Fertilizers

[PhalsBeauty07]

Hi everyone!


I have a few questions about fertilizers for orchids. I have read every bit of information on this topic, but I still find that I am confused about all the formulas and everything else.

I read one place I need to use a balanced formula most of the year like 20-20-20 Weekly, then when new spike begins I need a formula of 10-30-30 Weekly. Are these true formulas for a Moth Orchid

Right at the moment I don't have any fertilizers to use on my Moth. Is fertilizing a major necessity for an orchid or can it hold for awhile till I can invest more into my plant? I have just cut my spike entirely off as my plant was looking weak and couldn't handle making new blooms and flowers were wilting that were in bloom .
Do you think I should get some balanced fertilizer now and wait till spike starts again to buy a 10-30-30 blend??

Thanks to all for your input!

[Fabolusus]

You should refer to this post (courtesy of mayres):

Grow Phals like the Pros!

I try to maintain 150-200 ppm nitrogen for my phals, using the MSU type fertilizer for well water.

[kmarch]

Dear PhalsBeauty,

I think I am one of the few people (maybe the only one) on the forum that doesn't fertilize. I grow mostly Paphs (about 80%) and find that because I use organic material in my mix, fertilizing really doesn't seem necessary. I have a few Phals and also grow them in a mix that contains organic matter so...no fertilizer for them either.

The reason you see such wildly varying info on fertilizing is because different plants have different growing cycles and different needs. Writers (in my humble opinion) too frequently overgeneralize and it gets confusing.

It seems there are 2 different "camps" or approaches to fertilizing. One says, lets look at what the plants get in the wild. If it is good enough for them in the wild, it is good enough in cultivation. People who advocate this position tend to go more in the direction of constant, weak, balanced fertilizing.

The other camp says, "I want the plants to do better in cultivation than in the wild." This is a valid approach to as evidenced by spectacular displays of flowers we see in shows and fairs. I kow a Phal grower who takes this approach with Phals (which as I recall is what you have). After blooming has passed he feeds them high nitrogen while they are gorwing leaves. In the late-summer (Late August in the northern-hemisphere) he switches to a very low nitrogen bloom booster. He does this at the same time the temps are starting to get cooler at night which is when Phals bloom cycle is initiated.

In general I encourage folks not to take vague general cultural advice for their orchids, which as you have found can be conflicting and confusing, but instead, try to pay attention to the specific cycles of the plant they have and to fertilize accordingly.

Hope this helps, Happy growing!

[PhalsBeauty07]

Thanks Kmarch and Fabolusus for your help, it is very much appreciated. I have decided I am just going to use a balanced fertilizer for orchids this year and see what my results are. Then if the results werent the best I may try a bloom booster the next year and see what I get then. I just want this plant to have a full life and be taken great care of.

[kmarch]

Dear Phals,

You're welcome! And you've just reminded me of something I forgot to mention butsomething it sounds like you're going to do anyway which is experiment. Almost everyone I know is constantly experimenting with their fertilizer formulas, trying this, more of that, finding they really like this and don't like that at all. It's all good. Consider keeping track of your methods and results nd lettign us know how it goes with your approach in a year's time.

Cheers

[Gladys47]

Is Osmocote safe to use? Any special instructions if it is? Thanks, gladys

[kmarch]

What do you want to use it on? Folks down here in Australia often put a little of it on their Cymbidiums.

[PhalPal]

I use the same fertilizer all year that is used the same way, all year, by a very huge grower of phals. I don't freak out if I miss a while of fertilizing and my plants do okay without it. However, I do know mine do best when I at least fertilize once in a while. (every other week, once a month...) You can go crazy changing the stuff at just the right time for each plant and cycle. Also, if you do have some regular plant food around, you can use that at 1/2 strength on your orchid.
Gladys - I have only heard of Osmocote used on cymbidiums, not sure i would trust it with other types.

[Gladys47]

I would be using it on Phals, dends, and oncidiums. Maybe its not a good idea? i just bought a large bag for my other plants. I love the stuff. so I thought maybe it would work for orchids? I'm still kind of new to all this and always wondering if I'm fertilizing "just right". Guess I should stick to what i'm doing now. If it ain't broke don't fix it right?
Thanks, Gladys