Orchids need to be fertilized regularly. Breeders recommend using a “balanced” fertilizer that contains all the “necessary trace elements.” Below you will find out which fertilizer is suitable for orchids.
Which nutrients are important for healthy growth?
There are no fewer than 13 nutrients that orchids need to produce gorgeous flowers and large, succulent leaves. The three most important are nitrogen for leaf growth, phosphorus for healthy roots and bud development, and potassium to cope with environmental changes (such as pests and climate) and to maintain overall health.
For example, orchids require high potassium levels during flower development and flowering and high nitrogen levels for the rest of the growing season when the flowers have faded. In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, you should also pay attention to the content of calcium, magnesium and sulfur in the list of orchid fertilizer ingredients.A good fertilizerprovides a range of secondary nutrients important for cell division, respiration and growth.
Fertilizer for orchids is available in a variety of formats, each offering different methods of administration. The most popular are concentrated liquids or water-soluble granules (fertilizer sticks) that can be mixed with water. The added benefit of water-soluble orchid fertilizer is the ability to water and feed the orchids at the same time.
Plant nutrient spikes are an equally effective way to boost yourto feed orchids. They are inserted directly into the planting substrate without the need for complicated mixing or measuring. The spikes break down gradually and provide continuous nutrition for 2 to 9 months, depending on the brand. Because they have a longer shelf life than liquids, you can keep them safe from children and pets until you need them again.
Soil acts as a kind of buffer that can protect roots from being hit by a tsunami of liquid nutrients. In soilless substrates, this buffer function is missing, so that the roots are vulnerable to the consequences of over-fertilization. If you choose to provide all of your orchids with such fertilizer, you should significantly dilute the fertilizer for your epiphytic specimens.
Liquid fertilizer or fertilizer sticks: differences and advantages
Theoretically, plants cannot tell the difference between the nutrients from granular and liquid fertilizers, but both have benefits depending on the agricultural application. Liquid fertilizers have become increasingly popular in recent years. They can be applied either via the soil or via the leaves. Liquid fertilizers can be spread, used as a band fertilizer at planting and as a top dressing mid-season.
Bei der Blattapplikationbecome the plant nutrientsabsorbed through the leaves and are more readily available to the plant than when applied to the soil. However, the availability of foliar-applied nutrients is short-lived and does not last for the rest of the growing season. Foliar applications are a good way to make up for a mid-season deficiency or to supplement nutrients applied to the soil.
Although there is no difference in the total amount of nutrients that plants receive from fertilizer sticks or liquid fertilizer, there are differences:
Spatial:The distance from plant roots to nutrients in fertilizer. Less mobile nutrients such as phosphorus cannot get any closer than the individual granules that contain them. In liquid form they are more mobile in the soil water solution.
Salinity:Granular fertilizers can be “hot”. The roots can stay away from granular fertilizers that are high in nitrogen and potassium. Liquid fertilizer is often preferred as a “starter fertilizer.”
Consistency:With liquid fertilizers, the nutrient content is identical in every drop, while with granules, the individual nutrient components are contained in each grain.
Here is a short list of the advantages of both types of fertilizer:
Fluid
- Easy to handle and deploy (once set up)
- Easy mixing
- Uniformity of application
- Application at the beginning and during the season
- Mixing with pesticides
Granules
- Cheaper in loose form
- Easier to store (will not settle over time or salt out in cold weather)
- More efficient for extensive pre-sowing applications
- Slow-release options (polymer-coated urea)
What is the best fertilization schedule?
Many growers recommend the “weak, weekly” method, which means applying a diluted liquid fertilizer (1/4 strength) with each watering, rather than applying a full dose once a month. Additionally, it is best not to fertilize a completely dry plant as the fertilizer can burn the dry roots. First water, then fertilize.
The best results are achieved whenwhen you use the fertilizerdiluted and applied weekly, especially during the growing season. In winter, when the plant is dormant, fertilize only once a month and use half as much orchid fertilizer.
If fertilizing weekly, dilute the solution four times as much as recommended on the package. Water the orchid with the fertilizer as you would with normal watering, being careful not to get anything on the leaves. Rinse the plant with clean water at least once a month to remove unused fertilizer.
If used monthly during the growing season, follow package directions. If applying monthly during the dormant period, dilute twice the amount and then apply. At least once a month, rinse the plant with clean water. If you notice your orchid's leaves wilting, it's probably due to too much fertilizer. Move the plant to a brighter locationand fertilizeless or dilute the fertilizer further.
