Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

View Poll Results: What Do You Feed Your Orchids? You Have Multiple Choices

Voters
226. You may not vote on this poll
  • Nothing

    7 3.10%
  • General All Purpose Fertilizer (like Miracle Gro)

    45 19.91%
  • Time Release (like 13-13-13 or 20-20-20)

    34 15.04%
  • Fertilizer for Orchids (Like MSU or some other brand)

    155 68.58%
  • Add Superthrive or similar some/every time

    54 23.89%
  • Add Fish Emulsion some/every time

    20 8.85%
  • Add Seaweed Extract or similar some/every time

    41 18.14%
  • Add Epsom salts other minerals some/every time

    39 17.26%
  • My own special brew

    11 4.87%
  • Other things - please post what they are!

    19 8.41%
Multiple Choice Poll.
Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 45

Thread: How do you feed your Orchids?

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Catts and Paphs
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Surprise, AZ
    Posts
    6,250
    Member's Country Flag

    Default How do you feed your Orchids?

    Everyone has a method.... What is yours???

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    7,068

    Default

    I haven't a hard and fast rule. I'm always experimenting, and very careful about identifying the plants that are salt intolerant. I've scorched several with fert burn.

    Time release fert provides some nourishment when I get behind on regular fertilizing with Growmore fert. Seaweed extract contains lots of interesting nutrients and some growth hormones. I've lightened up on the Superthrive, after reading some question as to how beneficial it is to orchids. Epsom salts for Ca and Mg lightly once every month or two.

    And for some of my Paphs from limestone cliff habitats, I'll add a bit of dolomite lime every 4-6 months.

    Julie

  3. #3
    Real Name
    Aaron
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Schomburgkia/Mymecophila
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Anchorage, AK
    Posts
    646
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I use a three week cycle of feeding. Week one I use a light feeding of Folage Pro. Week two I use a light feeding of a bloom booster feed. Week three I use a special mixture: 2tbls super thrive, 1 can beer, 1 cup epsom salt, 1/2 cup ammonia, 2 cups water. After the initial batch is made I use 1/2 ounce per gallon of water. Generally week four I just water through the week to prevent salt build up.

  4. #4
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Catts and Paphs
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Surprise, AZ
    Posts
    6,250
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ABro View Post
    Week three I use a special mixture: 2tbls super thrive, 1 can beer, 1 cup epsom salt, 1/2 cup ammonia, 2 cups water. After the initial batch is made I use 1/2 ounce per gallon of water.

    Ah! Yes, the famous recipe.. abeit with superthrive added!

  5. #5
    Real Name
    Aaron
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Schomburgkia/Mymecophila
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Anchorage, AK
    Posts
    646
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I tested it out for 6 months on a certain section of plants before I brought it into full use on all of the plants, and there was a noticable difference in growth on the plants that I had used it on.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    896

    Default

    I fert one week with Orchid fert, and flush for the next few (when they need water), then fert again.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    7,068

    Default

    Aaron, are there any plants that didn't like your voodoo recipe? And do you grow Paphs and Phrags with it? Did salt intolerant plants react well to it? And do you use cheap beer, or microbrews?

    Julie

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Aaron
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Schomburgkia/Mymecophila
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Anchorage, AK
    Posts
    646
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I don't have any plants that have reacted badly to the one fert. Although, I only have two paphs and one phrag. I use Budwieser as the beer. Nothing special. I was a bit sceptical of it at first because of the addition of the epsom salt, but everything I grow seems to like it. I only use the one fert in the summer growing months because we get alot of rain, so the pots can get flushed well.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    7,068

    Default

    Hmm...beer for thought!

    Julie

  10. #10
    Real Name
    Valerie
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phal, Catt, Dend, Vanda
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Okeechobee, Florida
    Posts
    334
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ABro View Post
    Week three I use a special mixture: 2tbls super thrive, 1 can beer, 1 cup epsom salt, 1/2 cup ammonia, 2 cups water. After the initial batch is made I use 1/2 ounce per gallon of water.
    Wow! Beer & ammonia, who would've guessed..... sounds more like a recipe for a bomb
    We've been having rain everyday lately, should I use it more than once a month? All my orchids are outside.

Similar Threads

  1. Feed Me!!!
    By bluemoon in forum Genus Specific
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: January 9th, 2008, 01:10 PM
  2. feed me Seymour
    By pavel in forum **NOT IN BLOOM** All Genera
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: January 21st, 2007, 03:31 PM
  3. Do you feed your fish outside?
    By TundraKev in forum Fish and Amphibians
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: October 25th, 2005, 04:04 PM
  4. What to feed my orchids?
    By OrchidTraci in forum General Orchid Culture
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: March 4th, 2004, 07:26 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.