For pretty much every plant, it can only thrive if it is supplied with sufficient nutrients. And that is no different with the popular orchid. Not only the right orchid fertilizer plays a big role here, but also the timing and of course the frequency. Are you still a beginner when it comes to orchid care and would you like to find out more about the nutrient supply of these plants? We explain to you the most important things about “when to fertilize orchids and how often”!
Fertilizer is important for good care
The plants need plenty of strength for their growth and of course for lush flowering. More specifically, the orchid needs the following nutrients:
- Potassiumboosts metabolism and makes plants more resistant to diseases and pests
- calciumthe cells need
- Magnesiumis responsible for the green color
- Phosphorsupports the formation of flowers and the growth of roots
- Nitrogenneed the green parts of the plant to grow, i.e. the leaves and shoots
Special orchid fertilizers provide the plants with everything they need, but if you want to care for them with homemade fertilizer, pay attention to these nutrients. For example, calcium can be administered through water in which eggshells have rested for some time (or use the cooled cooking water from the eggs). You can fertilize orchids with coffee grounds, which provide them with potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen, among other things. You can find further variantsin this article. How often and when youFertilize orchidsshould, we explain below.
Orchids are weak feeders. So you don't need regular fertilizer all year round, as some people claim. Instead, focus on the growth phase, which includes the flowering phase.
When to fertilize orchids?
For most orchid species, the growth phase of the orchid begins in spring and lasts until autumn. In winter it then takes a break during which it does not need any additional nutrients. Accordingly, you also neednotFertilize your orchids in winter. Onlyto wateringyou should think. And when do you start fertilizing orchids again?
You will know that dormancy is over when the plant begins to produce new plant parts, be it a stem, a leaf, or even flowers. Now her nutrient requirements are very high because she needs the strength to grow well. For this reason, it is important that you fertilize orchids while they are blooming.
Fertilize orchids – how often?
Now that you know the correct time frame, the only question that remains is “how often to fertilize orchids”? It is sufficient to administer liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Since watering usually takes place at the same rhythm, you can combine both care measures during the growth phase by adding the liquid fertilizer to the irrigation or immersion water. If water needs are higher during the summer and you need to water the plant every week, simply skip fertilizing once every two weeks.
Notice: Stick fertilizer, which gradually supplies plants with nutrients for up to 3 months, is not suitable for these plants due to their substrate, which is too coarse and porous. The sticks also need moisture in order to release all the nutrients, which is only possible to a limited extent due to the permeable bark of the orchid substrate. For this reason, liquid fertilizer is the better choice. But it is important to always dilute the fertilizer and use itnotonto the substrate!
When to fertilize orchids after repotting?
After you have oneOrchid repottedand provided it with new substrate, it surely needs a new portion of nutrients, right? Not at all, at least not during the first four to six weeks. During this time, the plant first has to get used to the new circumstances. After this time, you can continue with the usual routine as already described.
The so-called foliar fertilization
There are special fertilizers that are designed to provide the orchid with nutrients through the leaves. This has the advantage that the plants are also supplied with moisture, which is close to the humidity of their natural home. Orchid species that are not kept in substrate, such as Vanda, particularly benefit from this type of fertilizer, but not only. Dilute the product as directed in the manufacturer's description. Then you can spray the leaves and roots of the orchids with the solution all year round,but not the flowers. It is also important that you do not do this in direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves and roots could burn.
How do you properly care for orchids? This is what you will find out, among other thingsin this article. You will also find numerous other articles here, such as how to properly deal with aerial roots, what to do after flowering and what yellow leaves mean.
