Orchid is a wonderful flower that everyone like to plan at home or garden. It is easy to plan and not require to much fertilizers as well. But if you want more flower bloom frequently, we should to think about fertilizer for your orchids. And if you don’t want to waist money or can’t find a good fertilizer for your orchids, you can choose natural fertilizer.
Fertilizer requirement of orchids
Generally orchid has a low requirement for fertilizers. However, since they grow best in low-nutrient low bark mixes, you do need to administer some form of fertilizer.
Eggshells
Orchids thrive on potassium and calcium, and eggshells are an excellent source. Crush eggshells using a mortar and pestle and sprinkle on orchid bark. This helps to keep it from washing away during watering. Or you can use dried eggshells that also are a good source of calcium and other nutrients. Crush eggshells, then boil them in a large pot of water. Once the water reaches the boiling point, turn off the heat and allow the eggshells to steep for up to eight hours. You can discard the shells, and pour the water into a spray bottle for easy use. Just spray onto the bark around the orchids. Alternatively, you can just grind up eggshells and sprinkle around the plant. This is not as effective a method, however.
Orchids thrive on potassium and calcium, and eggshells are an excellent source. Crush eggshells using a mortar and pestle and sprinkle on orchid bark. This helps to keep it from washing away during watering. Or you can use dried eggshells that also are a good source of calcium and other nutrients. Crush eggshells, then boil them in a large pot of water. Once the water reaches the boiling point, turn off the heat and allow the eggshells to steep for up to eight hours. You can discard the shells, and pour the water into a spray bottle for easy use. Just spray onto the bark around the orchids. Alternatively, you can just grind up eggshells and sprinkle around the plant. This is not as effective a method, however.
Potatoes
Potatoes provide potassium and a small amount of phosphorus, both essential for healthy orchid growth and flowering. Cut unpeeled potatoes into small pieces and boil until well done. Cool and add periodically to the bark in the pot to provide potassium to orchids. Or you can dice the potatoes into very small chunks, leaving on the skin. For even more potassium, you can add small pieces of banana. Boil this mixture for several minutes, and allow it to reach room temperature before use. For better nutrient balance, add 1 tsp. of Epsom salt, which will add magnesium. Use this mixture to water your orchids as usual.
Potatoes provide potassium and a small amount of phosphorus, both essential for healthy orchid growth and flowering. Cut unpeeled potatoes into small pieces and boil until well done. Cool and add periodically to the bark in the pot to provide potassium to orchids. Or you can dice the potatoes into very small chunks, leaving on the skin. For even more potassium, you can add small pieces of banana. Boil this mixture for several minutes, and allow it to reach room temperature before use. For better nutrient balance, add 1 tsp. of Epsom salt, which will add magnesium. Use this mixture to water your orchids as usual.
Epsom salt
Epsom salt provides magnesium for the orchid. This promotes healthier growth and stronger roots. Mix 1 tsp. Epsom salt to water and use as part of regular fertilizing.
Epsom salt provides magnesium for the orchid. This promotes healthier growth and stronger roots. Mix 1 tsp. Epsom salt to water and use as part of regular fertilizing.
Molasses
Mix a teaspoon of molasses in 1 to 2 cups of water. Use the mixture to water the plant. Molasses is a rich source of potassium.
Mix a teaspoon of molasses in 1 to 2 cups of water. Use the mixture to water the plant. Molasses is a rich source of potassium.
Nitrogen
The key to remember when making homemade fertilizers for orchids is that orchids need a fertilizer that is higher in nitrogen than ordinary plants. This is because orchids are not potted in soil. An orchid’s potting medium usually consists of tree bark. The bark is home to nitrogen-loving bacteria that usually consume most of the nitrogen in fertilizers, leaving very little for the orchid itself.
The key to remember when making homemade fertilizers for orchids is that orchids need a fertilizer that is higher in nitrogen than ordinary plants. This is because orchids are not potted in soil. An orchid’s potting medium usually consists of tree bark. The bark is home to nitrogen-loving bacteria that usually consume most of the nitrogen in fertilizers, leaving very little for the orchid itself.
