Tips from Roy Tokunaga
Flower Boosting Summary:
Roy’s visit to CVIOS, September 2018
Roots and environment perfect. PH must be 5-6, humidity 70 to 80%. Low salts in media
Give as much light as plants will tolerate with lots of aeration
Use high calcium fertilizer one month before spike formation. Use at a rate of half teaspoon per gallon per week. With 1/8 of a teaspoon micro nutrient such as Millers Microplex
Extra Phosphorous does not help. See article “Without High Phosphorus” by Jan Szyren, Orchids magazine June 2003
Less nitrogen helps. Ammonia and urea will favor vegetative growth at the expense of flowers. Nitrates ok
Roy’s Secret Potion:
On mature plants just before spikes appear apply calcium type fertilizer like Peters Cal Mag Special at 1/8 tsp per gallon with a micronutrient such as Millers Microplex at 1/8 tsp per gallon. Apply weekly until flower/spikes appear for a maximum of 3 months. If it doesn’t work, we need to run diagnostics. Something needs to be fixed.