How to feed an orchid at home, how to properly feed

When it is necessary and when not to feed the orchid

When to fertilize orchids

It is advisable to start feeding the orchid from the end of February, when daylight hours begin to increase. And they stop feeding at the end of October. It is during this period of time that the level of metabolism in plants increases. Fertilizer solutions are applied only on a moistened substrate.

When orchids are not fertilized

You cannot feed and transplant a newly acquired plant. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers to the substrate of a blooming orchid: this can provoke the fall of flowers and buds. It is categorically impossible to feed weakened, sick and newly transplanted orchids. They need other drugs more: succinic acid, Epin or Kornevin. Orchids that rest from late October to late February do not need fertilization.

Do I need to fertilize during the flowering period?

During the flowering period, it is preferable to use purchased liquid fertilizers that can significantly increase the lifespan of flower stalks and help form new buds.

Before the plant begins to bloom, when the formation of peduncles is observed, additional feeding of the Phalaenopsis orchid is necessary, since the flower at this time needs more nutrients.

Fertilizer for phalaenopsis for flowering should be carried out at least twice a week, so that the orchid retains more vitality, this will have a beneficial effect on the buds. During the period of active flowering, in which almost all flower stalks have blossomed, feeding for Phalaenopsis orchids is reduced. This should now be done once a month. The active use of fertilizers can lead to accelerated flowering and suspend the formation of new buds.

In the case when chemical or organic fertilizers have not been used before, it is not necessary to introduce such additives during the period when the plant has already bloomed.

Purchased funds

Fertilizers for orchids you need to purchase those on the packaging of which it is written - intended for phalaenopsis. They contain minerals that prevent the accumulation of all kinds of salts in the soil. This mineral fertilizer for orchids helps to maintain a certain acidity in the soil, as a result, the flower absorbs the necessary minerals. The composition contains elements useful for him:

amino acids;
vitamins;
succinic acid.

The components included in the mineral mixture are in such a concentration that the roots will not get burned. It is possible to feed an orchid with a universal complex fertilizer for flowering plants in exceptional cases, not forgetting to prepare a less concentrated one.

Important! It is necessary to dilute fertilizer for feeding orchids during flowering with a double amount of water compared to what is indicated in the instructions.

For foliar dressing, special solutions are sold in the form of sprays. It is best to use liquid mineral fertilizer for abundant blooms. Thanks to such feeding, new buds will begin to form, many inflorescences will form. Liquid fertilizer manufacturers indicate the numerical ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the labels.

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Frequently used fertilizers:

In order for an orchid growing in homes to bloom profusely, you can use the Bona Forte composition, which also extends the flowering period up to 6 months. It is an excellent flowering orchid feed.The tool must be dissolved in water, which is taken 2 times less than what is written in the instructions. After flowering stops, they begin to make it clearly according to the instructions.
You need to feed "Greenworld" before watering, diluting it by half. If drops accidentally fall on the flower, they should be removed with a soft, damp cloth.
A good natural remedy "Flora" consists of an extract of biological humus. It comes in a convenient spray bottle that allows for even foliar feeding. The drug helps to return the green color to the leaves, relieving them of yellowness.
You can spray the plant with Dr. Foley Orchid every day. There are 2 options. One is used for young plants that form and grow a leaf mass. Others need to fertilize the already flowering ones.
The Effect product is produced in plastic containers. Suitable for introducing useful elements under the root. The spray is used on the leaves.
Liquid universal fertilizer "Ideal" is used for feeding orchids at the root. After him, she blooms for a long time and abundantly. The methods of using the composition are different: for foliar feeding, half a cap of "Ideal" is dissolved in 1 liter of water, for the root one - 1 cap is diluted in 1 liter.
One of the effective fertilizers for orchids is the Dutch Pocon remedy. It is available in a liquid state and in the form of sticks. The first one is enough for 200 liters, and 1 stick - for 3 months. The liquid should be diluted with water in the required proportion, the sticks should be inserted and deepened into the ground.

Orchid feeding tips

Certain rules and conditions of care will help to avoid trouble and not harm the orchid. The flower must be in a comfortable state so that the flowering lasts longer and the flower stalks appear more often.

Top dressing tips:

use complex preparations for phalaenopsis;
you can not use a concentrated product, only diluted;
soil acidity indicators 5-7 pH;
flowers with weakened immunity do not feed;
diseased plants are first treated, only after a month they resume nutrition;
if the orchid has bloomed for several months, then it needs a rest and a break, it is impossible to stimulate the formation of flower branches again;
it is not recommended to use root and foliar dressing at the same time, an interval of 7-10 days is made between them;
organic matter is not applied if the bush has at least 6 leaves;
mineral and organic additives are used alternately so as not to harm the plant.

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How to fertilize a street plant?

If the flower is planted in the open air, it does not need feeding as much as an orchid growing in an apartment. However, additional help to the plant will be quite appropriate. In this case, you can safely use formulations and preparations that are suitable for fertilizing indoor flowers.

The finished fertilizing composition (previously diluted with water) must be poured into a clean container with a spray bottle. Use a nozzle that will spray the fertilizer well, not spray.
Before spraying the drug, be sure to shake it thoroughly. Otherwise, the concentrated particles in the composition can burn the delicate foliage and flowers.
During operation, the fertilizer should be evenly distributed over the flower. Leaves cover the compounds on both sides. And also a little of the composition is applied to the roots located above the ground.
When applying the drug, do not spray it on the growing point, buds and the base of the shoots.
The procedures should be carried out in the evening and morning.
After you have treated the plant, make sure that it does not fall on direct sunlight.
The plant can be sprayed only in a room where the air temperature varies from +18 to +26 degrees.
Use warm water for dilution.The liquid should be settled, without heavy impurities. The optimum water temperature is 2-3 degrees higher than the air temperature in the room.
If you are using a ready-made compound that is sold in a container with a spray bottle, it does not need to be pre-diluted.

