We are often asked by orchid lovers how to encourage reblooming in their plants or just make them the healthiest they can be. Fertilizing orchids regularly provides them with the nutrients they need for the best health and vibrant blooming. Many people either forget to do it or become overwhelmed by what, how, and when regarding orchid fertilization.
It can be confusing, we get that. There are many kinds of fertilizer, along with a lot of different directions on how to use them. We are here to help you find the best method of fertilization, so your orchid is bright and beautiful.
If your orchid's flowers have fallen, it has entered the dormant stage. During this period, your orchid is resting so that it will have the energy to rebloom. That makes this the perfect time to fertilize your orchid!
Most plants obtain the nutrients and moisture they need from their soil. Because Phalaenopsis orchids naturally grow on trees, they trap wind-blown plant and animal matter, grains of soil, mineral flakes, and other nutrients between their tangled roots where they can be absorbed by the plant.
When we bring orchids into our homes, we remove them from the natural environment that nourishes them. The mixtures of fir bark, sphagnum moss, cork, gravel, peat moss, and other materials in which commercially grown orchids are generally potted provide some minimal nutrition as they break down, but adding fertilizer to gives the plant the nutrient boost it needs to generate new growth.
While your orchid will thrive during its blooming period, once those blooms drop, you may need to encourage reblooming and growth through fertilizing.
Experts recommend fertilizing Phalaenopsis orchids once every other week or at least once a month only after their blooms have dropped, like many steps you take to care for your orchid, we recommend not doing this while your orchid is in bloom. Fertilize your orchid with a weak solution of a balanced plant fertilizer, we recommend diluting to ¼ strength. Also, make sure you skip watering on the weeks you fertilize to make sure you don’t overwater your plant.
Step 1: Choose a fertilizer that has equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (look for 20-20-20 on the label).
Step 2: The fertilizer should be weakened, so mix it with at least an equal amount of water before applying it to your orchid. You may want to dilute it more, but make sure to do at least half.
Step 3: Using a narrow-spouted pitcher, slowly pour the fertilizer into the pot, avoiding the leaves. Drain any excess solution so your plant isn’t sitting in water. Repeat once or twice a month.
That's all there is to it! Fertilizing your orchid is easy and will keep it healthy as it rests. The resting period typically lasts about nine months before your orchid will rebloom.
The terms ‘orchid food’ and ‘orchid fertilizer’ can often be used synonymously, but they aren’t really the same. Orchid food is a mixture of nutrients with a specific ratio that is created to cater to orchids specifically. It has more nitrogen, which is tailored to the growth habits of epiphytes, which is the family of plants orchids fall into.
For more information on how to raise a healthy orchid, download “10 Simple Steps to Keeping Your Orchid Healthy” for free here.