Continue Feeding?

[Matorchid]

If you can enlighten me, it would be most appreciated.

Inwas wondering when do you continue 5he feeding regimen after one has repotted his orchids. I have been hearing some funny things, ie. You will burn the roots clean off.
Plus wha5 ever I seem to repot really doesnt do well and in some cases just plain dies. I figur3d that one out, it being the transition to something else than being repotted in the same medium.

Thank 6ou hope your day goes well

[Leafmite]

I am terrible at fertilizing anyway but I make it a point not to fertilize until my orchids begin to produce new roots. I use a slow release fertilizer and eggshells for all my orchids. As the fertilizer won't damage roots, I add it a few days after the re-pot.
When re-potting orchids, it is very easy to damage roots, no matter how careful one is. If there is damage, the roots need time to heal. I generally soak an orchid before the re-pot, remove the old medium as gently as possible, then hold the orchid in the pot and set the dry medium around it (I use either red lava rock or Aliflor as a medium and basket/net pots). After, I do not water for a few days to give the roots a chance to harden and heal. The roots of my orchids usually continue to grow after re-potting and the orchid doesn't need to recover.
I hope this helps you.

[Matorchid]

Thank you Leafmite,
Appreciate the quick reply was just making the fert. I just didnt know, beej eatching youtube videos and a few say water right after, even though the media has been soaking 8vernight
I just dont want to stress them out any more than they are. The phal I repotted 5 days ago is all wrinkly , and ihes been just watered twice. He does have a couple new roots though. Well thwnk you again!
I hope you have a glorious Friday.

[katrina]

I believe this is another topic that can have multiple answers...personal preferences and all.

I don't hold or change anything in the schedule/routine. All recent repots (even divisions!) go right into the mix of the normal watering and fert schedule and I've never had a problem.

[Ray]

I'm with Katrina on this one. As I am an "equal opportunity abuser of orchids," nothing gets special treatment.

The one exception is that new repots get KelpMax for two or three waterings to kickstart root growth.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

[Leafmite]

I had problems with losing the roots so I pretty much had to find a solution. It was either this or providing more heat or fungicide. This seemed the easiest solution to implement.

[NYCorchidman]

As long as fertilizer is properly diluted, it won't burn any roots of any kind.
One can fertilize orchids after repotting or whenever with no harm done.

[swh265]

Hey ray, can i still use KelpMax on a oncidium that is in Spike? I use you your KelpMax every other watering for orchids that are actively in vegetative state. So i was wondering how its would affect those in spike?

The Oncidium i was referring to has a spike and 2 immature bulbs that emerged few weeks ago.

Thanks

[Ray]

In the first place, KelpMax is intended to be used every three- or four weeks, not more frequently.

Yes, it can be used on spiking plants, assuming you're using it at the right concentration and frequency. In fact - and I have not done this yet - it may be possible to affect the length of the flower spike, and development of the bud, with proper timing of the application.

Figuring out what's "proper" is the challenge.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com