Fertilizing a Phal. NoID Orchid?

[TheJadeOrchid]

I have searched and searched, but couldn't find an answer. Maybe I am not looking hard enough? I don't know.

So I am not real sure how to fertilize an Orchid?

What type of fertilizer should I use?

What is a good ratio?

I also read that is a good idea to switch fertilizers when the Orchid is in blood and not in bloom?

What is deal on the Seaweed stuff, sorry not sure what it is?

What does "Weekly, Weakly" mean?

I am using Schultz Orchid Mix Exotic Potting Medium!

[Carpe Diem]

I'm not familiar with the Schultz orchid mixes. Read what is printed on the bag, it may already have slow release fertilizer in it. If not, feed weekly weakly, which means a weak dosage of fertilizer once a week. A weak dosage is half or less of the recommended amount on the bottle/package. If your orchid doesn't need water every week, that's fine; just fertilize when you have to water. The rule of thumb is: 3 waterings with weak fertilizer, the 4th watering just flushing with plain water. There are fertilizers especially for orchids and I think a 20-20-20 is pretty safe. I'm a beginner too, so please wait for replies from the experts!

[TheJadeOrchid]

The ingredients are Fir Bark, Pine Bark, Arcilite and Horticultural Charcoal. And sometimes Lava Rock Pebbles. It doesn't have any additives, but it recommends the "Schultz Water Soluble Orchid Food".

[Carpe Diem]

The Orchid mix sounds ok, as long as the bark are not very small pieces. The mix should NOT be soil-like. You can use any brand of Orchid fertilizer, doesn't have to be Schultzes.

[TheJadeOrchid]

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

The Orchid mix sounds ok, as long as the bark are not very small pieces. The mix should NOT be soil-like. You can use any brand of Orchid fertilizer, doesn't have to be Schultzes.

I kind of figured. haha
Not it isn't soil like, but it isn't giant pieces. I would say a range from small pieces to medium pieces. I also added some White Packing Peanuts to the bottom of the planter.

I posted pictures here!

[Carpe Diem]

Looked at the pictures. Bark looks ok, but the pot looks kind of big to me. The pot should be just big enough to fit the roots in without damaging them If the pot is to big, the bark will not dry fast enough and eventually rot the roots. Does the pot have a drainage hole? If it were my plant, I would cut off the spike, so the plant can put it's energy into growing a leaf. There are packing peanuts made of...geez, I can't remember what they're made of...anyway, they will dissolve. I hope you used the ones made of styrofoam.

[TheJadeOrchid]

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

Looked at the pictures. Bark looks ok, but the pot looks kind of big to me. The pot should be just big enough to fit the roots in without damaging them If the pot is to big, the bark will not dry fast enough and eventually rot the roots. Does the pot have a drainage hole? If it were my plant, I would cut off the spike, so the plant can put it's energy into growing a leaf. There are packing peanuts made of...geez, I can't remember what they're made of...anyway, they will dissolve. I hope you used the ones made of styrofoam.

I did use the white styrofoam ones. I had some pink and green ones, but I read those were bad.

Yes the pot has drainage holes, but they are in the bottom. I read somewhere to add some rocks to the drain pan, and I am thinking of doing that. All the planters I had were either to BIG or a severely and unhealthy tight fit even for an orchid. This orchid has some beautiful and LARGE roots. I forgot to get a picture of the roots. haha
I put it in this pot, and the roots fit almost perfectly. Except it was a little to deep in my opinion. I am going to try and get a clear pot before my next repotting.

[camille1585]

What fertilizer you use doesn't really matter, although it's best to stick with something balance (like the suggested 20-20-20) that you use all year round. The dosage depends on what you end up getting, since some ferts are weak enough to use at nearly full strength, others not) Bloom/growth fertilizers don't really make much of a difference, so you can save yourself the hassle.

As for seaweed extract, that's used as a supplement to your normal fertilizing routine. The minerals and hormones that it naturally contains really gives the roots a huge boost.

[The Mutant]

I'll just squeeze in a question here; I think I might use a rather weak fertilizer since its ratio is 5-5-5. Should I up the dosage a bit? Since I use it every time I water no matter how many times a week that is, I've used 1/4 of the recommended dosage. So maybe it's fine this way.

Oh, and from one newbie to another; the 5-5-5 and 20-20-20 refers to the ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and you can probably find the numbers of your fertilizer on the back of the bottle.

[camille1585]

If you are using 1/4 of the recommended dosage of 5-5-5, you are essentially not giving any fertilizer, unless the recommended dosage is massive! You should be using about 2ml/L if it's liquid, that gives you a final 100ppm of N. Doesn't matter if you water once a week or 5 times a week, as long as you water with plain water every 4 waterings or so.

That why I hate the all too frequent comments of "fertilize at half or quarter strength" That statement means nothing without knowing what the initial concentration is!