Growth Technology Orchid Focus BLOOM - 250ml

Want to level up your plant care game by upgrading your fertiliser? Only have a few plants, or not ready yet to commit to the bigger 1 litre size? Then this 250ml was made for you (well, for your plants). From just 3mls per 1 litre water, this 250ml bottle makes up to 50 litres once diluted! 

Which plants is GT Orchid Focus BLOOM for?

For your Orchids, Hoyas and other flowering plants with similar higher nutritional requirements and sensitivities, such as African Violets. Originally developed for the renowned Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London, home to the famous Kew Gardens' annual Orchid Festival.

When to change from BLOOM to GROW

If you don't know your plant's usual cycle from the grower or last season's growth, you can shift from GROW to BLOOM at first sight of a spike, bud or peduncle, or new buds on existing spurs. It's best to know your plant's cycle and shift to bloom before the first spike or buds appear. Continue feeding BLOOM until flowering finishes, then shift to GROW. 

Orchids and Hoyas need the same 12 essential minerals, but amounts required change depending on the lifecycle phase. The biggest nutritional variation is between mineral requirements during the vegetative phase (when growing foliage), versus the reproductive state (when flowering).  

During the vegetative phase, mineral requirements are not the same as the reproductive phase, requiring the shift from a bloom to a grow formula, supporting the growth required for repeat blooming next season. During the reproductive phase, a drop in nitrogen is a key difference to shift a plant's focus from foliage to flowering, with phosphorus, potassium, calcium levels and more different also. 

Directions for Use

One 5ml pipette included FREE with every order (not one per bottle). Get extras here: 5ml pipette or 3ml pipette.

Dilute 3mls to 5mls (up to 1 teaspoon) per 1 litre water. To avoid irreversible deficiencies in immobile nutrients (such as calcium), it's recommended to fertilise with GT Focus every time you water.   

Who are GT?

Growth Technology are known in the industry as GT. The clever chaps behind world-famous Clonex (marketed here Yates). Lucky for us, GT created a specialist crop-specific nutrient range called GT Focus, each tailored to match a plant's unique nutrient needs.

Although every GT formula is different, there are some things that stay the same...  

Calcium

Calcium is essential, yet most fertilisers don't include it. Common signs of calcium deficiency include:

• Cracked, split, cupping or curling, weaker leaves
• Slower growth
• Twisted or deformed new growth
• Pale or yellowing new growth
• Buds that fall off before plants flower (a cause of bud blast in Orchids and Hoyas) 

All GT formulas include calcium, immediately available to plants, however GROW and BLOOM have increased calcium levels to meet the higher demands of Orchids, Hoyas and other calcium-lovers. No guesswork needed with supplements. No human foods needed that can attract Fungus Gnats or take ages to break down. 

Free of Urea

The most common nitrogen source in fertilisers, however harder for orchids and hoyas to convert into life-giving nitrogen. With urea as the nitrogen source, the risk of fertiliser burn increases. GT Orchid Focus GROW and BLOOM are guaranteed urea-free, using instantly available nitrate instead. 

No Chlorides

Potassium Chloride tops the list for the highest-salt index of all common fertiliser ingredients. High-salt fertilisers are most definitely not good for orchids or hoyas. High chloride levels can scorch foliage and stunt growth, change soil pH, turning safe nutrients toxic, putting plants at risk of an early, yet preventable death. GT Orchid Focus is free of chlorides.

Complete + Balanced

Most fertilisers provide Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) only (NPK). 'The Big 3' plants need the most of, but not all 12 that a plant needs. GT provides all 12 essential minerals Orchids and Hoyas need. GT is formulated for Orchids and genera with similar nutritional requirements. That means no nickel or cobalt (essential for crops such as barley, and legumes such as beans), but potentially toxic, even in low levels for Orchids and Hoyas. No added sodium. Essential for some C4 plants (like celery and spinach), but phytotoxic for Orchids and Hoyas. All GT formulas are both complete and balanced. Everything plants need, nothing they don't.

pH Buffered

Most Orchids and Hoyas we keep are epiphytes which do best with a pH close to that of rain, around pH 6. Even if you provide all 12 essential minerals, if the pH is wrong, nutrients can be locked in the soil. A pH of 6 keeps all 12 essential nutrients safe and available. GT Focus is pH buffered to maintain an ideal, slightly acidic pH.

Chelated Minerals

Pronounced 'key-lay-ted' (like a key in a door). For Orchids and Hoyas to utilise the 5 essential metal minerals they need to be in a water-soluble form. Chelating attaches organic molecules to metal minerals such as iron, keeping them water-soluble, unlocked and available. GT Focus uses chelated metal minerals to help avoid deficiencies. 

Find out when to expect your indoor orchid to bloom and how to get them to flower again (and again) Learn more >