Dendrobium Feeding in Spring?

[minda5]

Advice please on the type of fertiliser & when to use (if at all) in the Spring on Dendrobiums?

Here in Newcastle, UK, the daylight is now lengthening say 13 hours a day & the days are becoming warmer, especially in the orchid house. Many of the orchids are now awakening under these conditions. Some Nobile have already flowered, some (Nobile) are on the verge of flowering (say in another 10 days). Victoria-regina has hugh flower buds (say 5 days before flowers are open) & other dendrobiums canes are thinking about wakening up but no foliage yet.

I know that for Nobile, it is not even recommended that watering takes place, & certainly no fertiliser, until theorchid has flowered. So recommendations please on the type of fertiliser & when to use in the Spring on Dendrobiums? or even when commencing normal (?) watering.
The fertilisers I have are 7-9-5 (Grow) & 5-12-6 (Bloom). As far as dendrobiums are concerned the latter would be favoured by me from late mid-summer.

[minda5]

I am very disappointed that no one has commented or felt able to comment on my problem! Does no one grow dendrobiums or have I asked an irrelevant question? The type of fertiliser I know can have an important impact on current or even future growth prospects

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Peter, only feed dendrobiums when they are in active growth. If you see new roots and leaves, begin fertilizing. Also, please be aware that many people may have read your question and assumed you wanted someone from the UK with similar conditions to answer your question. As for the type of fertilizer - it really depends on how often you do feed. I try to use a variety of fertilizers with my orchids. I always start with something like Miracle Grow 30-10-10 and then go with something organic like fish emulsion. I do not feed for blooms in general though. It is alright to feed very lightly when dends are not in active growth, but don't over do it. They like to feed when they are expanding.

Cheers,
BD

[zainal abidin]

Hi Peter, I live in Malaysia near the Equator the season here are only wet and hot so I don't have any experience with winter , autumn and spring. For your information during the blooming season as a general rule I wont spray any fertilizer as some of the species they are very sensitive and easily get some sort like burnt on the flower and subsequently look very ugly in contrast the hybrids they can tolerate better. Once the blossoms wither than I begin to spray fertilizer twice a week with diluted one begin with alternate week high nitrogen (grow) follow by high PO4 and K (bloom) so far it's work for me. This is the info I can share with you, maybe others can share their experience in temperate country.

[Cjcorner]

Dendrobiums are wonderful plants. I live in Florida and love to try "other" fertilizers from time to time. With my den's and vanda's, I use a much stronger dilution than I would say for my phals. I like to add some all natural honey a couple times a year now. I can't explain why, it seems to keep them much healthier. I use it once in the spring and usually once in the summer. I also like to use old dishwater on all my plants. Orchid food is great, but I think sometimes it's good to switch things up.

[minda5]

Thank you all for your comments. It helps to have ideas confirmed (in some cases) & stimulation from fresh & new possible approaches. I appreciate that the UK (near Newcastle) will demand different growing techniques from, say Malaysia. [ Incidently, part of my family comes from Kuching in Sarawak hence my interest in Dendrobiums, a plant almost native to Borneo & region.] However, having decided to specialise in these orchids I now find that it has some of the most complex sections of any orchid grouping from a cultivation point of view, despite such as Baker & Baker. I have much to learn. I was,however, disappointed not to hear from anyone initially.
Thanks again,
Minda