Organic Fertilizers for Orchids

Orchid Fertilizer Needs

• The American Orchid Society suggests feeding orchids "weakly, weekly." Orchids thrive when they're under-fertilized rather than over-fertilized. Experienced growers use fertilizer that contains all 16 trace elements and little or no urea (processed urine). Organic fertilizer is derived from all natural sources such as mined rock phosphates, seaweed, fish waste, cottonseed meal, feathermeal, alfalfa meal and animal manures.

Fertilizer Schedule

• Feed orchids each week with a quarter-strength solution of organic fertilizer rather than applying a full strength dose monthly. Orchid fertilizers labeled "organic" or "natural" may contain materials not listed as safe by The Organic Materials Review Institute. Look for "OMRI Listed" on the label. Apply fertilizer after watering the orchid plant. Fertilizer may burn dry roots.

Re-blooming

• New orchid owners often think a plant needs more fertilizer when it doesn't bloom. Insufficient light is the more frequent cause of failure to bloom. Dark green, lush looking leaves on an orchid plant are not desirable. Orchids that receive adequate light are light green or yellow-ish. Orchids planted outside receive adequate light under a canopy of tall trees. Houseplants need light from a window.

Organic Fertilizer

• Orchids thrive when given diluted organic fertilizers such as fish fertilizer or multi-ingredient blends with plant material and animal manure. Non-organic orchid fertilizers often contain a combination of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus without the other essential trace elements. The N-K-P label indicates the ratio of these three nutrients only. Complete nutrition for orchids requires trace elements such as molybdenum, chlorine, iron, magnesium and manganese.