How regularly to feed orchids?

[myshka]

Originally Posted by camille1585

That is absolutely not true at all. Would be nice if it was. Photosynthesis is the process in which plants use the energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide (6H2O + 6CO2) into C6H12O6 + 6O2, i.e. sugars + oxygen. The plant cells then use these sugars as fuel. All the other nutrients (macro nutrients and trace elements) must come from the soil (thus the use of fertilizers), and many are essential for photosynthesis to occur or for the sugars to be used as energy.

i've read a lot of conflicting information, your theory sounds much more credible.

[Ray]

This might be of some value: Fertilizers & Plant Nutrition

[PitcherASAMD]

So when I am watering and feeding my orchids (phal and cattelaya), should I just be pouring the water over them or allowing them soak in water for a certain length of time? I repotted the phal into just bark because I thought I was overwatering but now I think I'm underwatering...I can't seem to figure this out. Also, is a 20-20-20 fertilizer okay to feed both my plants?

[Royal]

Originally Posted by PitcherASAMD

So when I am watering and feeding my orchids (phal and cattelaya), should I just be pouring the water over them or allowing them soak in water for a certain length of time? I repotted the phal into just bark because I thought I was overwatering but now I think I'm underwatering...I can't seem to figure this out. Also, is a 20-20-20 fertilizer okay to feed both my plants?

When I water or fertilize, I like to hit them all once then go back and hit them again about 5 minutes later. This get them nice and soaked. 20-20-20 is fine, just cut it to half strength or maybe even quarter strength and use it every time you water.

New media doesn't hold as much water as older, softened media. Sometimes newly potted plants will dry a bit faster for a while. This is ok though, b/c keeping a newly re-potted on the dry side will initiate new root growth and help it get established.

[Becky15349]

Fertilzer is important, but don't overthink it. Same with watering...err on the side of less watering as opposed to over watering, and you will be fine.

Most people use 1/4 strength fertilzer at ever watering - basically, I think that is what "weakly weekly" means.

Personally, I water roughly 1x per week by filling the sink with water/fert and repouring water over the plant's media until I feel they've had enough. I don't have time to soak the plants, that would take forever. Every 4th watering, I use plain water to help flush out the mineral salts from the fertilzer.

If its cloudy for days on end, I water less; if its sunny, I may have to water more. Like everyone above said, it depends on your environment. Trying to adhere to a schedule rarely works with orchids.

Try applying the idea of "everything in moderation" when it comes to your orchids. Water sparingly unless its really necessary, and use fertilizer sparingly always. That seems more simple to me

[latebloomer]

Sorry for introducing another question in this thread, but it has to do with flushing, as some people have mentioned here. I believe that a lot of people fertilize 2-3 consecutive weeks then flush the 4th week. Is there such a thing as flushing too often?

Long ago I read that plants don't appreciate fertilizer on their roots when dry so I've started the habit of soaking the orchids first with plain water (which I guess would be flushing) but then I would follow with weak fertilizer (weakly weekly). I do this routinely every week. Is this step unnecessary, or maybe reduces the effectiveness of fertilizers?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by latebloomer

... Is there such a thing as flushing too often?

Not really, but it's a balance. The more you flush, the less food a plant will get. Don't forget that the medium stores some. Also, if you flush a lot and use pure (RO, distilled, rainwater, etc.) water to do so, you can actually extract nutrients from your plants.

Originally Posted by latebloomer

...Long ago I read that plants don't appreciate fertilizer on their roots when dry so I've started the habit of soaking the orchids first with plain water (which I guess would be flushing) but then I would follow with weak fertilizer (weakly weekly). I do this routinely every week. Is this step unnecessary, or maybe reduces the effectiveness of fertilizers?

Many moons ago, it was common practice to feed very heavily, but infrequently. Dumping a very high mineral-content solution on roots can upset the osmotic pressure so much that it can literally kill the root cells. By watering first, the velamen on the roots gets saturated, so cannot absorb much more, and the amount of nutrition is kept low. If, on the other hand, you water with a more moderate solution, that's not an issue, and wastes less without stressing your plants.

Soaking, then using a weak solution, is essentially the same as not feeding at all! (OK - a little hyperbole, but you get my point.)

[latebloomer]

Hi, Ray. Thank you for this information! I've actually been wondering about this for some time. I'm glad I finally asked on the forum. I've been using tap water (no access to distilled or RO water) so hopefully my method hasn't been too detrimental to my plants.