Fertilizing

[leeflea]

I live in the Deep South and am wondering when the best time to start increasing the urea free 20-10-20 would be. From late Fall 'til now, I've been only feeding the orchids monthly with the 20-10-20. Any opinions?
Thanks, Lee

[orchids4me]

Hi Leeflea,
If you want blooms you need a lower nitrogen # 20 is to high. It might just promote more new growth. That fert you have with those NPK ratios matches one of the ones I have which is more like a general purpose fert. I use that after blooms in growth period.
This is such a can of worms.... Others will have many different opinions when it comes to fertilizing. Hope you find your answer
Emmaye

[Hummer344]

As emmaye said, you will get all sorts of opinions. I use 20-10-20 during the spring to encourage new growth but use balanced fert. the rest of the year. I have no regular feeding schedule. Its the "if I remember" schedule. I just did a general fertilization this past week. First time since Oct.

[Ray]

Yep, fertilization schemes are like certain unmentionable body parts - everyone has one.

Personally, I don't see a 20-10-20 as a high-nitrogen blend, but do consider a 30-10-10 to be so, so recommend avoiding it.

I took a page from the pro's and feed continuously - at every watering - although that is done at low levels. I feed in the 100-150 ppm N range. Dividing 10 by the %N on the label gives you the teaspoons per gallon to use for 125 ppm N. In your case, that would be a very convenient 10/20 = 1/2 teaspoon per gallon.

My collection is quite varied, so I usually have something in active growth, which is why I feed the same year-round. I suppose that my watering/feeding frequency is higher in the summer, so that in itself, is an increase in feeding.

If your collection is primarily made up of "summer growers", then wait until you see the emergence of new growth to "up" your feeding regimen.