Functions and benefits of fertilizer have been compromised. Not a few who memorized the function of each constituent of fertilizer nutrients. Nitrogen is useful for the leaves, phosphorus for flowering, and potassium for fruit. Many books, magazines, and brochures that explain this farm. However, rarely explained about the mechanisms and processes of fertilizer uptake by plants. The latter eventually led to some controversy in terms of fertilization. On the other hand, the controversy surrounding the fertilization actually utilized by several manufacturers of fertilizers to increase the sale value and as a tool of trade competition. The following discussion of the controversy surrounding the manure and fertilizer, with the only restriction for ornamental plants in the garden and in pots.

Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer(Fertilizer Chemistry)

The advantages of organic fertilizer than chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers more easily absorbed by plants, more environmentally friendly, organic fertilizers are not harmful to health, and so forth. And why is it so?

In fact, plants can not differentiate and can not choose which absorbed nutrients from organic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers. Plants absorb nutrients, through ion exchange mechanism, and in the form of inorganic ions. To be absorbed by plants, organic fertilizers have to go through a series of reform processes by microbes in the soil into inorganic ions / chemicals. So are absorbed by plants in the end still be inorganic ions / chemicals.

The concentration of the nutrient content of organic fertilizer is far below the content of chemical fertilizers. A few tons of fertilizer a few tens of grams of organic versus chemical fertilizers, for the nutrient content of the same size. Excess properties of this organic fertilizer (though more accurate to say lack of), rumored as environmentally friendly. The new statement was true when the use of chemical fertilizers and excessive dosing is not appropriate. Something reasonable, any excessive certainly not good for any thing.

So is there any advantages of organic fertilizers over chemical fertilizers?, Organic fertilizers have the advantage in terms of improving the physical and biological properties of soil, something that can not be achieved chemical fertilizers. But with the record, only the organic fertilizer which is still solid, in the form of compost or manure original. Organic fertilizer in liquid form, extracts, leaf manure, and the pellets, will not have the ability to improve soil structure. But what about the plants in pots? Amid the trend is the use of soilless media, of course, the above-mentioned excess properties become meaningless anymore.

When should I use organic fertilizer or chemical fertilizer?, As long as we intend to give nutrients to plants, use of chemical fertilizers. Why is that?, Besides a lot cheaper, more quickly absorbed by plants, is also more controlled. Wherever, whose name must be the same urea fertilizer, containing nitrogen (in the form of ammonium) by 46%. As for organic fertilizer, depending on the material than anything, what kind of livestock and manure-producing livestock eat, and others. More difficult to predict. But if the main goal is to improve soil structure, use compost, manure or original. Do not be influenced by advertisements in the form of liquid organic fertilizer, leaf fertilizer, or manure pellets. These same fertilizers with chemical fertilizers, but much more expensive.

When the market found to contain elements of organic fertilizer Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium respectively over 4%, be assured that the fertilizer has been enriched with chemical fertilizers.

Leaves and Roots Fertilizer

Is it true leaf fertilizer is more effective and efficient than root fertilizer?, True absorption of fertilizers through the leaves 10 times more effectively and efficiently than through the roots?, Really fertilizers through the leaves means providing plant nutrients directly to the kitchen?, The answer to the question above is used as one one commercial tool and a tool for adding value selling leaf fertilizer. In fact, there has been no independent and valid research that can answer questions about the above.

The fact has been acceptable, in addition to the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and other acquired and absorbed by plants from the soil through the roots. By design roots are specifically designed to absorb nutrients, through ion exchange.

What about leaves? At the beginning of the introduction of leaf fertilizer, said the absorption of nutrients through leaf stomata. But this is later rectified, because the stomata were only passable gas. Then developed other issues, absorption through the leaf surface (epidermis cells and kultikula), that looks like a weave. In fact, most of the plant leaf surface covered by a layer of oil, wax, and even covered with fine hairs. Circumstances will certainly be a factor inhibiting the entry of nutrients through the leaves.

Indeed, leaves, or even stems of plants can absorb nutrients, yet the roots still more effective and efficient in absorbing nutrients. In some cases, are nutrients such as K, and Ca easy to get into the plant tissue to leaves and even stems of plants. But that does not mean all the nutrients more easily absorbed by plants through the roots of the plants outside.

When leaf fertilizer can be used? When fertilizer use root difficult to apply, for example in epiphytic plants, like most orchids. This answered the question why the leaf fertilizer is very popular and widely used among orchid lovers. Plants that have just experienced the root pruning, removal of pots, or the conditions under which for the time being the root of hard working properly, leaf fertilizer will be helpful and beneficial.

Another fact, Orchids hydroponic agriculture more people would be selected not only for reasons of saving space, but also the belief of plant nutrients are more controlled, effective, and efficient through the roots. Or perhaps there are ideas cropping systems in small pots but only fertilizer applied through the leaves. Guaranteed losses that will be harvested.

