New Dendorium

[Scotkat]

Hello everyone I have just received a beautiful healthy dendodrium and would like to be able to keep it growing .

Can you recommend the best Orchid feed and often should I feed and water.

This would also apply to Phals.

Many thanks in advance.

Scotkat

[Ghosthunt64]

Not sure on the Dendrobiums. For the Phalaenopsis: Water once the mix dries out and fertilize with 20-10-20 at half-strength every other watering. Low light.

[Bud]

Dendrobium culture and Phalaenopsis culture are quite different but they can be given the same orchid fertilizer mix.
It could help us help you if we knew what kind of Den it is....or some pictures?

[brianwstephens]

As far as watering the Dendrobium, it depends on what type it is. Some like to be kept moist, like my Bracteosums, while others, like my Kingianums, like to dry out in between waterings.

[Scotkat]

This was bought from local Dobbies store in Perth Scotland but does not have a name on the tag.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Ghosthunt64

Not sure on the Dendrobiums. For the Phalaenopsis: Water once the mix dries out and fertilize with 20-10-20 at half-strength every other watering. Low light.

Half strength is pretty meaningless because different makes give different dilution strengths and you don't know if they've given a high dilution strength or a low one. So half what the packet advises is meaningless.

Also it doesn't really matter what the N-P-K rates are as long as you dilute it at an appropriate rate for that N-P-K values, lower numbers generally mean you are paying more for what you get though because ones with higher numbers can be diluted more so are generally better value. A fertiliser with 20 for the N value is generally a good one to go for, but if you have a lower one you just use more.

A rough guide is to use somewhere between 13/N and 4/N tsp per gallon. So if your fertiliser is 20-10-20 that's an N value of 20 (the first number) and as a rough guide use somewhere between 13/20 = 0.65 and 4/20 = 0.2 tsp per gallon.

If using it towards the stronger end of the scale you should flush with plain water once a month, at the lower end of the scale people generally believe a flush is not necessary.

I use the same rates for all my Dens and all my Phals and for pretty much all my orchids in fact. Some Dens need a winter rest but the sort you have (from the pics) should be fine with the same all year. I use 13/N with a flush but mostly because I've not got around to adjusting my routines (when half asleep in the morning) to the more recent advice of 4/N. I use somewhere around 6/N with a flush on some which are more sensitive and need lower fertiliser but none of those are Phals or Dens.

---------- Post added at 12:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:14 PM ----------

I like this fertiliser available in the UK. It's the equivalent of the much talked about MSU available in the USA.

The recommended dilution rate on this is at the lower end of the scale and the recommend using it without a monthly flush.

I currently only use this in my greenhouse (at the recommended rate) as I'm using up a different one at the strong rate in the house. I'll probably adjust my routines when I run out of the other one and switch to this for everything.

Akernes Rain Mix- Powder Orchid Food

[Scotkat]

Thanks Rosie what is the name of orchid feed i should use please.

[RosieC]

The link about shows my current favorite, I think my second post might have crossed with yours.

I've used several others with good results as well but this is a good one for rain water as well as for tap water and contains other trace elements as well as the main ones.

[Scotkat]

Never seen this where can I get it and is postage expensive?

[RosieC]

Their website actually allows you get get an estimate of postage for your postcode. Add the item to the cart, then view the contents of the cart and there is an option for 'Estimate Shipping & Taxes'.

For me postage £4.49 for either size pot, so it's obviously more cost effective to get the bigger one. Be warned though it's highly hydroscopic so you have to be vary careful not to leave the lid off the tub as it will absorbe water out the air.

I actually bought the 2.5Kg tub last time which they don't list anymore (though it's in the picture on the website, you don't seem to be able to buy it ). I had a 150g tub originally and I keep topping that up from the big one. That way if I forget and leave the lid off it's only a small amount that's gone soggy.

Even the little tub lasts months on my greenhouse full of orchids though because it has such a low dilution rate.