Need Help on Fertilizing Orchids that just Bloomed

[1buzz]

I have several Orchids that have just finished blooming. I have moved them outside and my son said they need to "rest" a month or so before I start feeding them. I'm ready to start now. Stated another way. Is it improper to fertilize after your orchid has just finished blooming and you move it from inside to outside. In other words does the orchid need a "cooling off period” before you start fertilizing after it has just finished blooming and just after you move it outside. Any of your thoughts will be appreciated. The Orchids that I moved from inside my house to my outside patio were Dendrobium Yellow Song Canary and Cymbidium Via Mar Tranquilla Mt. Cook.

[kmarch]

Hi 1buzz and welcome to the forum!

Originally Posted by 1buzz

I have several Orchids that have just finished blooming. I have moved them outside and my son said they need to "rest" a month or so before I start feeding them.

Well....maybe. It depends on what kind of orchids they are. Not all orchids go through a rest period. Dendrobiums sometimes do have a bit of a rest. My Cymbidiums go from growing to spiking (flowering) to starting new growth without a pause. But for you , the most important thing is that it is spring for you, the time when most orchids start their growing cycle. I would start fertilizing the Cymbidium. I dont' fertilize any of my Dendrobiums no matter what type they are. Others have other opinions on fertilizing them. I'll let them share what they do and you can do what seems best.

In short: Spring is not a rest time for resting orchids, it is the time when many of them start their vegetative growth cycle. Opinions vary on what and how to fertilize. I fert Cymbids, not Dens.

[jerrymeola]

As a commercial grower we feed year round. There are very few common orchids that require restrictions on fertilizer. Even those we fertilize heavy in the spring growing season.

After the flowers are done on most orchids is the time to re-pot and increase water and fertilizer.

We fertilize a little less often in the cooler winter months when plants are not growing as fast and need less.

Your Den Yellow Song 'Canary' is a Yamamoto hybrid in the Nobile group of Dendrobium. Now is the time to fertilize these. Stop fertilizing in August until the plant flowers again in February. Too much Nitrogen fertilizer at that time can result in keiki and reduced flowers. It also needs 50 degree nights to flower, so in the winter move it to a cooler area in your house. It grows better outside is weather allows. They can go below freezing without a problem and can take full sunlight.