Fertilize Phalaenopsis when “sprouting”?

[JLem]

Hi all...I’m new here. I have two Phalaenopsis that are currently sending up new inflorescences. The gist of my question is should I fertilize during this time? No flowers have appeared yet...and I think they’re still a whiles away from flowering.

More details:
One plant I’ve had for years and this is the first time reflowering. It was originally bought at Trader Joe’s I think. It was one of those mass produced ones anyway. The other one was part of a wedding centerpiece that held onto its flowers for over a year (summer of 2018-summer of 2019). I was shocked to see it sending up a new flower shoot so quickly. I have not regularly fertilized either one, but did so a couple months ago. I am thinking this may have “jolted” them to flower, but not sure. Anyway...I am hesitant to mess with them now that they are getting ready to flower...but I want to make sure they have nice, healthy blossoms. Any advice?

[Ray]

The plant is growing new tissues; of course they need nutrition.

However, you really ought to consider "a little bit, applied frequently". My recommendation is to divide 8 by the %N of your fertilizer - the result is the teaspoons/gallon to apply weekly. For example, if you have a 12-5-15, 8/12=3/4 tsp/gal.

[JLem]

Ok, thanks.

I have Schultz orchid food (19-31-17)...so a little less than 1/2 a tsp per gallon? Can I make up a batch of it and store it? I certainly don’t need a gallon...or even a half gallon...but not sure I can get precise enough a measurement to make only what I need.

[aliceinwl]

Someone else can probably advise you better on concentration, but I have a dedicated set of measuring spoons and containers for mixing up fertilizer etc. so that I can mix a variety of batch sizes depending on my needs. I fertilize my Phalaenopsis every other watering regardless of what they’re doing.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by JLem

Ok, thanks.

I have Schultz orchid food (19-31-17)...so a little less than 1/2 a tsp per gallon? Can I make up a batch of it and store it? I certainly don’t need a gallon...or even a half gallon...but not sure I can get precise enough a measurement to make only what I need.

I don’t think you’d go wrong with a half teaspoon per gallon.

Certainly, you can make a liquid concentrate.

There are 128 ounces in a gallon and 1.5 ounces in a shot glass, so about 85 shots/gal. Put 85 x 8/19 = 35 teaspoons (3/4 cup) of fertilizer in a milk jug, fill it with water, and you can use one shot-glass full of that concentrate to make up a gallon of solution for application.

For smaller volumes, 1.5 oz is 3 tablespoons or 9 teaspoons, so for a quart, you’d need 2.25 teaspoons of that concentrate.