Fertilizing

[birdbrain]

Hello orchid fans, I have an ocidium hybrid spring is around me I see new growth on all my plants not just my orchids. My question is what would be a good fertilizer to promote flowers? One of my zygos has a nice flower spike without any “special “ fertilizer. Should I just give them what I normally do? It’s an a great fertilizer that I dilute normally using every time I water. It’s full of micro nutrients. Thank you I appreciate any feedback.

[Roberta]

I have never known fertilizer to make any difference on blooming. If an orchid doesn't bloom, inadequate light (intensity, duration or both) is usually the culprit. Think of fertilizer as vitamins rather than "food" ... a small amount, regularly, promotes growth and the general health of the plant, but it's not going to change a plant's behavior.

[Ray]

Well... Nitrogen is a very important building block - the most important of fertilizer ingredients - with 95% of the dry weight of a plant being C, O, and N, but Roberta is right that fertilizer is not particularly critical, especially because orchids are such slow growers in the plant world.

A college professor I know did the calculations, and in order for a plant to gain one pound of mass, it must absorb and process about 25 gallons of water, but only about a teaspoon (5g) of fertilizer minerals.

Too little nitrogen will stunt the plant's growth and flowering - eventually - as it can take from old growths and give to new, if it's not being adequately supplied.

Too much nitrogen can stimulate great growth, but it can also stop plants from blooming.

Can you more clearly define "It’s an a great fertilizer that I dilute normally using every time I water" with the formula, dilution rate, and frequency?

[birdbrain]

Thank you so much. I thought I read at one time after “winter rest” when I say winter rest I mean no fertilizer and water only when needed. When coming out of winter funk a “bloom” type fertilizer would encourage flowers. I’ve got a nice flower spike coming out of one of my zygos that I’m very proud of. I’ll jist keep doing what I’m doing which is the diluted macro nutrient fertilizer. It worked all last season. I appreciate your feedback and duly noted.

[Keithj]

I read recently that you should use a higher-nitrogen fertiliser when the plant is growing strongly but change to a lower-nitrogen/higher-phosphorus fertiliser when the plant should be developing its flowering structures, well before the spikes appear. For Spring bloomers that would be the Autumn. I’ll be trying that later this year.

Keith

[Ray]

Most orchids grow continuously, so do not require a so-called "winter rest". Your pictured plant does not.

There is no such things as a bloom-promoting fertilizer.

In order to bloom, a plant needs to build up sufficient stores of energy and nutrients, plus whatever stimulus is required for initiating an inflorescence. That means it needs to have received proper care.

Read this

---------- Post added at 12:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Keithj

I read recently that you should use a higher-nitrogen fertiliser when the plant is growing strongly but change to a lower-nitrogen/higher-phosphorus fertiliser when the plant should be developing its flowering structures, well before the spikes appear. For Spring bloomers that would be the Autumn. I’ll be trying that later this year.

Keith

I use a 12-1-1, very dilutely, year round, and my plants bloom fine. The only real reason to switch to a low-N formula would be if you have been overdoing the nitrogen up until that point.