Phalaenopsis Fertilizer Help Needed

[meganreaux]

I have a collection of phalaenopsis that are actually doing quite well (I'm very proud of myself)-- all of them are in spike/bloom. But I'm having some issues: the 'chids aren't making as many flowers as they had when I bought them and the spikes aren't as tall. I'm thinking the problem might be fertilizer. Right now, I'm fertilizing weakly weekly with Miracle-gro 30-10-10. And once a month I use a Better-Gro bloom booster 11-35-15 with a little Super Thrive. I keep them in an east window, so they just get direct light in the mornings. What am I doing wrong?

[cabbo]

Originally Posted by meganreaux

I have a collection of phalaenopsis that are actually doing quite well (I'm very proud of myself)-- all of them are in spike/bloom. But I'm having some issues: the 'chids aren't making as many flowers as they had when I bought them and the spikes aren't as tall. I'm thinking the problem might be fertilizer. Right now, I'm fertilizing weakly weekly with Miracle-gro 30-10-10. And once a month I use a Better-Gro bloom booster 11-35-15 with a little Super Thrive. I keep them in an east window, so they just get direct light in the mornings. What am I doing wrong?

I had the same problem with my first time reblooming. I was told they take time to adapt to your environment and should have stronger spikes in the future provided your culture is good, and it sounds like they're happy.

[Orchid126]

The 30-10-10 is high in nitrogen and is telling the plant to grow leaves, not flowers. The Superthrive is telling the plant to grow roots. You might try stopping the 30-10-10 and ST and using the Better-Gro bloom formula three months before you expect bloom and until blooming is over, then switch back to the grow formula. Try it and see what happens.

That being said, you may never get the plants to reach the potential that they did in the perfect atmosphere and conditions of the greenhouse where they were grown. In our homes we do the best we can with the conditions we have, and hope for the best.

Congratulations on getting them to rebloom.

[Ray]

The most common factors in lack of-, or fewer/smaller blossoms are 1) insufficient light, 2) insufficient nutrition, and 3) excessive nitrogen.

Light is likely not a factor in your phalaenopsis culture, and Orchid126 addressed the high-nitrogen potential issue, but it could also be that you're simply not feeding them enough.

"Weakly weekly" doesn't tell us anything of use in analyzing that, so I'll throw out the recommendations of 1 teaspoon per gallon of the Better Gro stuff, applied 3 out of 4 waterings, with plain water that 4th one, and after they have finished blooming use the Miracle-Go at 1/3 tsp/gal.

Personally, I'd avoid the 30-10-10 altogether, but if you are diligent about seasonal changes, it should be OK.