hello, everyone.

[rlbarr]

I am here for my first time. The reason being that I just re-planted a beautiful specimen that I received while in hospital. I believe I potted it correctly in medium purchased for that purpose and bought a pot for orchids. I have been watering my plant by imersing the entire pot in the kitchen sink to saturate the medium without leaving it there for an extended period so as to not drown the roots and then draing thouroughly. My plant seems to be doing just OK. My questions today are minimal. 1. Am I watering correctly or can anyone give me other suggestions? 2. Is there a need to fertilize and how does one go about it?
I am sure these questions have previously been answered, but I haven't been here long enough to do any research.
Thank all who may help me in advance. p.s. I live in Pueblo, CO, if location matters.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Don't worry about leaving the plant for a while in water. Another method would be to go round and round under the faucet, heavy flow, for a while. Probably wouldn't use any more water than filling the sink. This would also be more sanitary should you have more than one plant. The easiest way to fertilize is to water by what ever method you like, then follow that by a dousing of a cup or so of solution. Enough will be left behind to feed the plant well. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[rlbarr]

Thank you so much, Cynthia. I purchased some orchid fertilizer from a reputable floral shop in my areatoday. The sales person also gave me the same advice and you are both extrmemly helpful in solving my major concern at this time. I have plenty of time on my hands and think I will become more involved with orchids now that I at least have a helpful head start.
RL Barr

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Orchid fertilizer is fine, but the only difference between it and regular fertilizer is the labeling. So when you run out, buy the regular stuff, approximately balanced, and use at half to quarter strength. Cynthia

[jerrymeola]

I think for a beginner the immersion method of watering is the best. It actually is the best for anyone but as your collection grows it becomes too time consuming.

Do not be too concerned about how long you leave the plant in the water. Once you remove it, it drains to the same amount if you soaked 5 minutes or 5 hours. Outdoors I often leave plants immersed overnight.

Just add the fertilizer to the sink when you are soaking the plant. If you have anyway to collect rainwater, keeping a bucket full outside for immersion works well if weather permits. Rain water is much better than processed city water or most well waters.

Cynthia was correct about all fertilizers being basically the same. Cheap budget brands sometimes skimp on trace elements but most major brands are equally good. Fertilize at the rate of a teaspoon per gallon or less. Orchid fertilizers (package instruction) give this dilution rate while all purpose fertilizers recommend 1 tablespoon per gallon for tropicals.

The balance on fertilizers however is very different. 30-10-10 "Orchid fertilizers" are good for boosting leaf growth sometimes at the expense of flowers. It is good for old decaying bark which uses the excess nitrogen for decaying the bark.

Bloom Boost fertilizers (which I do not like) 15-35-10 are OK when in flowering season but usually not worth the effort.

Balanced fertilizers 20-20-20 are the best overall for general orchid care. It is the only one to use for sphagnum or hydroponically potted plants.