This was asked recently. My advice is: six of one half dozen of the other. The common wisdom is not to. The influx of nitrogen acts like a hormone that encourages leaves over blooms so could shorten the bloom time.

That said I've consistently fertilized blooming plants because when fertilizing I hit all plants. Too lazy to differentiate. I have never "lived to regret it", if you will.

I'm similar to Terp. Although I've lost buds when fertilizing Phals and blamed it on the fertilizer. Was never sure why, but it happened too many times to make me comfortable doing it anymore.

I have Phals in spike now and will fertilize lightly while the spike lengthens. As soon as I see buds beginning, I stop and do not fertilize again until I am finished with the blooms.

Jane

I fertilize my Phals with the weakly weekly method regardless of where they are in their cycle. I use MSU for pure water and from March to October use half the recommended strength. October to the beginning of March I use 1/4 the recommended dosage. Once a month I use an additional cal-mag supplement.

Some of my Phals actually grow new leaves, roots and bloom at the same time so stopping the fertilizer could reduce the growth of the leaves and roots.

I have never lost blooms or buds by continuing to fertilize them.

Brooke

Just to differentiate a little from Brooke to add a different dimension, I fertilize full strength once every two or three weeks during the summer (never in the winter), pretty lazy about that too. I do full strength because I have more non orchids than orchids at this point.

This post was edited by terpguy on Sun, Jan 12, 14 at 15:47

Same here, same fert. routine for all, whether blooming or not.

Bob