Can You Use Orchid Fertilizer on Plants?

Orchids require specific fertilizer and specific feeding times.

Orchids are bright, exotic flowers that require some very specific care. The right fertilizer, at the right time, keeps the plants healthy and blooming. Orchid fertilizer is a specific combination of vital minerals.

Orchid Fertilizer

Orchids are native to tropical jungles, where they grow high in the branches of trees. Orchid fertilizer seeks to satisfy their unique needs with a mix of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and iron.

Features

Orchid fertilizer is relatively acidic and generally falls into the 30-10-10 or 20-10-10 range. According to Everything Orchids, there is no difference between so-called "orchid" fertilizer and standard plant fertilizer, so orchid fertilizer is appropriate for other acid-loving plants.

Mixing

Most orchid fertilizer is water-soluble, meaning that gardeners must mix the fertilizer with water before feeding it to their plants. All fertilizer packages come with mixing instructions on the back to help the gardener avoid overfeeding and burning plants.

References

• Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Food
• Everything Orchids: Orchid Fertilizer