Slow Release Fertilizer

This type of fertilizer is also a brilliant trade idea from fertilizer producers. It said slow release fertilizer is a chemical fertilizer that are similar to organic fertilizers. Absorbed by plants as needed, to not pollute the environment. Superb. Once again great. Is this true?

In fact, plants can not feel full then stop eating. Throughout the many available nutrients, along the same plants will absorb as much as available. This fact gave birth to the term luxury consumption. Throughout do not destabilize the soil solution chemistry, plants will absorb nutrients provided land. The results are used as food reserves and to reproduce themselves.

Slow release fertilizer is made ?, from chemical fertilizers are coated with specific layers that are permeable. The existence of the coating makes the chemical is released bit by bit according to the passage of time. If it's true that the release of the chemical elements according to the needs of plants, of course not be included in the packaging label usage rate period of 3 months or 6 months. The numbers are actually a whole time fertilizer. A number that describes the time period until exhausted release fertilizers contain content fertilizer.

When do we need to use a slow release fertilizer? If we include a lazy lover of orchids. Lazy flushing, and lazy to experiment. Is not one of the pleasures grow orchids is when we watered our favorite plants. Or maybe we are people who are more suitable with plastic Orchid plant.

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You have trouble blooming orchid plants?, Special treatment is needed to stimulate and accelerate the flowering process in your Orchid plants.

Granting MSG

Try to use the MSG / MSG to stimulate flowering, the content of monosodium glutamate has a role as a growth stimulating hormones (gibberellins) and trigger the orchid to produce gibberellins. Provision made ??in plants that are grown, function only as a catalyst. While the energy that support the occurrence of flowering in supply through provision of fertilizer.

Containment / Lid

Giving Containment / lid on the plant will cause humidity to rise, more stomata open wide so that photosynthesis is better; would be optimal if accompanied by the provision of  P elements with high doses. Use a cloth or paper with a dark color as the lid.

Light intensity

There is a difference in light intensity level needs (in general) between: 4000-5000fc dendrobium, phalaenopsis 2000fc, 3000-4000fc Cattleya. In bright daylight, the intensity of the sun 10.000fc be required percentage:  40-50% Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis 20%, 30-40% Cattleya (you can adjust it to use a different paranet size).

With the addition of setting the light intensity, seedlings  that should bloom at the age of 1.5 years, can already flowering at the age of 8 months. The addition can be done by drying without paranet on 07.00-10.00 am (in addition to Cattleya need longer dark conditions for flowering).

Setting the stability of nutrients with hydroponics techniques

Use a drip system (drip irrigation) to control the amount of fertilizer to the plant intake, do it with the provision of a complete liquid fertilizer and the addition of a systemic fungicide. Adjustable speed drops to the level of evaporation that occurs.

Use of hormones gibberellins

Performed on plants grown to spur diversity cell function, so that the cells are directed for growth of shoots can be transferred to the flowering process.

Dose according to the type of plants, generally 2 mg / liter. If the concentration is too small, flowering will not occur, it will grow shoots. If given too much will inhibit the formation of flowers or flower to grow but quickly fell out and then will not bloom at all.

Inhibiting growth hormone usage

This hormone is also called retardants, are widely used is Paclobutrazol. Function inhibits the growth of shoots that become dormancy, the energy of this phase will be growing and collected ... for 3 months. After that dormancy should be solved with the provision of gibberellins and the plant will bloom simultaneously.

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Coconut Water proved to have benefits for improving plant growth, Coconut Water is also used as additional nutrients in the tissue culture medium. Results showed that Coconut Water is rich in Potassium to 17%. In addition to mineral rich, Coconut Water also contains Sugar between 1.7 to 2.6 % and Protein 0.07 up to 0.55%. Other minerals such as Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Ferum (Fe), Cuprum (Cu), Phosphorus (P), and Sulfur (S). In addition to mineral rich, coconut Water also contains various vitamins such as Citric Acid, Nicotinic Acid, Pantotenal Acid, Folic Acid, Niacin, Riboflavin, and Thiamin. There are also Two mineral hormones, Auxin and Cytokinin is supporter of Coconut embryo cell division.

Research at The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) UP Los Banos revealed that Coconut Water can be extracted from hormone which then created a product called COCOGRO Supplements. Results study to show that the hormone product of the Coconut Water is able to increase soybean yields up to 64%, up to 15% for peanuts and vegetables up to 20-30%. With the elemental content of Potassium is high enough, Coconut Water can stimulate flowering in Orchids, like the Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis.

From now on, try to set aside a little Coconut Water for granted as additional nutrients to the Orchids bellowed. Good luck and don't forget to share information as an evaluation to your friends

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As we all know, that the plant is known as biological agents CO2 absorber very effective. Through a complex process of photosynthesis, CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere is converted to carbohydrates with the aid of sunlight energy. The result of photosynthesis and then spread throughout the plant to backfilled in a network or used directly to produce energy through respiration. Therefore, by measuring the number of elements of C (carbon) in plant biomass, it can be predicted much CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed by a species of plant.

