The great debate

[Cintirella]

As a new Orchid owner I did research Googled) and find people saying the best time to fertilize the plant is during winter, 'cuz is less sun outside and the plant needs Photosynthesis and basically is what the sun does to a plant. Others say is during Spring and Summer when the plant is active and growing. Now I post the question to you guys. I'm really concerned about this since I found while re potting 2 other orchids I have bought early Jan-Feb that the roots were very yellowish. Not rotted or mushy instead strong and hard BUT VERY YELLOW. I QUESTION MYSELF am I over feeding her fertilizer if so what's those symptoms or what does that look like. I have a feeling I over fertilized 2 of my 4 Orchids. PS- one is thriving with 2 Keikis and a new Spike at the same time.
(She used to have root rot) now she's putting out new roots, babies are doing great and the green leaves are thriving. But the other 3 plants only 1 out of 3 is re blooming. Can anyone tell me about this great debate?

[tucker85]

The most common sign of over-fertilizing is brown tips on the leaves. It's pretty easy to remedy though. Just flush the pot real well with lots of water. Wait about 15 minutes for the fertilizer crystals to soften up with the moisture and then flush the media again with lots of plain water. Wait a week and restart your normal fertilizer schedule.

I'm surprised you read something that said to fertilize in the winter. I've never heard that recommendation. Orchids make their own food through photosynthesis using carbon dioxide and water. But to build new plant tissue and carry out some other functions, they need certain minerals. We provide those minerals through fertilizer. So it stands to reason that the most important time to fertilize is during the spring and summer growing season when the orchid is putting on new growth.

If you're worried about over-fertilizing, fertilize every week or every two weeks at a dose that's 1/4 or 1/2 of the strength listed on the label and once a month flush the pot real well with water to remove excess fertilizer. I don't think the yellowish roots had anything to do with your fertilizer.

[silken]

I agree with tucker85. To fertilize more in winter is backward to anything I have ever heard. When there is less sun, the plant is photosynthsizing less. It needs sunshine to photosynthesize which is when it is taking up food and producing growth. So in the winter, excess fertilizer will just sit there not being used and possibly burning roots if its not flushed out. So at best it is a waste of fertilizer and at worst, the roots could get burnt. You feed more during active growth which usually occurs during the warmest and longer days. Less during cool, short days (winter).

However many orchid growers grow them in their homes under lights which is similar to the 12 hour days year round near the equator where many tropical orchids grow. So they maintain a similar regime year round or add more when the plant is displaying increased growth.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

There is no "debate". You can fertilize orchids that do not go dormant all year round. But pretty much everything Tucker said still stands.

If you're asking about orchids that go dormant, then whenever they go out of dormancy and start producing roots is when you start fertilizing. For some orchids that's spring/summer. For other orchids it's fall/winter. During dormancy no fertilizer should be applied. A little water for some species, yes; fertilizer, absolutely not. Perhaps this is what the "debate" is over.?

[orchidsarefun]

the only thing I can think of as an explanation for what you found is the Northern Hemisphere vs Southern Hemisphere thingy. When its Summer here, its Winter there and vice-versa.
Maybe the websites were specifically for Southern Hemisphere growers - like Australia for example, and mentioned fertilising Oct - Jan. That's basically Wintertime in the USA and the Northern Hemisphere.
Its more confusing for people in the SH as most websites are NH focused.

[WhiteRabbit]

Yellowish but firm roots are normal for Phals...

I DO fertilize Phals in winter, I give them fert year round ...

What were your search terms when you found this info?

When growth is slow, as is often the case in winter, plants generally require LESS fertilizer, if any. Some orchids, do want a "winter rest" of very little water and no fertilizer (usually cool temps and bright light as well)- but in most cases, if they don't receive the proper rest, the worst that happens is they don't bloom the following spring or summer.

Different species (and thus, different hybrids) will not all spike - bloom at the same time. Some may need more or less light than others to bloom. If any had "issues", they may need a recovery period before they can bloom...

[quiltergal]

I grow under lights so fertilize year round. One year I did not fertilize in the winter and I found that the plants did not flower as well. You cannot substitute fertilizer for sunlight as they provide entirely different things to the plant.

As for the yellow roots, they are yellow because they were in the center of the pot and no sunlight could reach them. Roots are only green when exposed to light.

[Cintirella]

Thank you so much for replying. I actually saw in YouTube a guy saying the best time is during winter. I should have done a research. I'm glad that my plants is recovering nicely since I was doing it every other week, and I never knew I can flush it out. I'm surprised she made it. I recently repoted her since she did had root rot. Now her and her 2 Kiekis are doing awesome! Thank Goodness I found this Board. I thank You all for such informative place to visit.

---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:05 PM ----------

actually, it was a debate on my head lol. I should have done a research about it. But I used to live in Florida where is most of the time warm, so I guess that helped me NOT KILL my plant. lol. Now I'm back in Chicago,( yes, she survived the moving ) so the seasons will for sure bring the plant to dormant stage when days go shorter next fall. Thanks so much for replying. I'm eager to learn more.

---------- Post added at 04:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------

that makes a very good point ( observation ) thanks.

---------- Post added at 04:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:17 PM ----------

I got her last May,( Mother's day ) after done with flowers, I trim to 1st node in hopes of re-blooming. She put out 2 leaves and WENT TO SLEEP for the winter. This year, she puts out another leaf and 2 nodes started to open. So I thought I was getting flowers? Nah, turns out are 2 Keikis. And just this morning, between 2 bottom leaves, looks like a new spike coming straight up. So this plant has me puzzled me being new at it. I'm so glad tho I didn't kill it. I'm so grateful for finding this board. Thanks for your reply. ( I wish I can add a pic I took this morning of what I described to you just now )

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Phals don't have a dormancy. They just slow their growth down during the cooler months, but they still continue to grow nonetheless.

[Cintirella]

cool ! I learn something new. yes she really got very still since last late summer. Thanks so much for the info. I love it here.