Questions about fertilizing Phalaenopsis
 

I'm planning to fertilize my orchids for the first time, and I've got a few questions...

If the medium is relatively moist, is it still necessary to water thoroughly before applying fertilizer?

If I should always water before applying fertilizer, should I fertilize on the watering schedule; that is, if say I'm fertilizing every two weeks, is it ok to fertilize approximately every two weeks on the closest day of watering?

Once I've mixed the fertilizer solution with water, how much do I apply to the orchid? Do I just pour it in until it starts to drain out the bottom, or more thoroughly? (Strange that I haven't seen this question addressed in any tutorial lol)

Sorry for so many questions...
And thanks in advance :)

hi,
from what I understand you intend to use a water-soluble fertilizer.
This means that when you fertilize it, you're watering it.
Phalaenopsis need very little amount of nutrients.
I add a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) at every third watering in the concentration of half a teaspoon to a gallon of r.o. water.
Others add smaller amounts at each watering.
Wetting the roots before fertilizing is a precaution that many recommend.
I do it only for mounted orchids.
In the long run the greatest risk is the accumulation of salts in the substrate.
To avoid this it is good to pour copious amounts of water between fertilization.
This works well for my growing conditions.
happy growing
Nicola

Thanks for this, I was actually wondering if I could fertilize based on how often I water rather than a certain time period.

I was under the impression that one should not use distilled or softened water for orchids. Is reverse osmosis water something different?

Distilled water is excellent for orchids, albeit more expensive than necessary. Water processed through a traditional ion exchange softener is the Antichrist of orchids. Distillation removes all the minerals from the water which isn't bad. Minerals are easy to add if necessary. A softener exchanges sodium ions for magnesium and calcium ions. Calcium and magnesium are actually necessary for plants, although often in levels much lower than typical tap water. Sodium is much less tolerated. Reverse osmosis is a process of forcing water through a membrane which mechanically filters out ions, creating water with very low to negligible mineral content.

Yes, you can do that. For instance, I add fertilizer every 3 waterings.

Remember too that some orchids need and want less ferts than others. You need to look on the care sheets for each one. Paphs are not too interested in Fert, but Cimbidiums like more (etc.) However Paphs seem to like a bit of calcium (like sea shells) as a top dressing.
I generally mix much less than the box or bottle states, maybe half or a fourth. The way I see it, you shuld fertilize less often than you put something like "liquid Kelp" in the water.

Google 'First Ray's' and read up on the fertiliser advice there.
I go by his numbers. I use an ultra low dose when I am watering every day or every other day in the summer.. As the frquency drops to twice a week, I double the dose, and when I hit once a week, I use a triple dose. They all get a small splash of dilute kelp once a month.

My phals are all potted in coarse bark, which drains fast, and doesn't hold much water. That means they need watering more often, but I prefer that to the risk of rot in the winter.

Poting phals in moss (Mossites are filthy pagan scum, but we must pity them) is understandable if you just can't cope with watering a phal three times a week in summer..

We noble Barkistas joke about this, but there is serious thought behind it.

Of all the orchids I have bought, the ones with the worst roots have always been those potted in moss, and the best roots those potted in more open bark based mixes.

Obvs, the size of the bark varies with the size of the roots, and even I am not above using a tiny bit of moss at the roots to act as a water reservoir for a rootless, or damaged root specimen. I won't pot them in moss, because I want them to get those roots growing into moss free bark.

I agree with Camille1585, it's perfectly acceptable to fertilize on your watering schedule. That's the way I fertilize my phals.. I water the plants first and then pour in about a half a cup or a little more, of a weak fertilizer solution.

I also fertilize when I water them, but only if they are in the growing stage. In case of phals, I think they don't rest so I do it on evety watering.

If you water them before you fertilise, won't the fertiliser just bypass the roots?