How To Choose A Fertilizer

Proper nourishment is essential for an orchid's growth, but too much of a good thing is bad. Water-soluble fertilizers work the best with orchids and as a bonus, they are easy to use. Orchids growing in barks of trees require a fertilizer with a higher content of nitrogen, such as 30-10-10 or 15-5-5. Mounted orchids and potted orchids grow well with even fertilizer ratios, such as 20-20-20. When autumn rolls around, try a "bloom-booster" type formula which has a higher phosphorus content such as 10-30-20.

During growth season, feed orchids with a diluted fertilizer solution weekly. Water should be used monthly to flush out any accumulated fertilizer salts. When foliage growth stalls after the flowering stage, reduce fertilizer applications until new leaf production recommences.

The type of nitrogen used in the fertilizer should be a criteria in choosing a fertilizer. The term "base" is used because it may be necessary to use other components to create a better balance of nutrients. An organic source of nitrogen such as feather meal works well with orchids. Feather meal decomposes slowly and this is good as it provides a long lasting source of nutrition.

A majority of available types of phosphorus are harmful to beneficial microbes. A form of phosphorus that isn't harmful to orchids is di-calcium phosphate. It is available in a granulated form that can be mixed into the feather meal base.

Potash is the third vital nutrient source. Potash is highly soluble but a vital component that easily seeps out of solid fertilizer applications before the other components are used. Liquid sources of potash can be sprayed in the form of potash soaps. Potash is derived from greensand which is mined from the earth's seabeds.

Ratings of fertilizers are based on the amount of the three "NPK" components involved. The NPK ratio refers to the immediate bioavailability of nutrients to the orchid. Chemical fertilizers or inorganics are potent and of high value and they do provide high quantities of the three basic components because they are soluble salts. Organics are rated lower as they aren't specifically engineered for bioavailability for the orchid.

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