Please help identify this beauty total newbie here

[cjm3fl]

It's not "brightness" so much as "usable light band(s)".
Brightness helps orchids, and all plants, look good...but it's not always supplying the 'type' of light they need to produce there own food.

And "I" don't use those fertilizer sticks in my orchids but that's just me.
Let's see what others have to say about them.
I like a "1-time, 1/2 amount, twice as long" kind of feeder of my orchids. I don't like constant-feed stuff on anything but my spider plants and wandering jew (both heavy feeders).

I also don't use different kinds of fertilizers on the same plant...at the same time.
There are times I will use a different fertilizer (food) at different times of the growing year..again, except my spider plants and wandering jew.


But I'm curious to see what others will reply.
I live in Florida so my plants get a good dose of light so my feeding requirements tend to be lower then for folks up North.

It's wonderful to read you enthusiasm!
There's a lot to learn...not really, just some general rules.
But once learned many orchids become real easy!

[DeaC]

One more thing you want to watch for.Leaf pleating can be a common occurence,an accordian appearance resulting from too little water.Happy growing!

[silken]

Other than heavy feeders like Cymbidiums, it is often recommended NOT to use fertilizer sticks to feed orchids. Some need a drier winter rest as they slow down and therefore feeding should be stopped or cut way back. Orchid roots are quite sensitive to fertilizer burn so usually using 1/2 to 1/4 strength when watering is recommended. And then once a month flushing the pot well with clear water to remove fertilizer salts. Some cut back on nitrogen to induce blooming when new grows are starting. A stick does not allow for the different requirements and flushing out of the pot now and then so it may provide too much fertilizer to the sensitive roots.

[miaorchid21]

May be the
Miltoniopsis Andrea West 'HOF'

[Optimist]

I really like this vanilla/cream color. You don't often see that. Would you call it a light yellow?

---------- Post added at 05:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by cjm3fl

It's not "brightness" so much as "usable light band(s)".
Brightness helps orchids, and all plants, look good...but it's not always supplying the 'type' of light they need to produce there own food.

The light type needed is far red/yellow on the light spectrum, but mostly far red. Plants, being green will bounce off the blue/green light wave bands, which they do not need. It does not cause photosynthesis. So to our eyes (rods and cones) plant leaves appear green because they are bouncing off part of a spectrum of light. (Physics, how fun you are!)

---------- Post added at 05:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 PM ----------

A lot of these growers use osmacote, or koat (not sure the spelling) pellets, but I have looked and it always seems they have been discontinued. Something really good for orchids is Kelp powder in the water or a fertilizer with kelp in it. Whatever fertilizer you use needs to be non-urea so it generally means stick with something made for orchids.