Fertilizers for Orchids

Fertilize your orchids for healthy flowers.

Orchids are slow-growing tropical plants that require fertilizer in order to grow well. It can take orchids up to seven years to start producing their lush flowers, and in order to get the best blooms, they need to be fed regularly. While orchids have a reputation as being finicky and difficult to care for, fertilizing your orchids can be a straightforward task that results in healthy leaves, strong stems and colorful flowers.

In the Wild

In their native environments, orchids may grow in the ground or they may attach themselves to trees, clinging to the trunks. They take their nutrients from decomposing leaves, minerals in the rainwater and bird or animal droppings. They are not fussy feeders, and reproducing the rich variety of foods and nutrients that orchids have in the wild helps you produce a plant that is healthy and colorful.

Elements

The primary elements that need to be present in an orchid fertilizer include potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements like iron, calcium and magnesium. Potassium and phosphorous aid with flower growth, while nitrogen provides healthy vegetative growth. Any orchid fertilizer you choose should contain these elements in various quantities, though the exact quantities depend on the effect you wish to achieve. Different orchid fertilizers will list their effects and their proportions on the label.

Consideration

If you are growing your orchids in bark, choose a fertilizer that is higher in nitrogen than it is in potassium or phosphorous. As the bark decays, a great deal of nitrogen is lost over time, reducing the amount of nitrogen that is available to the orchid.

Flushing

To avoid a buildup of harmful material, flush your orchid once a week or at least once a month. To flush an orchid, hold the pot under the faucet and turn on lukewarm water. If at all possible, try to avoid splashing the crown of the plant. Allow the water to drain through the orchid and out the bottom of the pot for a few minutes, thoroughly saturating the roots and the bark. Afterward, allow the orchid to sit in the tub or the sink for half an hour or so, allowing the water to drain away thoroughly. Residual fertilizer salts can burn the plant, leading to an effect similar to overfertilization.

References

• Beautiful Orchids: Orchid Food
• Gore Orchid Conservatory: Fertilizing Your Orchids