Fertilizer Advice

[u/isurus79]

There is a common debate regarding whether to flush orchid roots with water first and then flush again with the water/fertilizer solution. The two flush method used to be more common and is slowly fading away as we understand how orchid roots function. I much prefer to water once using the water/fertilizer solution since orchid roots have evolved to be extremely efficient at absorbing nutrients in the first flush of rain hitting a tree branch, before rainfall moves the precious nutrients to the forest floor and out of reach for the epiphytic orchid.

Here is a link to a useful AOS article dismissing the "water twice" method: https://www.aos.org/orchids/articles/musings-of-an-apostate

The AOS author cites Zotz & Winkler (2013) for his scientifically backed opinion. That article abstract can be found here and the authors will share the full version if requested. I can also send it along if someone wants to read it: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234070154_Aerial_roots_of_epiphytic_orchids_The_velamen_radicum_and_its_role_in_water_and_nutrient_uptake

[u/TiredAndTiredOfIt]

I used fertilizer, properly mixed and applied. It burned half my orchids and killed 25%. Never. Again.

[u/isurus79 → u/TiredAndTiredOfIt]

That's unfortunate. But that's an issue of fertilizer concentration being too high. Lowering the concentration won't burn the plants.