Best fertilizer for phalaenopsis?

[Plant Happy]

Fertilizer for phalaenopsis needs to be urea-free, but does it matter if the NPK is 6-30-30 or 30-10-10? Thanks for your help!

[The Mutant]

Yes it does, but I can't say for sure what the different effects would be. There are much more knowledgeable people out here who can though.

And welcome!

[mimigirl]

I think that you want a higher nitrogen (first number) higher than the rest. Better gro is urea free and is 20-14-13. Hope someone who know more answers this so i can see how close i am!

[bil]

Some say the fertiliser has to be urea free, some say it doesn't matter.
The fertilisers that are sold have varying ratios, one for this, one for that and one for the other.

As in all things, google is your friend. Search under fertilisers for orchids, and read, read, read. Keep notes, and follow all the different threads you find.

There is another way which I think is interesting. First Rays, a member on here who has his own orchid business recommends using RO water and watering only with a very weak fertiliser. His fertiliser is very low in P&K, and is tailored to match what a epiohytic orchid would receive in nature.

It's a technique that I will be trying this year.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Orchid fertilizer does not need to be urea-free. The notion got started back when poorly manufactured urea fertilzer sometimes contained high levels of biuret. Biuret can be harmful at high concentrations. With modern fertilizer production methods, biuret is not a concern.

A scientific study a few years ago proved that orchids use urea quite effectively. That study was performed with Phalaenopsis orchids.

[Subrosa]

The main factor in deciding which is best is more about the media than the species being potted. Bark uses up a lot of nitrogen, so for a mix including a decent proportion of bark you would want the higher nitrogen "grow" formula. For a plant in a mix without bark or mounted, the more balanced "bloom" formula would be the choice.

[MamaLiberty]

Originally Posted by bil

recommends using RO water and watering only with a very weak fertiliser.

Another candidate for our abbreviations and acronyms thread. What is "RO water?"

[Orchid Whisperer]

RO is reverse osmosis

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by MamaLiberty

Another candidate for our abbreviations and acronyms thread. What is "RO water?"

It is reverse osmosis water. I had the same question when I first came here, I had to look it up It is filtered water distilled water is made from steam.

Oops you beat me to it.

[MamaLiberty]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

RO is reverse osmosis

Ah, thanks. It could have meant so many things. I was having fun trying to think of some of them. (Yes, I'm often easily amused. LOL)

Wouldn't rain water be even better? Cheaper anyway, if you don't have a "RO" system, or have a lot of orchids.

I have very good well water here, and my orchids seem to love it.