Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 5/7/2011

Question
I'm growing a few Drosera Capensis (Typical) at the moment.

I want to try the foliar feeding technique described in your e-book, but I don't know what you mean by "Bromeliad Fertilizer". I live in South Australia, and can't find anything like that at all. Everything is high in Nitrogen, and even looking worldwide, I can only find one fertilizer that lists itself as Bromeliad Fertilizer. Do you have a specific brand that you use?

I'm growing my plants under 40W flurorescent tubes, in standing, distilled water, and a soil mixture of 50/50 peat moss and perlite, and have had them for a few months now.

Answer
Don't worry about the bromeliad fertilizer.  We understand it's a difficult product to find, but it's not at all necessary to use that particular type of fertilizer.  Use any orchid fertilizer that has a higher concentration of nitrogen than phosphorus and you'll be fine.  If you're not sure which to use, just make sure that the phosphorus levels are 10 or less.  Nitrogen should be 10 or more.  

But the bottom line is that almost any fertilizer will be fine since you'll be diluting.  When diluted, the specific type of fertilizer you use doesn't matter.  

I know the issue of fertilizer is confusing, and I'll be addressing it more in depth in the second edition of the ebook.   (I'm currently writing it right now.)  As long as you dilute the fertilizer to the recommended concentration, you can use nearly any fertilizer that you find.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin