Orchid Fertilizer

“How do I care for my orchid?” is the most frequently asked question heard in the orchid community.  The answer is both easy and complicated:  it needs food in the form of an orchid fertilizer, along with light, air and water. If you don’t give your orchid those items in the right mix, you need to adjust one or more elements for optimum health.   That’s the easy aspect of orchid care.
For the best health of an orchid, take that answer and dig a little further down to learn how to really have your orchid thrive by fertilizing properly.  So for the whats, whens and hows of orchid fertilizer, read on…
What
While the light, air and water for orchids are self-explanatory, what type of fertilizer is best for an orchid to thrive?  The answer to the care of the orchid usually can be gained from looking at its native habitat.
Orchids grow on trees or rocks, not in soil.  Their roots are like little sponges soaking up nutrients from whatever happens to be in the area.  Decomposing plant material, rainwater nutrients, and even animal droppings, help feed orchids in their native environments; so it makes sense to fertilize them with a mix of these items.
Orchid fertilizers should contain the following:
·       Phosphorous, which helps the plant bloom
·       Nitrogen for growth
·       Potassium, which helps the flower
·       Calcium for added strength
·       Magnesium to help produce food
·       Sulfur to help produce proteins
Plant fertilizers have three numbers on their label, known as NPK, the mixture of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium.  These numbers show the balance of those three items in that order, such as 20-20-10.  Most orchids prefer a balanced orchid fertilizer, such as 20-20-20.  Some growers, who use tree bark as the growing medium, prefer a higher Nitrogen content and use a mix of 20-10-10.
When
While preparing to bloom, an orchid needs more fertilizer, so it’s best to feed it on a weekly basis.  While it is dormant every other week, even monthly, is sufficient.  Many growers prefer the weekly/weakly rule of thumb, using smaller doses on a regular weekly basis to produce more consistent growth.
To help promote blooms, many orchid growers switch to a ‘bloom booster’ orchid fertilizer just before the buds on the orchid begin to form.  It comes in a 3-12-6 formula.
How
Use fertilizer after watering; do not fertilize a thirsty plant.  Follow directions on the label, as fertilizers can vary in application.  While orchid fertilizers come in different forms, such as spikes, liquid or granules, most growers prefer a water soluble formula.
Providing an orchid with life’s little necessities – air, food, water and light – will keep your orchid happy and healthy for you to enjoy for years to come.

“How do I care for my orchid?” is the most frequently asked question heard in the orchid community.  The answer is both easy and complicated:  it needs food in the form of an orchid fertilizer, along with light, air and water. If you don’t give your orchid those items in the right mix, you need to adjust one or more elements for optimum health.   That’s the easy aspect of orchid care.

For the best health of an orchid, take that answer and dig a little further down to learn how to really have your orchid thrive by fertilizing properly.  So for the whats, whens and hows of orchid fertilizer, read on…

What

While the light, air and water for orchids are self-explanatory, what type of fertilizer is best for an orchid to thrive?  The answer to the care of the orchid usually can be gained from looking at its native habitat.

Orchids grow on trees or rocks, not in soil.  Their roots are like little sponges soaking up nutrients from whatever happens to be in the area.  Decomposing plant material, rainwater nutrients, and even animal droppings, help feed orchids in their native environments; so it makes sense to fertilize them with a mix of these items.

Orchid fertilizers should contain the following:

  • Phosphorous, which helps the plant bloom
  • Nitrogen for growth
  • Potassium, which helps the flower
  • Calcium for added strength
  • Magnesium to help produce food
  • Sulfur to help produce proteins

Plant fertilizers have three numbers on their label, known as NPK, the mixture of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium.  These numbers show the balance of those three items in that order, such as 20-20-10.  Most orchids prefer a balanced orchid fertilizer, such as 20-20-20.  Some growers, who use tree bark as the growing medium, prefer a higher Nitrogen content and use a mix of 20-10-10.

When

While preparing to bloom, an orchid needs more fertilizer, so it’s best to feed it on a weekly basis.  While it is dormant every other week, even monthly, is sufficient.  Many growers prefer the weekly/weakly rule of thumb, using smaller doses on a regular weekly basis to produce more consistent growth.

To help promote blooms, many orchid growers switch to a ‘bloom booster’ orchid fertilizer just before the buds on the orchid begin to form.  It comes in a 3-12-6 formula.

How

Use fertilizer after watering; do not fertilize a thirsty plant.  Follow directions on the label, as fertilizers can vary in application.  While orchid fertilizers come in different forms, such as spikes, liquid or granules, most growers prefer a water soluble formula.

Providing an orchid with life’s little necessities – air, food, water and light – will keep your orchid happy and healthy for you to enjoy for years to come.

The most complete guide to orchid care that we have found is Orchid Care Expert: A Practical Guide to Orchid Care. The guide is perfect for both beginners and those that have been growing orchids for years.


Orchid Potting 101

There are two surefire ways to kill an orchid and novice orchid growers are probably doing both to their poor beauties as we speak.  First is overwatering, then, to put the nail in the coffin, these well-intentioned newbies do not use the proper orchid potting material or potting mix; they use potting soil.    It’s an easy mistake to make. Those lightweight pieces of bark or moss in the orchid pot look like temporary potting material, and plants need dirt and water to grow, right?
Wrong!  Orchids don’t grow in dirt.  They grow on rocks and trees.  They have spongey roots that soak up moisture and nutrients from anything they can – rainwater, decomposing leaves and even animal droppings.  The best way to make your orchids happy is to simulate their natural environment as best you can, and that starts with using the best potting mix for orchids.
So, what is it, you ask?  Generally, orchids do best in the following potting materials, either individually or a mix of two to three organic and inorganic materials.  The most popular choices are:
·       Fir bark – inexpensive and easy to find, fir bark decomposes slowly but does not have great water retention properties.
·       Coconut husk – inexpensive and lightweight, it holds water well but can decompose quickly.
·       Redwood bark – inexpensive and lightweight, it holds water well and decomposes slowly.
·       Sphagnum Moss – has a good mix of water retention and aeration as long as it’s not packed too tightly.
·       Tree fern fiber – this can be difficult to find, but has very good drainage and slow decomposition.
·       Perlite – While this is lightweight, it can hold too much water if used alone.
·       Lava rock – Good drainage and no decomposition, but can be too heavy to use alone.
·       Charcoal – While charcoal is slow to decay, it absorbs toxic substances.
Since the orchid needs the proper mix of potting material to hold some moisture while aerating, experts tend to use just the right ratio of organic and inorganic potting mixtures from the substances above.  The exact ratio usually depends on the type of orchid.
If you’re a beginner to the wonderful world of orchids, you’re probably starting with a Moss Orchid or Phalaenopsis, which likes fir bark.  But using a general orchid potting mixture, which can be found already made up and bagged at most nurseries and big box stores, is just fine for the more common types of orchids.
When choosing a potting mixture for orchids, make sure you know exactly what type of orchid you have to help you best choose the potting material.  Buying orchids from a nursery or experienced grower is the best way to ensure you have a healthy, properly identified orchid which, in turn, helps you give it the best care and growing environment possible.

There are two surefire ways to kill an orchid and novice orchid growers are probably doing both to their poor beauties as we speak.  First is over-watering, then, to put the nail in the coffin, these well-intentioned newbies do not use the proper orchid potting material or potting mix; they use potting soil.    It’s an easy mistake to make. Those lightweight pieces of bark or moss in the orchid pot look like temporary potting material, and plants need dirt and water to grow, right?

Wrong!  Orchids don’t grow in dirt.  They grow on rocks and trees.  They have spongey roots that soak up moisture and nutrients from anything they can – rainwater, decomposing leaves and even animal droppings.  The best way to make your orchids happy is to simulate their natural environment as best you can, and that starts with using the best potting mix for orchids.

So, what is it, you ask?  Generally, orchids do best in the following potting materials, either individually or a mix of two to three organic and inorganic materials.  The most popular choices are:

  • Fir bark – inexpensive and easy to find, fir bark decomposes slowly but does not have great water retention properties.
  • Coconut husk – inexpensive and lightweight, it holds water well but can decompose quickly.
  • Redwood bark – inexpensive and lightweight, it holds water well and decomposes slowly.
  • Sphagnum Moss – has a good mix of water retention and aeration as long as it’s not packed too tightly.
  • Tree fern fiber – this can be difficult to find, but has very good drainage and slow decomposition.
  • Perlite – While this is lightweight, it can hold too much water if used alone.
  • Lava rock – Good drainage and no decomposition, but can be too heavy to use alone.
  • Charcoal – While charcoal is slow to decay, it absorbs toxic substances.

Since the orchid needs the proper mix of potting material to hold some moisture while aerating, experts tend to use just the right ratio of organic and inorganic potting mixtures from the substances above.  The exact ratio usually depends on the type of orchid.

If you’re a beginner to the wonderful world of orchids, you’re probably starting with a Moss Orchid or Phalaenopsis, which likes fir bark.  But using a general orchid potting mixture, which can be found already made up and bagged at most nurseries and big box stores, is just fine for the more common types of orchids.

When choosing a potting mixture for orchids, make sure you know exactly what type of orchid you have to help you best choose the potting material.  Buying orchids from a nursery or experienced grower is the best way to ensure you have a healthy, properly identified orchid which, in turn, helps you give it the best care and growing environment possible.

The most complete guide to orchid care that we have found is Orchid Care Expert: A Practical Guide to Orchid Care. The guide is perfect for both beginners and those that have been growing orchids for years.


Types of Orchids

Types of Orchids
With thousands of types of orchids available, it’s no wonder they are one of the most popular flowering houseplants.   But along with their popularity, orchids have also earned a reputation as being finicky, difficult to grow and expensive.  Although this may be the case with some of the rarer varieties, there are many more common orchid types that are perfect for the beginning grower, along with more advanced varieties as your confidence, and your orchids, bloom.
Beginner Orchids
If you’ve ever seen an orchid in the grocery store, what you’re seeing is the easiest type of orchid to grow, the Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid.  The Moth Orchid offers blooms in shades of pink, white, yellow and red and is the perfect choice for a houseplant for beginners.  Just give them a bright location with no direct sunlight and they will be happy.  As a tropical flower, orchids also love humidity, so place the pot on a tray of rocks to give them the moisture they crave without causing root rot.
Other popular choices for beginning orchid growers are the Sharry Baby variety, with small, long-lasting blooms, and the Sweet Sugar variety that offers cheerful yellow blooms.  One hint for the beginner orchid grower: don’t use regular potting soil for your orchids; there is a special orchid mix of bark and peat moss available.
Intermediate Types of Orchids
As you grow more comfortable caring for your orchids, take another step in discovering their beauty and try a new variety.  The Dendrobium is a reasonably priced orchid that offers large showy purple, white and pink flowers.  One of the largest varieties of orchids, it takes a little more care than the Moth Orchid but the blooms reward you by lasting longer.  Other types of orchids that are best for the budding orchid grower:
·       Cymbidium or Boat Orchid – popular in floral arrangements and corsages, the Cymbidium is one of the most popular winter and spring blooming orchids
·       Cattleya – called the Queen of Orchids with good reason, their blooms can be up to eight inches and oh-so fragrant, making them perfect for a corsage.
·       Paphiopedilum – also known as the Lady Slipper Orchid, Paphiopedilum Orchids offer long lasting, compact blooms that inspire a devotional following.  While beginning growers may become frustrated with their slow growth and slow flowering, the Paphiopedilum rewards the grower with very distinctive blooms.
Difficult and Rare Orchid Varieties
We can also term these varieties not for the faint of heart, for these varieties are not only pricey, but require just the right growing conditions.
·       Ghost orchids are the ‘Holy Grail’ of the orchid world, as they are extremely rare and difficult to grow in captivity and must be grown from seed.  A seedling can easily run $60 but is an unusual and beautiful sight when it blooms.  It is leafless and offers a most unusually shaped white bloom.
·       Vanda orchids are finicky but they offer several long lasting blooms on a single stem in a handsome range of color.
·       Dockrillias are difficult to grow in that they need the proper mount for growth.  The foliage is quite unusual, almost looking like that of a cactus, and the blooms are small, spikey and white.
While some varieties of orchids have earned their finicky reputation, there are many types of orchids suitable for those looking for a showy, flowering houseplant.  Starting with an easier to grow variety of orchid and working your way up is the best course.  When you first see your orchid bloom, it will be well worth it.