As for spraying a plant that is planted in open ground, then the work is carried out in the same way as the above process, but with some changes.

Only foliage is sprayed.
Work should be carried out either in the morning or in the afternoon, but only in cloudy weather. If you spray the plant overnight, there is a high risk of disease due to a drop in temperature.
Top dressing is carried out a couple of times a month.

Ways to solve the problem

The nutrition of any plant should be rational and balanced. It is advisable to buy the fertilizer that is suitable for epiphytes. Necessary chemical elements for flowering:

Potassium. Serves to ensure the normal metabolism of the plant. It is also responsible for immunity and photosynthesis. It is in the summer, when the flower is most vulnerable to pests, that such fertilizers are applied.
Phosphorus. Stimulates the blooming of flowers and the formation of peduncles. The plant needs this substance in autumn, when flower buds are formed.
Nitrogen - is necessary for the plant for the growth of leaves, as well as their proper development. The life of a flower depends on the area of the foliage. If the area becomes smaller, it dies. This substance is necessary for the orchid in the spring, when there is a period of intensive leaf growth.
Trace elements - boron, zinc, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, silicium, etc.

These substances are found in various fertilizers, but the whole point is still in their percentage.

How to properly moisturize plants?

The watering procedure depends on the nature of the container in which the orchid grows.

In a regular or transparent container

The optimal container for growing an orchid is a transparent pot with drainage holes. A plant in such a pot can be watered in several ways.

The most popular is the immersion method.
1. The container with the orchid is gently and slowly lowered into a bowl of water so that the roots are gradually saturated with moisture. A sudden dip can cause the plant to pop out of the pot due to the resistance of the dry roots.
2. The flower is kept in water for thirty seconds, after which it is removed and left in the air for the same time so that excess liquid is drained. It is possible to resort to this method of watering only if there are no diseases.
The plant can be watered in the traditional way from above using a watering can.
1. With a weak pressure, the liquid is poured onto the surface of the substrate, trying not to touch the growth points and leaf axils.
2. Watering the plants is stopped when water starts to come out of the drainage holes.
3. Wait a few minutes until all excess moisture is poured into the pan, and then repeat the watering again.
4. The excess liquid trapped in the pan is eventually drained.
A warm shower is considered beneficial for the orchid.
It simulates rain, saturating the flower with moisture in natural conditions. Irrigation with a warm shower helps the green mass of the plant to develop faster, flowering to be of better quality, and protects against parasites and diseases. Watering is done as follows:
1. The pot is placed in the bathroom.
2. They turn on the shower, regulate the pressure, making it weak.
3. Cold and hot water in the mixer must be combined in such a way that the final temperature reaches forty to fifty degrees.
4. The pressure is directed to the plant, which is watered until the soil is completely saturated.
5. The pot with the orchid is left in the bathroom for twenty minutes so that excess liquid can drain out.
6. At the final stage, young leaves and sprouts are wiped with dry cloth.

If the orchid is kept in an opaque pot with drainage holes, the watering methods do not differ from the above. A serious drawback of such a capacity is the inability to monitor the condition of the roots.They came up with a way out of this situation: a wooden stick is deepened into the ground and left for half an hour. If in the end the stick remains dry, then it's time for the next watering.

In a pots without holes

If the orchid grows in a planter with missing drainage holes to drain the liquid, water it from above using a watering can. The immersion method will not work as there are no holes for water penetration. You can give your plant a warm shower by placing the pot in the bathroom and watering the soil with a shower head.

After the procedure, be sure to get rid of excess liquid by carefully overturning the container with the plant. Watering an orchid in a pot without drainage holes is carried out much less often, since the earth in such a container dries out much more slowly

Reference! Moistening the soil is carried out approximately once every two weeks, however, the interval may be reduced depending on the condition of the soil.

Meals and time

There are two ways to feed orchids. You can apply liquid fertilizers under the root or spray them on the leaves. Florists actively fertilize orchids with both. In the case of root dressing, the absorption of nutrients takes longer. First, the composition penetrates the roots, and then, together with the juice, enters the plant itself.

Before feeding orchids at home, they are immersed in warm, settled water for half an hour. This will prevent root damage. Then put in the prepared liquid composition for 20 minutes.

Important! Do not allow fertilizer or water to remain in the pallet after the procedure. This will cause the roots to start to rot .. The foliar method has an important advantage - fast absorption of nutrients

It is recommended to resort to it in case of a deficiency of useful elements. When foliar top dressing, the solution is made at a lower concentration than the root one, 2 times

The foliar method has an important advantage - fast absorption of nutrients. It is recommended to resort to it in case of a deficiency of useful elements.

When foliar top dressing, the solution is made at a lower concentration than the root one, 2 times.

Fertilizing orchids is recommended, but you need to know what time it is allowed to do this. Top dressing is used in the spring for better plant growth and so that it gains strength for lush flowering. In summer, fertilizer can be applied only before the formation of the first bud. As soon as the orchid begins to bloom, it is allowed to use foliar dressing. In autumn, during flowering, the orchid is fed on the roots and leaf plates.

The frequency of feeding also depends on the season. During the period of rapid growth, which occurs in spring and autumn, fertilizers are added once every 2 weeks. In summer and winter, the procedure is carried out no more than 1 time per month.

Important! It is forbidden to use two types of dressings for orchids at once.