Fertilizing

Your choice of fertilizer will be governed by your choice of potting medium. Traditional mixes, based on wood products such as fir bark, require high nitrogen fertilizers, while most other media do best when fertilized with a balanced formula. You will see a series of three numbers on fertilizer packaging, known as the N-P-K (nitrogen -phosphate-potassium) ratio. Fertilizers for fir bark generally have a 3:1:1 ratio, while a balanced fertilizer will be 1:1:1. If in doubt, use a balanced fertilizer.

A good general rule for fertilizing is "weakly, weekly." Fertilize your plants at approximately one quarter label strength every week, and you'll never have to worry about whether you ought to fertilize this week or not. Your plants will also perform better than with occasional jolts of full strength. Fertilizing and watering go hand-in-hand. If you are watering less frequently, fertilize less. If you are having to water more often, as you may in summer months, you can increase fertilizer commensurately.

Excerpt from "A Pocket Guide to Orchids" by Greg Allikas and Ned Nash © 2004