| any use of fertilizer will not harm a plant in the short run, but just like out eating foods if we are short essential vitamins we will have health problems so can our orchids.
The first two numbers are important for orchids . The first nitrogen is the main factor in plant leave growth. When we fertilize out grass we use almost pure nitrogen 38-3-3 because grass never flowers. The second number is the ingredient for flowering. 19-31-17 is a mild bloom boosting formula since it has a little less nitrogen. The third number is for root growth and increasing the amount does not seem to do much for orchids either way so any amount is OK
The only small problem you will have is that for plants grown in bark the decomposing bark uses nitrogen to decompose. A highly decomposing bark lowers the nitrogen available to your orchid possibly 10-31-17 or even 5-31-17.
The Miracle Grow 24-8-16 is lower in flowering and higher in leaf and root fertilizers. It would be especially good to push older plants during its growth period. Alternating between the two will add the amounts together divided by 2. 43-39-33/2 equals 21-20-17 a very balanced formula.
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of either in a gallon of water will do fine. You can also dissolve 1/2 the amount of each if you want a more balanced fertilizer.
I would use the Miracle grow when the plant is producing new leaves and go to more of the bloom formula in late fall before blooming season and more balanced at other times.
The advantage of a balanced amount I usually recommend on this forum is that you do not have to think of all these factors and the plant will do well with only one formulation.
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jerry  |