Can you water Phalaenopsis orchids with nutrient solution only during the flowering period?

Friends who grow Phalaenopsis orchids may have a misconception: they think this flower is precious, that plain water is not enough, and that they need to use nutrient solution every day so it will grow vigorously and bloom beautifully. In fact, this idea is wrong. If nutrient solution is used incorrectly, it harms the flower even more than not fertilizing at all.

Can Phalaenopsis orchids be watered with nutrient solution only? The answer is definitely no. The roots of Phalaenopsis orchids are aerial roots, and what they normally need is clean water and fresh air. Nutrient solution, plainly put, is "fertilizer water." Who can stand drinking "fertilizer soup" every day? My neighbor's Phalaenopsis orchid was ruined exactly this way. He heard that nutrient solution was good, so he mixed it in every time he watered. As a result, in less than a month, all the roots turned dark brown, the leaves drooped, and the perfectly good flower rotted away in the pot.

"clear water as the main thing, nutrient solution as a supplement." Normally, water with settled tap water or rainwater, and about every ten days to half a month, give one diluted nutrient solution. Also, the concentration of the nutrient solution must be well judged. If the instructions say to dilute 1000500 

So can nutrient solution be watered during the flowering period? This depends on the situation. If the flower spike has just emerged and has not yet grown flower buds, then giving a little diluted nutrient solution at this time can help the flower spike grow sturdier and give it more strength to bloom later. But if the buds have already plumped up and are about to open, then it is best not to touch nutrient solution. Fertilizing at this time will make the buds drop one after another, or the flowers that have just opened will quickly wilt.

Last year I had a Phalaenopsis orchid whose buds had already colored up. I thought it might be lacking nutrients, so I secretly gave it a little nutrient solution. As a result, the next day three buds dropped, and the rest opened without much spirit. Later, after asking an experienced flower grower, I learned that during the flowering period the plant's energy is all used for blooming, and the root system's absorption capacity becomes weaker. Fertilizing at this time easily irritates the roots and instead affects flowering.

There is also a small detail: when watering with nutrient solution, do not pour it on the leaves or flower spike. Just slowly pour it along the edge of the pot into the sphagnum moss. If it accidentally splashes onto the leaves, wipe it off quickly with a damp cloth; otherwise, once the sun shines on it, ugly spots are likely to be left on the leaves.

In short, nutrient solution is a supplement and cannot replace clear water. Whether to use it during the flowering period and how to use it depends on the state of the buds; do not blindly follow the crowd. Only by mastering the rhythm can Phalaenopsis orchids grow vigorously and bloom for a long time.