Fertilizing while in spike?

[butterfly_muse]

Evening, all.

I've got a beallara marfitch howard's dream in spike right now, and it has about tripled in size in the last 3 weeks. I am very happy! But I'm wondering about fertilizing? I have been fertilizing my plants every 2-3 weeks with Dyna Gro's Grow fertilizer - I made it at recommended strength, so it's not "weak" enough (I don't think) to be a weakly weekly deal, hence waiting longer spans.

But I'm wondering if, since the plant is putting so much extra effort into this spike, it needs to be fertilized more frequently? I know that now that winter is coming I am supposed to be backing off on fertilizer, but I don't know if it should be the case even with a plant in spike.

Advice?

[My Green Pets]

Good question, I wanna know too!

[kindrag23]

Yes you should do a weakly weekly regimen especially when in spike. Another ob member used the terms " a woman who is pregnant eats more because she is not just feeding herself. The same goes for our orchids in spike because the spikes are their babies" Does that help. I takes energy to spike and grow spikes. As well as bloom.

[butterfly_muse]

Yes, that helps. It makes sense, and that is what my hunch was, I just wanted to make sure. It's my first winter with orchids, and actually this is my first plant in spike ever. Sooooooo. Still learning.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Yes, that helps. It makes sense, and that is what my hunch was, I just wanted to make sure. It's my first winter with orchids, and actually this is my first plant in spike ever. Sooooooo. Still learning.

Woot! First spikes are an amazing feeling.

I would fertilize yes. The advice you got is pretty much how I think of it.

My first rebloom of the season is starting. I can see the very beginning of a spike on my oldest phal. Still just as rewardings rubber first time it happened.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Bud]

Kindra is right....you must feed them....but also take into consideration to flush these kind of plants twice a month for fertilizer salt deposits....notice the browning of the tip of the leaves= that's a sign....avoid wetting the leaves of your plant it can be susceptible to cold spots that fungi likes to infest

[WhiteRabbit]

The "weakly" recommendation is for fertilizer labeled for once or twice a month use. Orchids do better getting weak fertilizer regularly. If your fert is labeled for orchids with directions to use once a week, that is probably good. Use the fertilizer calculator on Ray's site if unsure.
I fertilizer normally when plants are in spike, and most also in winter
- maybe slightly less in winter due to decreased need for water in the cooler damper weather here.

[Lilac]

Oh heck, thanks guys, I didn't know that! So I've been NOT fertilizing my little spikes waaaaah!