Originally developed for the renowned Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London, GT Orchid Focus is now available in NZ. Also an international go-to for hoya hobbyists.

What plants is GT Orchid for?

Formulated for orchids and plants that share similar nutritional requirements. Especially popular for hoya. Also beneficial for peperomia, begonia, roses, african violets, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellia and magnolia. 

Why a special fertiliser for flowering?

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

Without all 12 essential minerals available, in the right amounts, at the right time, orchids and hoya may not bloom at all, or may produce fewer buds and flowers. Buds can also fall without flowering (bud blast), and flowers have a shorter life. 

The production of millions of pollen grains during flowering is responsible for a huge amount of mineral uptake. During the reproductive phase, mineral requirements are not the same as the vegetative phase, requiring the shift from a grow to a bloom formula. 

"...it's the care you give, including what you feed, when an orchid or hoya is NOT flowering, that can be the key to unlock successful flowering next season."

When to change from Grow to Bloom

Shift at the first sign of a new spike on orchids, a new peduncle, or new buds on an old spur on hoyas. However if you know your plant's lifecycle, change to BLOOM when your plant is due to shift to the flowering phase, before buds form. Continue feeding BLOOM until flowering finishes. 

Why is GT Orchid Focus unique?

#1 CALCIUM

Most fertilisers are missing calcium entirely. The few that include it are 2-part formulas. Growers have to resort to supplementing calcium separately (with guesswork to avoid over-dosing). Without sufficient calcium, irreversible damagecan occur in new growth. Signs also include yellow leaf margins, black leaf tips, early flower drop, buds that form but don't flower, and weak, curled leaves. GT Orchid Focus includes calcium, in a single-dose formula, at the higher level orchids and hoyas need to prevent irreversible deficiencies.

#2 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.

#3 NO UREA

The most common nitrogen source in fertilisers. 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 is urea-free, using instantly available nitrates instead.

#4 pH BUFFERED

Most orchids and hoyas we keep are epiphytes which do best with a pH close to that of rain, around pH6. Even with all 12 essential minerals provided, if the pH is wrong, nutrients can be locked in the soil. A pH of 6 emulates the slightly acidic pH most orchids and hoya prefer, keeping all essential nutrients safe and available. GT Orchid Focus is pH buffered to pH6.

#5 CHELATED MINERALS 

['key-lay-ted] For orchids to utilise the 5 essential metal minerals they need to be in a water-soluble form. Chelating attaches organic molecules to metal minerals, keeping them water-soluble, unlocked and available. GT Orchid Focus uses chelated metal minerals to help avoid deficiencies.

#6 COMPLETE + BALANCED

All 12 essential minerals orchids and hoyas need, and nothing they don't. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper and molybdenum. Formulated for orchids and genera with similar nutritional requirements. No nickel or cobalt, essential for crops such as barley, and legumes such as beans, but potentially toxic, even in low levels for orchid and hoya. No added sodium. Essential for some C4 plants, like celery and spinach, but phytotoxic for orchids and hoya.

Directions for use

Dilute 5mls GT per 1 litre water, every time you water. Adjust up to 10mls according to the plant's needs (full dilution rate guide here). FREE 5ml pipette with GT orders makes dose easy. One 1 litre bottle of GT Focus makes up to 200 litres.