Four Important Things To Know About Fertilizing Orchids
Orchids have to have potassium
Orchids have to have potassium. But they also need a lot of other stuff, too.
Most people understand that plants need nitrogen. However there are other chemicals necessary for healthy plant growth and orchids are no exception to this rule. But potassium isn't safe. Unlike certain other elements, potassium has to be applied in just the right amounts.
Potassium is deadly and can cause your orchid to burn if you provide too much.
Too little potassium will dwarf your orchid, preventing it from growing.
This is one reason to stay away from the run-of-the-mill standard fertilizers, from the all-purpose generic houseplant brands and from any that aren't made specifically for orchids.
Orchids are exotic plants and need to be treated as such. They are exotics with specialized needs.
Most places that sell orchids will also sell orchid fertilizers but they might be more expensive than your budget allows. However, before you concoct your own, please make sure you follow a few tips.
Orchids grow best in bark. So make sure you start with shredded bark as your base. The elements you need to include are:
20% or less nitrogen. Look for "Nitrate" or "Ammoniacal" on the label. Do not use any that contain Urea. 1% or more phosphorus 5% to 15% calcium, and make sure it's not only powdered up,but dissolves well in water. Calcium that just sits in the bottom of the bowl and doesn't dissolve won't be very useful to your orchid. between 1% and 8% magnesium. A mixture of trace elements such as iron, copper and so on. Ask your nursery for which elements an orchid needs and make sure you don't include any that it doesn't do well with. And potassium. But, remember, too much or too little is not healthy so speak to the nursery or local orchid growing group for specific information.
Of course, the easiest, and probably healthiest thing for your orchids when you're new to growing them is to purchase a ready-mixed orchid fertilizer and follow the directions it comes with for feeding your plants.
The most important things to not do when fertilizing orchids are:
1 Never over-do it. If the directions call for half cup of concentrate diluted in three gallons of water, then make sure you don't add more than half up of concentrate to three gallons of water. Any more than that, and your orchid will suffer.
2 Don't feed a cold or a fever. Orchids get sick just like people do but unlike people, feeding them when ill isn't a good idea. They are already stressed out enough and don't need to devote any energy to dealing with the food. Figure out what's ailing them and fix it, then allow them to recover before you feed again.
3 Blooms mean hands off. Orchids in bloom should never be moved and should never be fed. Feeding an orchid when its blooming is one of the best ways to ensure it'll drop the blooms and concentrate on food.
4 Don't step on my toes. That's what your orchid will be thinking if you feed it while it's trying to fight off root rot. Think how you would feel if you cut your finger and then someone came along and poured lemon juice on it. You'd be much less than happy, and so will your orchids if you fertilize them when their roots are damaged. And if you have orchids with damaged roots, you should be repotting them and cutting away the damage, so please do so and then let them heel before pouring on the fertilizer
by: Kelly Christiansen
Using Essential Oils To Combat Grief Laser Engraving-Now And Then Is There A Use For Pheromones? Are Glass Water Bottles Better? Shore Excursions From Port Said To Pyramids & Nile Monuments in Valencia Epigallocatechin Gallate - The Current Industrial Market Of Rtd Green Tea And Beverage Functionality The Importance Of Artificial Hedges Portable Sinks: Info On Portable Shampoo Sink Importance of Dj Hire Starcraft 2 report guide for counter units Financial Futures Contracts -- Dow Jones Industrial Average Answers About Airborne Allergies--5 Allergy Questions Answered