Tea
Used tea bags, which are high in nitrogen, are especially good for orchids. Compared to commercial fertilizers, tea bags contain organic matter that is nontoxic and does not smell bad. To use the tea bag, open it and empty the contents into the orchid pot. Apply tea once monthly in the spring and summer months.
Used tea bags, which are high in nitrogen, are especially good for orchids. Compared to commercial fertilizers, tea bags contain organic matter that is nontoxic and does not smell bad. To use the tea bag, open it and empty the contents into the orchid pot. Apply tea once monthly in the spring and summer months.
Milk or Buttermilk
Both milk and buttermilk are animal products that are high in nitrogen because of their protein content. Additionally, because most people use them in their homes, it is a product that is easy to find and use. To use milk as a fertilizer, take an empty milk carton, fill it with water and swish it around. The dregs of the milk will be transferred to the water. You can then water your orchids with the milky water.
Both milk and buttermilk are animal products that are high in nitrogen because of their protein content. Additionally, because most people use them in their homes, it is a product that is easy to find and use. To use milk as a fertilizer, take an empty milk carton, fill it with water and swish it around. The dregs of the milk will be transferred to the water. You can then water your orchids with the milky water.
Nutrients
In their native habitats, orchids get nutrients from the air, water and whatever is nearby. Grown at home, it is up to you to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and optimal flowering. Orchids require a proper balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, along with trace elements. Nitrogen promotes healthy stems and foliage, phosphorus makes roots strong and potassium promotes healthy flowers. These three nutrients are macronutrients. Trace elements include iron, zinc, copper and boron.
In their native habitats, orchids get nutrients from the air, water and whatever is nearby. Grown at home, it is up to you to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and optimal flowering. Orchids require a proper balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, along with trace elements. Nitrogen promotes healthy stems and foliage, phosphorus makes roots strong and potassium promotes healthy flowers. These three nutrients are macronutrients. Trace elements include iron, zinc, copper and boron.
Rice Water
A good source of vitamins such as niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and folic acid necessary for healthy orchid growth is water used for boiling rice. The Care for Your Orchids website recommends using brown rice rather than white. It’s an easy fertilizer to make — after cooking rice, let the leftover water cool, then water the orchid. Make the rice water a more balanced fertilizer by dissolving Epsom salt, which contains magnesium, or molasses, a good source of potassium, into the water before use.
A good source of vitamins such as niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and folic acid necessary for healthy orchid growth is water used for boiling rice. The Care for Your Orchids website recommends using brown rice rather than white. It’s an easy fertilizer to make — after cooking rice, let the leftover water cool, then water the orchid. Make the rice water a more balanced fertilizer by dissolving Epsom salt, which contains magnesium, or molasses, a good source of potassium, into the water before use.
Remember: Orchid needs only the sun light in the morning. It doesn’t like the sun light at afternoon. If possible try to hide your orchid from sun light at the afternoon time. You can notice your orchid has enough light by seeing their leaf. If their leaf change to yellow color, mean that your orchid are burned with too much sun light. If their leaf is too dark green, mean that your orchid has not enough light. So the healthy orchid should be has light green leaf.
The key to remember when making homemade fertilizers for orchids is that orchids need a fertilizer that is higher in nitrogen than ordinary plants. This is because orchids are not potted in soil. An orchid’s potting medium usually consists of tree bark. The bark is home to nitrogen-loving bacteria that usually consume most of the nitrogen in fertilizers, leaving very little for the orchid itself.
The key to remember when making homemade fertilizers for orchids is that orchids need a fertilizer that is higher in nitrogen than ordinary plants. This is because orchids are not potted in soil. An orchid’s potting medium usually consists of tree bark. The bark is home to nitrogen-loving bacteria that usually consume most of the nitrogen in fertilizers, leaving very little for the orchid itself.
