Provide Some Fertilizer but Not Too Much

In their natural habitat, orchids are usually found attached to the branches and trunks of trees. Their natural environment provides sufficient nutrients derived from decomposing bark, leaves, animal droppings and other organic matter. To have thriving orchids in your growing environment, you will need to replace the missing nutrients that nature no longer provides. This is usually accomplished with fertilizers.

Three of the basic nutrients that help orchids grow are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Of these, nitrogen is most responsible for the growth of healthy leaves. While healthy leaf growth is of obvious benefit to the orchid, excess nitrogen can inhibit flowering by diverting the plants’ growing energy to the leaves instead of to the blooms.

Secondary Nutrients that can Benefit Orchids

In addition to the three key nutrients that orchids need, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, there are other minerals that will benefit the plant in trace amounts. These include calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. If you find that you are grappling with how and what to feed your orchids, the best advice is look for fertilizers formulated especially for the requirements of orchids. If these are not available at your local garden center, fertilizers formulated for flowering ornamental plants are a good substitute.

You can also prepare effective home-made fertilizers — use a teaspoon of Epsom salts in a gallon of water to provide extra magnesium. Supply extra calcium by crushing seashells or eggshells and spreading it over the medium. Soaked, strained and diluted manure is also rich in minerals and organic nutrients that will help in orchid development. Fertilizers in liquid form are effective and convenient for many orchid growers and should work well for you. There are dozens of other feeding tips available at reputable web sites. Whatever methods you use to keep your plants healthy, make sure you research them thoroughly before first use — beautiful orchids are well worth the effort.

Fertilizer Cautions

When in doubt about the amount and frequency of fertilizations, the best rule is, “less is better than more.” Synthetic fertilizers contain salts which can damage roots by dehydration. Never exceed recommended dosages, and water the media thoroughly (until the water flows freely from the bottom of the pot) to flush out excess salts. Only fertilize healthy plants during their growing season; if the plant is dormant during winter months, fertilizers should not be applied.