and being used heavily in Asia. Any comments or experiences? I will try to get the numbers soon. It is a time release pellet doled out on top of the mix.
Thanks in advance,
Tadd

I think the number sare 13-13-13? Does that sound alright for paphs? I useit very sparingly. Not the reccommended dose. Any help?

I think the number sare 13-13-13? Does that sound alright for paphs? I useit very sparingly. Not the reccommended dose. Any help?

I think it should be fine if you use it sparingly.

I think its popular in Asia because people here usually dont fertilize their plants frequently. The Nutricote is a kind of "set it and forget it" type solutions.

However if you fertilize your plants on a set schedule, then the Nutricote becomes unecessary.

Oh and one more thing. I usually use Nutricote more as a top dressing. I dont mix it along with any potting media where theyd get too close to the roots.

If it were me, I don't think I'd use it. I've used osmocote for tomatoes and herbs and such. I never really know when to reapply (haven't paid that much attention, post orchids, I neglect others.) I often see it used in nurseries, and figure it is a time saving effort. But for your paphs, I'd probably use something else, if possible. JMHO. :)

I mix in osmocote into my medias for paphs. no problems yet.

I use Nutricote on some of my orchids I use it as a top dressing.

I have used osmocote on a number of cattleyas. A sizeable quantity of catts died. There roots certainly didn't like it. It does burn roots. Because of this I refuse to use it on my paphs. I have returned to wettable powder fertilizer for all my plants. If you do use the nutricote --- use it VERY SPARINGLY!

I do infact use it on almost all of my paphs. I do use it extremely sparingly. Probably not even enough to make a difference in the amount of fert they get. Each pot only gets a few granules under 10 for each pot. I flush and leach pretty regularly. Thanks for the info.

Oh and one more thing. I usually use Nutricote more as a top dressing. I dont mix it along with any potting media where theyd get too close to the roots.

I agree 100% ! if it gets in direct contact with the roots, they stop growing immediately and tend to rot... you can put it in a small bag (tea-bag style) on top of the pot and pour the water on the bag as you water the plant....

I have not used Osmocote on Paphs or Prags yet althought I plan too. Many people I know do use it on cymbidiums which is where I use it now.
I have called the "Florican company" and have looked at their catalog on line. There are around fifty differant fertilizers for sale by that company and only two were recomended for use on orchids of any kind.
13-13-13 and 17-6-8. Any fertilizer used should be a total time release fertilizer. Many of the fertilizers are not totaly osmocoted (Coated for time release)but have free fertilizer at a very high concentration imediately available to the plant (Not for use on orchids) plus osmocoted fertilizer.
Use the stuff at your own risk but I believe you will be all right if you choose the right formula.
http://www.florikan.com/main.php?mode=products&section=tpg .
Look at the above web site and you may understand Osmocote a lot
better.

I recall a discussion with a Paph expert who said that he believed that the time release fertilizers do not always release their fertilizer evenly. When more than normal is released, you risk burning the roots of sensitive orchids, especially Paphs and Phrags.

One mistake in my earlier post (Other than grammar) 13-13-13 and 18-6-8 Nutricote are recomended by Florican for some Orchids (Not necessarily Paph and Prags). I have a bag of 13-13-13 and it is make in Toyko.
Comment about people us use the stuff being lazy - I recently visited a large producer of orchids in Homestead Florida 4,000,000 orchids under cultivation and about that many bromiliads - how would you like to water and fertilize that much with a siphon mixer - chuckle! That just in the 80 acre greenhouse they have another 60 acre greenhouse. Its hard to imagine a greenhouse so big you that you cant see the far end of it.
The reason I use it on cymbidiums is that I grow about a 1000 outside and the rain washes the water soluable fertilizer away too fast (Cymbidiums are heavy feeders) I keep my paphs and prags inside and use the Greencare fertilizer. (MSU formula) I would be lazy and it might be risky to use nutricote. Will wait till I have a few more but too many would take the fun out of it .