I finally got them repotted, when do I fertilize

[jasonmom]

Hi and thanks to everyone who has helped me through my first week with orchids. I repotted them in plastic cups that my hubby burned multiple holes into. Used miracle grow orchid bark. Chickened out and only cut off roots that were black. One of them had very little in way of roots. I guess now I just have to cross my fingers.

I don't trust my memory - I believe I'm supposed to wait 2 weeks before using a fertilizer. Is that right?

[Orchiddep]

If you are using the Miracle grow mix, they already have fertilizer in it so no rush. My experience with this mix is that they hold a lot more water than normal mix so be careful with watering.

[Ferns Daddy]

Check the direction on the bag and see if it tells you how often to feed your orchid, I've never used miracle grow mix, but I would wait at least a month before feeding and be careful on watering the mix holds water longer than other types of orchid mix.

[Optimist]

Watering depends on your humidity, the season, the state of growth they are in (phals, I presume), and water retention of the medium. If you are using miricle grow, I wouldn't fertilize for a while. Fertilisation timing will depend on how much you water. it is a once a month kind of thing, and even then, they get minerals from tap water. Hope you do not have a water sofener.

[jasonmom]

Thanks for the advise guys. I will look at the bag. Will hold off on watering till completely dry. Glad you warned me about the water thing. I was having to water every other day in whatever it was they were in when I bought them.

I love this little guy

[Cym Ladye]

In addition to all this advice, you might want to read the sticky at the top of this discussion group called "The Phal abuse stops here" if you haven't already. Good reading and all sorts of Phal questions answered.

CL

[jasonmom]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

In addition to all this advice, you might want to read the sticky at the top of this discussion group called "The Phal abuse stops here" if you haven't already. Good reading and all sorts of Phal questions answered.

CL

I should have mentioned that my plants are cattleya. I wish they had a sticky up top for them.