Nitrogen, which is produced by lightning in the atmosphere, is in the rain drops. Phosphorus/potassium is in the leaf litter/animal and bird poop/Decaying wood that makes up where the orchid is growing it's roots. When it is the rainy season, raining day and night, there is little potassium and phosphorus available to the orchid's roots. At the end of the rainy season the phosphorus/potassium becomes available to the orchid due to the fact that the rain isn't washing it away as soon as it becomes available. I'll also beg to differ with Dr. Motes. Mature velamen absorbs moisture almost instantly and becomes saturated and won't absorb any more moisture beyond a certain point. Fertilizing media seems a waste to me. The orchid doesn't grow roots quickly enough to absorb it so it is wasted. Difficult to just fertilize the roots I know except for mounted plants.
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