Fertilizing Orchids on a Balcony: A Complete Guide to Methods and Techniques

Orchidshave the habit of liking fertilizer but fearing oil, and liking it applied but fearing thick applications. They originally grow in loose, fertile soil on slopes in valleys at the forest edge. When orchids are transplanted into pots on a balcony,the orchidsare cut off from nature's gifts, so the growing medium must be loose and airy, and fertilizer must be applied at the right time and in the right amount to supply nutrients. The growing medium can be granular materials such as Xiantu (immortal soil), brick pellets, or pond-base stone; before use, sift out the powder, soak them thoroughly, and fill the pot in layers with larger pieces at the bottom and smaller ones on top. Fertilizing should be based on actual conditions.Wild-collected orchidsin their first year, and weak plants, can be spared from fertilizing; others can be fertilized as appropriate during the growing season, becauseorchidsabsorb mineral elements through the aerobic orchid fungi on their roots, so they cannot be directly exposed to higher-concentration fertilizer the way the roots of other flowers and cash crops can. If a high-concentration fertilizer is applied to orchid roots, it will inevitably affect the osmosis and respiration of the root cells, causing root rot and the death of the whole plant. Generally,Cymbidium goeringiichemical fertilizer can be used at 2500x to 4000x dilution,Cymbidium faberichemical fertilizer can be used at 1000x to 1500x dilution. When fertilizing, also pay attention to the following points: First, fertilizing can be done during the growing period between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius; do not fertilize when the temperature is above 35 degrees Celsius or below 10 degrees Celsius, and do not fertilize during the flowering period. Second, adjust the ratio of various elements according to the different stages of orchid growth and development; for example, during the new shoot growth period, nitrogen fertilizer should be the main component, during the plant's maturity period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be the main components, and before overwintering and after flowering, a full-price fertilizer should be applied. At the same time, strong plants must be fertilized, while weak plants should be fertilized less or not at all. (Hu Ping)