Best fertilizer for phalaenopsis?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Rain water works quite well, or snow melt. That is, when your snow is not blowing all the way to Nebraska

A friend of mine used to live in Casper, WY, he always said that if you didn't like the snow you got overnight, all you needed to do was wait for it to blow to Nebraska the next day. Seriously though, I love the wide open spaces of Wyoming, though I have not been there for many years.

[MamaLiberty]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Rain water works quite well, or snow melt. That is, when your snow is not blowing all the way to Nebraska

This is true. Only thing is that there's so often more coming from the west as the last bit blows east. But I usually have a two or three foot drift in front of my wood pile... wish I could think of a better place for the wood pile. Funny thing is... there was no drift there before we stacked the wood!

We don't have anywhere near the wind here that they get in Casper or Cheyenne. The whole southern half of the state is a permanent wind tunnel. The winters down there are brutal.

[Plant Happy]

Y'all are great! Really appreciate the prompt replies. I've read all sorts of recommendations from googling: 20-20-20 is fine; urea-free is necessary for good blooming; bark-based media requires high-nitrogen fertilizer twice a month during active growth; high phosphorus promotes blooming. I understand orchids want to be watered before being fertilized because the roots are tender, fertilizer should be cut back in the cooler months; and phals (and dendrobiums) should rebloom in 6 to 9 months. I've had much more success reblooming dendrobiums than phals which of course makes me love the phals even more~

[bil]

Well, we have great well water too, great for people, but the water is as hard as nails. So, removing everything and then putting in just what they want seems the easiest way to go.

[Atalah]

I use fish tank water. It contains a low amount of fertilizer. I have no idea how much N-P-K-Mg etc. is in it, but the plants like it so I see no reason to change anything. It's good stuff.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Plant Happy

Y'all are great! Really appreciate the prompt replies. I've read all sorts of recommendations from googling: 20-20-20 is fine; urea-free is necessary for good blooming; bark-based media requires high-nitrogen fertilizer twice a month during active growth; high phosphorus promotes blooming. I understand orchids want to be watered before being fertilized because the roots are tender, fertilizer should be cut back in the cooler months; and phals (and dendrobiums) should rebloom in 6 to 9 months. I've had much more success reblooming dendrobiums than phals which of course makes me love the phals even more~

Do remember with fertilisers, weakly, weekly. Ray always suggests a very, very low level of fertiliser to be used at every watering, and that does have a ring of truth to it. One thing I have learned in several fields is that if you give a plant or animal exactly what it gets in the wild, it will do well. Fact is, we can't always do that so we have to make compromises. Too many compromises will kill, so it pays to keep as much as possible true to nature.

[Plant Happy]

Makes sense. Thanks!

[bethmarie]

I don't water my orchids before fertilizing and haven't had a problem with the roots. Somewhere in OB posts, Ray makes a case that pre-watering mostly wastes your fertilizer.

I tried to find that post to link it, but ran out of search time. You may want to scare that one up and see what you think about it.

[bil]

If the fertiliser is too strong to be used without prewatering, then it is too strong to use at all.

The point was made on anther thread, that the velamen on the roots soaks up moisture very quickly, and only the first moisture is absorbed.

[Plant Happy]

One of the challenges of using the internet for research is the conflicting advice, which is why I really like coming to this board where I can benefit from everyone's experience. Plus, I love that I can see the location of posters (I need to find out how I can add my zone and place).

Beth, how could prewatering dilute fertilizer when the fertilizer comes after the water?