How to apply the fertilizer...

[Nico]

I've heard that some people, here where I live, not only water with the fertilizer, but spray the leaves with it.... It's the first time I hear something like that. And I don't understand...

How do you apply the fertilizer? I use it only for the media and aerial roots.

[Charles]

There is a company in the US called Miracle grow. They have been making the claim for years that fertilizing over the leaves is beneficial. They also claim their product, although very good, will do this as well as feed the roots. They call it foliar feeding.
I will not go out of my way to avoid the leaves when I fertilize, but I concentrate on the roots. I have also gotten some results from slow release fertilizers. I mix them directly into the medium. But be careful not to get too many too close together. They will burn the roots.
This way my plants are getting a little fertilizer with each watering.

[Ray]

Foliar feeding is extremely beneficial to some plants, but it is less so to orchids, primarily due to the plants' evolution to hold water so well.

In order to retain moisture, many orchids have minimized the number of stomata on the leaves or only really open them at night. With limited entry ways, the foliar uptake is minimized.

[Nico]

Thanks!
So, any fertilizer can be use for foliar feeding, or just some of them? Sorry, but it is a new information for me.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Nico

Thanks!
So, any fertilizer can be use for foliar feeding, or just some of them? Sorry, but it is a new information for me.

I agree with Ray. To say "any fertilizer can be used" is probably NOT correct. If the fertilizer is very high in nitrogen and the fertilizer is left on the leaves, sometimes chemical burning can occur due to the deposited salts sucking water from the leaves. While not so much a problem on many orchids, it could happen on thin leaved orchids. Having said all this, however, I always totally submerge my orchids in the fertilizer solution (125ppm nitrogen and RO water) thinking that, while it might not really benefit them, it certainly won't hurt either. For the most part, I think this is a non-issue. I think you should stick to watering like you have been used to in the past. Your orchids that you have shown us pictures of, seem really happy to me.

[Nico]

Well, Ross, I try to learn more about orchids and to help others to take good care of their plants. Sometimes I feel like I want to understand too much, but once you understand something, it is easyer to deal with the new challenges and take decisions. I hope is understandable

[tfields]

I mist the roots and leaves with no ill effects. It seems to help, now that the orchids are in the outside environment any comment appreciated.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by tfields

I mist the roots and leaves with no ill effects. It seems to help, now that the orchids are in the outside environment any comment appreciated.

Not sure if it helps or not, but definitely does not hurt them. I drench the whole plant, leaves and all.

[Charles]

Ask yourself a question...
Is it possible that fertilizer gets on the leaves of an orchid in the wild? The answer is obvious, and it can not hurt. If anything, small amounts will remain on the leaves until the next rain when they will wash down on the roots for a small secondary feeding. If you feel it helps, do it, but don't worry about it.

[Lagoon]

I don't really go out of my way to feed the leaves, but I do spray with a seaweed fertilizer (Looks like ink) a few times during the summer -- Roots are drench at the same time.
Works for me!