should orchids be fertilized while spiking

[orchids44]

I've always wondered about this.
I have a Miltassia Honolulu premier that has 6 spikes, 2nd time blooming in less than a year! Can't wait!
I use MSU fertilizer for tap water. I've been using 1/2 strength weekly.
Should I be fertilizing while she's spiking, budding, blooming?
I have phals, cats, oncids, dendrobs, and vandas. Same
question?
The Miltassis lives in orchiata, indoors facing a southwest window with approx. 50-60% humidity.
Thanks in advance for your advice.

[RosieC]

Yes, keep fertilising. It takes a lot of energy to produce spikes and blooms, so don't starve it of fertiliser at that time.

Back in 'the old days' fertiliser strength was much stronger and high nitrogen could stop spikes initiating, so people thought they needed to stop fertiliser for blooms, or use 'bloom booster' fertilisers. One you have spike started it makes no difference anyway, but these days the fertilisers are mixed at much weaker rates and so in most orchids won't stop spikes from starting anyway.

[WhiteRabbit]

[Bud]

pregnant mothers consume more food because they are eating for two....spiking orchids also need more food to give energy to the spike....you need to feed the plant.

[orchids44]

RosieC, WhiteRabbit and Bud:

Sounds like it's anonymous.
And Bud, I especially love your analogy !!!
Talk to you later, have to go feed my pregnant chids.












































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[james mickelso]

Too much nitrogen impedes flowering. I would reduce the amount of fertilizer. Say by half. Orchids aren't mothers carrying babies. Orchids store starches/sugars/moisture in their pbulbs, or leaves/roots if phals, and this is what is used to produce flowers. Orchids from environments where there are seasons grow during the rainy season and when it dries out they flower. They utilize their stores of nutrients to flower. I would not stop but I would cut back.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Too much nitrogen impedes flowering. I would reduce the amount of fertilizer. Say by half. Orchids aren't mothers carrying babies. Orchids store starches/sugars/moisture in their pbulbs, or leaves/roots if phals, and this is what is used to produce flowers. Orchids from environments where there are seasons grow during the rainy season and when it dries out they flower. They utilize their stores of nutrients to flower. I would not stop but I would cut back.

High nitrogen inhibits flowers, but MSU at it's standard mixing rate shouldn't be strong enough to inhibit flowers. She say's she's using it at half rate already, so I really don't think there is any need to cut back.

A low fertiliser rate at all times works well and while it might use reserves to flower, there is no harm in also restocking those reserves at the same time.

My Zygo for example was still developing it's p-bulb that had produced the spike, when the buds started the bulb was hardly visible, by now when the flowers have been open several weeks the bulb is nice and fat, I need to be feeding while it's in flower to help fatten up that bulb.

Most p-bulb ones I grow are similar, the bulbs are still fattening when the flowers are growing and opening. Phals that have root problems get floppy leaves when flowering, because they are using the reserves from those leaves.

Phals with good roots don't have that problem, showing they are restocking the leaves, or not even using those reserves if they are getting the nutrients they need while in flower.

just my thoughts.

[WhiteRabbit]

I fertilize the same in spike or not. I think that's the "weekly weakly" recommendation.

[orchids44]

Thanks everyone for a great discussion
I will continue to fertilize with MSU, 1/2 or 1/3 strength.
RosieC - thank you for the very informative yet simple lesson. I will pay more attention to my pb's when they're spiking/budding/blooming.