With thousands of types of orchids available, it’s no wonder they are one of the most popular flowering houseplants.   But along with their popularity, orchids have also earned a reputation as being finicky, difficult to grow and expensive.  Although this may be the case with some of the rarer varieties, there are many more common orchid types that are perfect for the beginning grower, along with more advanced varieties as your confidence, and your orchids, bloom.

Beginner Orchids

If you’ve ever seen an orchid in the grocery store, what you’re seeing is the easiest type of orchid to grow, the Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid.  The Moth Orchid offers blooms in shades of pink, white, yellow and red and is the perfect choice for a houseplant for beginners.  Just give them a bright location with no direct sunlight and they will be happy.  As a tropical flower, orchids also love humidity, so place the pot on a tray of rocks to give them the moisture they crave without causing root rot.

Other popular choices for beginning orchid growers are the Sharry Baby variety, with small, long-lasting blooms, and the Sweet Sugar variety that offers cheerful yellow blooms.  One hint for the beginner orchid grower: don’t use regular potting soil for your orchids; there is a special orchid mix of bark and peat moss available.

Intermediate Types of Orchids

As you grow more comfortable caring for your orchids, take another step in discovering their beauty and try a new variety.  The Dendrobium is a reasonably priced orchid that offers large showy purple, white and pink flowers.  One of the largest varieties of orchids, it takes a little more care than the Moth Orchid but the blooms reward you by lasting longer.  Other types of orchids that are best for the budding orchid grower:

  • Cymbidium or Boat Orchid – popular in floral arrangements and corsages, the Cymbidium is one of the most popular winter and spring blooming orchids
  • Cattleya – called the Queen of Orchids with good reason, their blooms can be up to eight inches and oh-so fragrant, making them perfect for a corsage.
  • Paphiopedilum – also known as the Lady Slipper Orchid, Paphiopedilum Orchids offer long lasting, compact blooms that inspire a devotional following.  While beginning growers may become frustrated with their slow growth and slow flowering, the Paphiopedilum rewards the grower with very distinctive blooms.

Difficult and Rare Orchid Varieties

We can also term these varieties not for the faint of heart, for these varieties are not only pricey, but require just the right growing conditions.

  • Ghost orchids are the ‘Holy Grail’ of the orchid world, as they are extremely rare and difficult to grow in captivity and must be grown from seed.  A seedling can easily run $60 but is an unusual and beautiful sight when it blooms.  It is leafless and offers a most unusually shaped white bloom.
  • Vanda orchids are finicky but they offer several long lasting blooms on a single stem in a handsome range of color.
  • Dockrillias are difficult to grow in that they need the proper mount for growth.  The foliage is quite unusual, almost looking like that of a cactus, and the blooms are small, spikey and white.

While some varieties of orchids have earned their finicky reputation, there are many types of orchids suitable for those looking for a showy, flowering houseplant.  Starting with an easier to grow variety of orchid and working your way up is the best course.  When you first see your orchid bloom, it will be well worth it.

The most complete guide to orchid care that we have found is Orchid Care Expert: A Practical Guide to Orchid Care. The guide is perfect for both beginners and those that have been growing orchids for years.