Over Fertilizing Orchids

Salt

• One sign of over fertilizing is a salt build up on the soil's surface. This is especially noticeable if the orchid is in a container. The soil will have a crusty appearance that is whitish or brown. Salt build up in the soil has a negative affect on how the plant grows and flowers.

Symptoms of Over Fertilizing

• Roots that stop growing is a symptom of salt build up in the soil and fertilizer burn. Inspect the orchid for brown roots or dead root tips. Leaf tips may start turning brown. On sympodial orchids, the leaves turn yellow.

Flushing Roots

• Remove the orchid from soil if fertilizer burn symptoms appear. Rinse the roots with tap lukewarm tap water. Rinse all the soil off the roots. Use a fresh medium and a new container to replant the orchid. Keep the orchid watered as needed for the specific orchid. Place the orchid in a shaded location until the plant shows signs of growth. Then move the plant to a location with enough light for the specific plant. Begin a fertilizing regiment.

Weekly Fertilizer

• If you are growing one orchid or a collection of orchids, use fertilizer once a week, but it must be on the weak side. A well-balanced fertilizer of 18-18-18 diluted in half applied once a week provides the nutrients needed by the orchids. Plants growing in bark need nitrogen, so 30-10-10 fertilizer diluted in half works. Water the plant thoroughly before fertilizing to prevent root burn.