Can I fertilize orchids now? What fertilizer is good?

Orchid is a common ornamental flower with graceful posture and fresh flowers, and many people like to grow it. But if you want to grow orchids well, scientific fertilization is essential. So can orchids be fertilized now? What fertilizer is good? Let’s learn more about it below.

Can I fertilize orchids now?

Now in early summer in May, it is time to fertilize orchids. Usually, orchids are fertilized during the growing season, which starts in late spring and ends in late autumn, but the number of fertilizations depends on the specific situation. For example, in midsummer, when the temperature is high, orchids grow very slowly and their root activity is weak. If too much fertilizer is applied, it is very easy to cause fertilizer damage.

What fertilizer is good for orchids?

There is no secret recipe for fertilizing orchids. It is enough to apply the three major elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Generally, organic fertilizer can be chosen as the base fertilizer. Usually, the organic fertilizer here (specially for orchids) refers to cake fertilizer. During the growth period, you can choose inorganic fertilizer (chemical fertilizer) and spray the leaves once every 10 days to keep the leaves healthy and green. You can also choose to put compound granular fertilizer in the soil beside the pot, or dilute orchid-specific slow-release fertilizer , nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and orchid-specific flower fertilizer and apply them to allow the orchid to have sufficient nutrients for growth.

How to fertilize orchids?

1. Buried method

During the growing season of orchids, it is safest to use chemical fertilizers by burying them. Dig a shallow trench at the edge of the flowerpot (as far away from the orchid roots as possible), spread the fertilizer evenly in the trench, and then cover it with replanting material.

2. Pouring method

If you are using organic fertilizers (including cake fertilizers) and some chemical fertilizers that are not very irritating and have low concentrations (such as superphosphate), you can use the pouring method. Pour the prepared fertilizer liquid evenly along the edge of the flower pot, being careful not to get it on the leaves and flower buds.

3. Spraying method

Foliar fertilizers are applied by spraying and can be used in any growth state of orchids. When spraying, mainly spray the back of the leaves, the nozzle should be facing upwards, and the mist points should be fine. At the same time, the spray volume should not be too large, so that the leaves do not drip water, to prevent fertilizer liquid from accumulating at the leaf tips and causing fertilizer damage and tip burn.

In general, each breeding situation is different, and there are certain differences in what specific fertilizers should be used and how to use them. The above is for reference only for orchid lovers. But no matter how you choose to use fertilizer, mastering the time and method of fertilization is the more critical point.