How To Fertilize Orchids With The Best Orchid Food?

Fertilize Orchids With The Best Orchid Food

 

Before we started writing this article, we tested many orchid plant foods. Of these, we came up with a list of the six best orchid fertilizers. To come up with this best orchid fertilizer for blooms list, we considered how each of these fertilizers compares to things, such as active ingredients, fertilizer type, NPK ratio, pack weight, and frequency of use. All of these are vital factors in determining the effectiveness of the best orchid food.

 

Following our review, we will give you a comprehensive buying guide to shop for the best manure for orchids, wherein we will address the factors one by one to lead you into finding the best fertiliser for orchids.

 

We have tried to break down all of this information into bite-sized portions, including a comparison table, in-depth reviews of each of the six best manure for orchids.
 
We further bring you a buying guide, and some frequently asked questions about orchid care and fertilizers.

 

At A Glance

 

Table of Contents

 

Top Orchid Fertilizers Comparison Table

Preview Product Buy Now
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food Check price on Amazon
EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food – Easy Organic Fertilizer Spikes Check price on Amazon
Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes, 1 Pack of 10 Spikes Check price on Amazon
Sun Bulb Company 8305 Better Gro Orchid Plus Bloom Booster Fertilizer Sun Bulb Company 8305 Better Gro Orchid Plus Bloom Booster Fertilizer Check price on Amazon
Orchid Fertilizer | Food | Encourages Orchids to Grow in Pot/Pots Orchid Fertilizer | Food | Encourages Orchids to Grow in Pot/Pots | for Indoor Outdoor Plant | Orchid Potting Mix by Aquatic Arts Check price on Amazon
rePotme Orchid Food rePotme Orchid Food – Feed ME! MSU Fertilizer – RO/Rain/Tap Water Check price on Amazon

 

1. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food, 8 oz.

Our Top Pick

 

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food Check price on Amazon

 

Miracle-Gro is one of the best orchid fertilizer brands, and it is a prominent name in the plant food industry. It caters to the plant’s diverse needs. This best orchid food is enriched with maximum nitrogen of about thirty-percent and balanced potassium, and a ten percent phosphorous ratio. This best orchid fertilizer offers the perfect nutrition to your orchid plant. Regular use of this best orchid food will give the plant apt vitamins to push stem and leaves development. Further, this best orchid fertilizer offers the plant a fantastic look as it stimulates continuous flower production.

 

This best orchid food from Miracle-Gro works primarily to keep the plant healthy and beautiful. More so, this flower food is easy to apply, thanks to the easy to comprehend instructions on its packaging label. You need to take the right quantity of this best orchid food and thoroughly mix it with water before feeding. Please note that you need to spray this best orchid food onto the topsoil layer only to water the roots and not the foliage, thereby curtailing any chance of damage.

 

Understanding the growth potential and the fertilization schedule, the plant will adapt to it. So, it is best to adhere to it for your plant to thrive. This fertilizer has a slow-releasing function. It will, over time, release the nutrients to the plant, thereby providing the orchids with a nurtured soil without the use of any harmful chemicals. Overall, this is the best orchid fertilizer and is available at a pleasant price.

 

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2. EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food – Easy Organic Fertilizer Spikes

Best Organic Fertilizer

 

EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food Check price on Amazon

 

This best feed for orchids is not only safe for your orchids but is also 100% safe for your kids and pets. EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food comes with many benefits, which stimulates new growth and deep green leaves. You need to use just one capsule every two to three weeks. More so, this best orchid fertilizer is also very easy to apply. You only need to insert a capsule of this orchid fertilizer near the stem into the soil.

 

Alternatively, you can take a capsule of this best orchid fertilizer, cut it open, and sprinkle the content all around the root. Upon applying this fertilizer, the capsule will break down and leave all the nutrients in the roots. Consequently, the nutrients in this best natural fertilizer for orchids will be delivered to the plant.

 

After the plant is well-nurtured with the right portion of nutrients, it accentuates the sunlight absorption process, leading to chlorophyll production, which keeps the plants green through and through. In addition to giving your plant a healthy and green look, this best orchid fertilizer also enables a steady growth in the orchid and stimulates new growth quickly.

