10 Orchid Fertilizer Myths ⏰🧿️🧙 What Recent Science Says

[@davidquarles5965]

You always give the best information. Thanks! I was a horticulturist for 50 years, and I've yet to hear you say something that, in my experience, is incorrect. You are doing a lot of good for gardeners.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Thank you very much.

[@Aswaguespack]

Thank you for clearing up and setting the record straight on orchids and fertilizers. I too followed the “weakly weekly” concept because that’s the advice I received by an established orchid grower but now I know the proper reasoning behind the botanical science for getting orchid fertilizer guidelines right. My orchids thank you. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

[@jaidielien6262]

This channel is awesome...I'm not a gardener or anything compared to it but I enjoy watching! Thank you!!

[@vildhallon4709]

I've been following these myths forever and I'm glad to let them go. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

You are so welcome

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

Thank you Robert. Your videos are the only ones I take notes from. They are always so informative and I know I am getting legit information

[@MissyR2538]

Thank you, sir for clearing up some of the so-called knowledge you hear n see here on YT about how to care for our orchids. Your info makes so much sense to me and I appreciate you taking the time to share your proven knowledge about orchids. God bless!

[@yolyrom7233]

Excellent and truthful advice. Thank you!

[@chrys77cross]

This was helpful. For now I repotted my bloomless orchid in miracle grow bark but in a few months (maybe?) I'll use your method of regularly fertilizing!

[@stellamarisfuire4818]

Your explanations are wonderful! Thank you so much!

[@TuongVy18-happy]

Thank you Mr. Robert, very useful video. 🌸

[@iant.gilchrist4264]

Great video. Thank you for the information! I have subscribed. I look forward to watching many more of you videos.

[@glovanajnbaptiste2272]

Wow this is very informative ! Thank you 👏👍👏

[@daisygolden3311]

thank you so much for your video. It is very informative . I learned a lot! what happen if I cut off all of the roots? what do I do now? I am new with orchid.

[@TrakaBat]

Nicely put, thank you.

[@kathleenross7412]

Thank you for this video cleared up so many questions

[@whatsmyslide]

Hi Robert, I'm enjoying your channel and taking your advice and my orchids are doing very well. My question is about how to use used fertilizer water after my my orchids have obsorbed their 1/2 soak. What remains in the water and which plants out there on my zone 10 garden will most appreciate any nutrients that I pour out? Thanks, Lana

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Use that water for other house plants or anything in the garden. Containers would benefit more than the ground.

[@Mrdahaase]

Thank you so much for all your detailed help. In this video you recommend applying about 130 ppm of nitrogen. I ordered Peters 15-5-15 Cal-Mag fertilizer. Many users only use this from 1 to 3 times per year and then use something like Dyna-Gro orchid which is exactly what you don't recommend. I grow my orchids under bright LED grow lights (about 1000 fc). Can can you give me an idea of h ow often you apply 130 ppm of nitrogen? This would be very helpful. Thank you.

[@momepenni]

Thank you! Rick L said that in nature they don’t get high doses of fertilizer but small amounts from nature. I see some use high amounts (one: uses 1,400 ppm, but only twice a month) some fertilizers do not have the micro nutrient so you have to add them, like calcium or magnesium. I use epson salt, Cal-Mag, rain water, fertilizer to ppm measurements., and seaweed extract. Balance.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

1,400 ppm N will kill your plant. calcium and magnesium are macro nutrients - not micronutrients.

[@andreulisses416]

Actually ca and mag are micronutrients.

[@mainakdeb8322]

Masterly .. enriched

[@harnarinepragg8839]

Nice information thanks

[@rosastakofsky1538]

Hi, Ty. So this still leaves me confused. If I follow this method of the 133 ppms @ 10 percent nitrogen, am I doing it monthly or weakly??? I know this is an older video, hope someone can answer this. I’ve had orchids for about 15yrs, but they have not fllowered consistently until last 3 years. I haven’t been fertilizing consistently. I’ve only been using orchid sense.hope someone can shed some light on this for me

[@rosastakofsky1538]

Hi, Ty. So this still leaves me confused. If I follow this method of the 133 ppms @ 10 percent nitrogen, am I doing it monthly or weakly??? I know this is an older video, hope someone can answer this. I’ve had orchids for about 15yrs, but they have not fllowered consistently until last 3 years. I haven’t been fertilizing consistently. I’ve only been using orchid sense.

