Richard Driessen, cultivation specialist at OK Plant, has specialized in the cultivation of Phalaenopsis over the past 15 years. He has been using DCM organic fertilisers for many years.
‘A basic fertilization with an organic DCM fertiliser guarantees a good start. Thanks to the controlled nutrient release, the plants get everything they need during the first few weeks, which is important for the health of the plants.’
Richard explains: ‘We have been using DCM since we knew that fresh bark absorbs a lot of the nutrition – that comes with the irrigation water – which is then no longer available to the plants. This means the plants absorb the nutrients when they are watered or just after watering, but that’s it. By using an organic basic fertiliser at the start of cultivation in the final pot, a controlled release of nutrients is ensured.’
‘We saw very good results during the first tests with an improved basic fertiliser that does not leach out immediately. The plants got a faster start, were more compact and greener! In recent years, it has become clear that a dosage of 2 to 3 kg DCM (per cubic metre of bark) gives the best results. In tests where no organic basic fertiliser was applied, plants clearly showed that a lack of nutrients. These plants always stand out in a negative way.’
