Help with Orchid - General and Fertilizer

8 years ago

So I have a new orchid. My dad's workplace was about to throw one away because its flowers had dropped and the spikes had started browning. They didn't mind him bringing it home.

This is my first Orchid, so I'm kind of stumbling around in the dark here. I've cut the spikes to the nearest green node and placed it on top of some pebbles in a tray I'm keeping filled with water. It's in a place with indirect sunlight.

The leaves are bright green and unwrinkled. The roots... hmm. I'm not sure if they're okay or not. The ones going down into the pot are green, but the ones at the top exposed to air have browned near the base - the ends are still bright green.

I'd like to ask some general advice on what to do from here. One more thing I'd like to ask is about fertilizer. I've been recommended to use a 20-20-20 fertilizer. The problem is that I don't have any. I would go and buy some if I wasn't moving to another country in a few months. What I do have, though, are two other water-soluble fertilizers. One is a 24-8-16, which is meant to be mixed 5 mL in 4L of water. The other is a 15-30-15, meant to be mixed 5g in 2mL water. Which one should I use? Should I mix the two?

Also, the type of orchid is a phalaenopsis.

Featured Answer

arthurm2015

8 years ago

The important thing is where you are....Hopefully some of the real orchid growers who live in Canada or Northern USA will respond.

Generally you use a Fertiliser with a High Nitrogen Number in the warmer months and less fertiliser in the winter months and that Fertiliser should have a lower Nitrogen Number.

Some growers also use Seaweed extract from time to time.

In this city of 4 million people there are many orchid Societies, but not many Society members grow Phalaenopsis.

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Comments (7)

arthurm2015
8 years ago
There are many phalaenopsis posts on this site. To get fined tuned advice you need to tell people where you are in the world. Culture (even inside the home) varies according to the outside climate.
Ammara A
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm keeping the orchid inside. In the daytime, we keep the temperature between 21-22 C (around 70-72 F). At night it's a little cooler than that, 18-19 C (64-66 F).
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Ammara A
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm in Ontario, Canada, right next to Lake Ontario. It's USDA zone 5, and we get a lot of precipitation.
arthurm2015
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Here is a link to the Canadian Orchid Congress Phalaenopsis notes.

Phalaenopsis notes
Ammara A
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, but I'd already found that info through research beforehand. I posted my question on what to do with the fertilizers here, on this forum, because I couldn't find the answer online.
goldstar135
8 years ago
What I do have, though, are two other water-soluble fertilizers. One is a 24-8-16, which is meant to be mixed 5 mL in 4L of water. The other is a 15-30-15, meant to be mixed 5g in 2mL water. Which one should I use? Should I mix the two?

I may be wrong, but I believe the general rule of thumb is to never mix fertilizers.

I would use the 24-8-16 fert—fertilizers with an NPK ratio of 3:1:2 are best for plants in general (I'd explain but I'm a bit tired at the moment ;P). Don't over fertilize—phals in the wild are used to receiving small amounts of nutrients at a time. When in doubt, use less fertilizer. I'd use maybe 1/2 the recommended dosage.

Feel free to post a few pics of your phal :)
Ammara A thanked goldstar135