[PhalPal]

My take on this is the fertilizer companies would like us to think we need a new fertilizer for each season and each different genera of orchid.

I have gone months without fertilizing and didn't see a difference. However, given the care-taking soul that I am I feel the need to feed everything. It just makes me feel good and gives me an excuse to play with my orchids. It makes them smile, too, or at least I like to think so.

I use mostly worm tea and seaweed extract. I find them great to mist with for a little foliar feeding; I use this on all kinds of plants. My cyms get Osmocote in addition to the above. Occasionally I will use a mix from Norman's Orchids, a huge phal producer. I alternate with their stuff just to use it up because long ago I felt compelled to get it. It has 20% Nit/16% Phos/15% Pot and a bunch of micronutrients similiar to MSU. Norman's uses this ALL year and does not use 'bloom busters' of any sort, never altering their schedule. I think they should know what they are talking about, so I believe them.

I haven't had one adverse problem using any of the above, which is important to mention. Nothing got burned, nobody died. Everybody seems to be happy. So, that's my concoction and I'm sticking to it.