[@andreulisses416]

You are rock !! Nice vídeo

[@riccizepmeusel6899]

Great video. At one point I would disagree: when it comes to concentration of fertilizer. You are talking about the common supermarket orchids with thick roots, such as Phalaenopsis and Vanda. But there are over 30,000 species that have different needs. Plants from ever-moist rain and cloud forests with their sometimes thin roots cannot tolerate such high fertilizer concentrations in the long term.

[@mildredbruinhart1358]

Thank you mister Rick for your very important information.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Who is Rick? I am Robert.

[@CharisseBaldoria]

Robert, thanks so much for this channel (and video)! Do you have a specific recommendation for an orchid fertilizer to purchase? In an initial search, I couldn’t seem to find one with those proportions you mentioned. Also, when you say 1 teaspoon per gallon of a 10% N fertilizer, do you mean per gallon of water?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Yes - per gallon of water. I have a Miracle-Gro that is close to those ratios.

[@CharisseBaldoria]

@@Gardenfundamentals1 thank you!

[@LiamEserda]

Thank you very much for this very useful video. I live in The Netherlands and I assume you live in The USA? You talk about the Nitrogen in the NPK ratio and calculation by e.g: 1 teaspoon, half teaspoon, and one third per Gallon depending on the ratio of the NPK. Do they describe the amount of fertilizer per Gallon on the package or bottle in the USA? I mean, here in the Netherlands the amount is described per LITER on the package or bottle. So what calculation should I apply? Thank you sir.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Canada actually. In the US gallon is common. Convert numbers - gallon = 4 L.

[@LiamEserda]

@@Gardenfundamentals1 Thanks for your reply. I guess I have to divide your values by four then.

[@lilymohsye]

Onces the orchid blooms, or in winter, am I to decrease fertilizer strength? Or is it the same strength all year long?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

same strength all year provided they get enough light. If they get very low light levels in winter you can reduce it a bit.

[@kosmozova]

If an orchid root only needs 60s to be filled with water, then you forgot another myth to mention. It's soaking an orchid in water for 45-60min to water properly. 5 minutes should be plenty of, right?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Correct. I normally did about 15 minutes, but that is longer than needed.

[@alanmak8622]

You are right!! It all depends on the humidity around the orchids. Back home in Hong Kong, we tie orchids using fine fishing strings on tree trunks with a bit of moss, the plants are shaded by tree leaves. The humidity in the air is always over 85%. With day and night causing condensation, we rarely water them. The occasional rain will do the watering. In fact orchids don’t even need fertilizer. They get their nutrients from dead leaves and deteriorated tree bark material. You are right, if you do use fertilizer, only need a super diluted mix. But if your grow medium is organic base, the decomposing material is sufficient. Bright indirect light will get the photosynthesis going to provide all they need. Merchants make so much money from selling fertilizers.

[@Embcmedford]

What is the fertilizer you used on orchids ??

[@tomherbert6792]

When do you give your orchids a break from fertiliser please

[@BWorldadventure]

Just saw your video We are starting pilot project with Vanilla orchid. Any fertilization recommendation for this type of orchid, with roots that dig into the media and aerial root system?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

All plants need about 100 ppm nitrogen.

[@michellebieliunas4845]

Hello. My name is Michelle and was hoping you can give me advice on what to do with my orchids

[@michellebieliunas4845]

My orchids flowers is dying and not blooming

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZfSaX1_n9mefpI

[@jccuchvjvj]

What do you think about npk fertilizers that have 50% P as a polyphosphate? Is this really works better in lower temperature and ph higher than 7?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

phosphate reactions in soil are complicated and pH dependent. There are also several compounds that could be called polyphosphates. I would ask the manufacturer of such products to scientific provide evidence of their claims. It is unlikely they will be able to do this - in which don't buy their hype.

[@jccuchvjvj]

@@Gardenfundamentals1 I appreciate your opinion. They say it's resolving salt build up. Sodium polyphosphate is used to soften water in wasching machines for example.

[@Pete.Ty1]

😊👍

[@markdale278]

Do I need to be concerned over fertilizing ?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Yes - 100 ppm N works best.

[@markdale278]

@@Gardenfundamentals1 thank you

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

I appreciate your cutting through the BS.

[@GlobexCorporationHank]

My problem with my orchids that they keep blooming. They bloom, then finish, after a month or two they rebloom again. In the past year they have bloomed 3 times. Ive never fertilized them. Only put them in Miracle-Gro Orchid bark. Now its been a year since that repot. Should i fertilize them now? If so, can i fertilize them when they already have flowers, or wait till those flowers fall off?

[@Toddster63]

Miracle-Gro Orchid Bark contains fertilizer! Which is why I would never use it.