In this world there are various types of plants. One of them are Epiphytic plants. Epiphytic plants are non-parasitic plants that use other plants as a place to grow during the life cycle. Or in other words, epiphytic plants grow only ride in a way attached to the trunk or branches of trees or other vegetation. Kress (1986) and Nieder et al (2001) mentions that the vascular plant species that live as epiphytes mostly found in tropical forests. Whereas in tropical, epiphytic plants represent 25 percent of all vascular plant species, and Orchid (Orchidaceae) is the main group of epiphytic plants (Dressler, 1993).

Bulbophyllum is one genus in the Orchid families(Orchidaceae), which has more than 1200 species in the world. Almost all members of this genus live as epiphytes plants. Marga This includes having enough growth rate relatively fast compared to other Epiphytic Orchids. This type of growth that simpodial and often creeping along the surface of the media make this plant more quickly cover the surface of the media compared with monopodial epiphytic orchids such as Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Malleola, Cleisostoma etc.

Some of the benefits of Epiphytic plants as carbon sinks when compared with other terrestrial plants including: plant epiphytes are generally tolerant of light intensity under the canopy of host trees; epiphytic plants are very efficient to fill the space tree trunk surface thereby increasing the absorption of CO2 is higher when compared with the surface of tree trunks that are not overgrown with epiphytic plants; generally epiphytic plants have evolved to adapt to limited sources of water and nutrients around the growth as well as plants that can efficiently utilize the moisture from the water flow in the trunk of trees when it rains for the growth of epiphytic orchids. Due to the absence of epiphytic plants, moisture in the skin surface and shaft fractures trees will just evaporate and go away because the process of evapotranspiration. Therefore, with the advantages of epiphytic plants in utilizing the space as well as the limitations of growth factors that exist, it is important to know the extent of epiphytic orchids potential to increase carbon absorption capacity.

The observation of several kinds of orchids Bulbophyllum showed that Epiphytic Orchids has enough potential that effective and efficient as CO2 absorbent agent to maximize the space to grow on the surface of tree bark. In general, leaf surface area produced by the orchid Bulbophyllum much broader than the broad field of growing orchids themselves. In the field grew by 100 cm ? leaf surface area can be generated between 234.36 up to 532 cm ?. Thus, the presence of epiphytic orchids on bark surface will add to the field of chlorophyll that can perform photosynthesis, so that automatically will also improve the absorption of CO2 in tree bark surface area. While the biomass produced by growth in epiphytic orchid show that orchid Bulbophyllum can also act as effective carbon storage and efficient. It is shown from the mean dry weights ranging from 1 to 10 g per 100 cm ? surface area of the field grow. Bulb parents on the orchid Bulbophyllum presisten generally remain attached to the skin and tree / growing medium, although the leaves have fallen, because this old bulb to function as reserve food and water for the growth of young shoots next. Therefore, the carbon is in the old bulb networks will survive as the carbon stored over the old bulb has not fallen on the ground and decomposes.

Kind used in this observation include Bulbophyllum lepidum (Blume) JJSm., Bulbophyllum membranaceum Teijsm. and Binn., Bulbophyllum odoratum (Blume) Lindl., Bulbophyllum purpurascens Teijsm. and Binn., Bulbophyllum inunctum JJSm., and Bulbophyllum vaginatum (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Seeing the potential of  orchids Bulbophyllum as Epiphytes plants that can produce the leaf surface area large enough and produce biomass through photosynthesis, although with limited growth factor on the surface of the bark, such as limited water supply, lack of nutrients, and light intensity shaded, then the orchid is proven as an agent absorbing CO2 and carbon storage is an effective and efficient. Therefore, the surface of tree bark is covered with epiphytic orchids like Bulbophyllum, will have a field of more optimal absorption of CO2 compared with the skin surface of the tree trunk is not covered by epiphytic plants.

Therefore, let's start planting trees stems beside our house with various types of Epiphytic Orchids of the genus Bulbophyllum. In addition to adding aesthetic value because of the beautiful flowers, will also increase carbon absorption field along the surface of the rod is covered with orchids. Although the contribution of carbon sequestration is low, but if everyone can do it, then its contribution will also be significant.

Reference:

http://blog.sivitas.lipi.go.id/blog.cgi?

Dressler, Robert L., 1993. Phylogeny and Classification of the Orchid Family. Melbourne. Cambridge University Press.

Kress, WJ, 1986. The Systematic Distribution of Vascular epiphytes. Selbyana 9: 2-22.

Nieder, Jurgen., Juliana Prosperi, Georges Michaloud., 2001. Epiphytes and Their Contribution to Canopy Diversity. Plant Ecology 153: 51-63. Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

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