 

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3. Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes

 

Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes Check price on Amazon

 

If you desire to see thriving orchids and boost new shoot growth, you need the Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes. It is a brilliant stick fertilizer, and the package of this best orchid food comes with ten spikes, which are all very simple to apply and store. You can break every stick in half and then insert them into the soil. Following it, you need to leave this best orchid fertilizer into the plant for two months, and you will get a healthy and orchid plant. Given this best orchid fertilizer’s balanced NPK ratio of 10-10-10, it can do wonders for all indoor orchids.

 

Furthermore, the positive comments and excellent reviews from the customers, this is indeed a good fertilizer for orchids. In just a few dozes, this fertilizer will provide your plant with fresh blossoms and reblooms like never before. So, in short, this fertilizer is truly worth an investment.

 

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4. Sun Bulb Company 8305 Better Gro Orchid Plus Bloom Booster Fertilizer, 16-Ounce

 

Sun Bulb Company 8305 Better Gro Orchid Plus Bloom Booster Fertilizer Check price on Amazon

 

Next in line is the fantastic Orchid fertilizer by Better Gro. This best orchid fertilizer’s composition employs a good portion of phosphate. Further, it also has the right amalgam of ingredients, which can give your plants gorgeous and long-lasting blossoms. This fertilizer is handcrafted in the company’s greenhouse and indeed ensures colorful and luscious blooms. It is indeed a good fertilizer for orchid. To use this formula, you need to mix a teaspoon in approximately 3.8 liters of water. Following this, mix it evenly, and now water the plant on every fourth round. You have to soak both the foliage and the roots. You can find this fertilizer in a sizeable 1-pound bag.

 

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5. Orchid Fertilizer | Food | Encourages Orchids to Grow in Pot/Pots | for Indoor Outdoor Plant | Orchid Potting Mix by Aquatic Arts

 

Orchid Fertilizer | Food | Encourages Orchids to Grow in Pot/Pots Check price on Amazon

 

The next best orchid fertilizer is the Aquatic Arts Orchid Fertilizer, a fantastic product to help your plant thrive. To use this best feed for orchids, you need to mix one fertilizer teaspoon in two cups of water and mix it evenly before watering your plants. It is a safe fertilizer and can be used every time you water your orchids, as this is a 100% natural pick.

 

The good thing about this fertilizer is that you can use it on all kinds of orchids. This fertilizer has the right ratio of NPK. It can also be used on air plants and succulents. This concentration works incredibly well to better your leaf color and endow them with a luscious green shade. Further, the fertilizer also keeps the root healthy and prevents root rotting. The stem also benefits from this fertilizer.

 

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6. rePotme Orchid Food – Feed ME! MSU Fertilizer – RO/Rain/Tap Water

Best MSU Formula

 

rePotme Orchid Food Check price on Amazon

 

The last best orchid food on our list is the rePotme Feed ME! Orchid Fertilizer. It is an exquisite concentration derived from boric acid and is perfect for application with reverse osmosis, tap, and rainwater with low alkalinity. For many people, this, in itself, widens its suitability, owing to its flexible water requirements. This fertilizer is dense in urea-free composition, including the right dose of phosphate, nitrogen, magnesium, potash, molybdenum, copper, calcium, boron, manganese, zinc, and iron.

 

Further, the fertilizer is concentrated to efficiently offer the soil the necessary moisture to boost blooming and foliage and cater to the overall plant health. You can find this orchid food in granule form, and you will have to measure the fertilizer before mixing it with water. You can easily find the mixing details on the label.

 

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How To Fertilize Orchids?

Honestly, the right way to fertilize your orchids depends on the kind of fertilizer used.

 

  • You can find the best food for orchids plants in both granulated crystal form and concentrated liquid form. Each of these best orchid fertilizers for blooms must be mixed thoroughly and dissolved into the right amount of water before using.
  • Concentrated best orchid fertilizer for blooms can be applied safely to the roots and soil. Some of the best natural fertilizers for orchids can also be applied safely to the leaves. Regardless, read through the instructions carefully on the packaging label. Depending on how much you use and the formula, watering the leaves might result in problems, such as fungus or mold growth.
  • The good fertilizer for orchids in the spray form is mostly safe for everything except the blooms. It is mainly because of their formulation as they utilize a fine mist, which is hard to apply enough water to bring in any foliage damage.
  • Lastly, you can also find the best plant food for orchids in the stick form. These are slow-release best manure for orchids and are stuck down into the soil in-between the pot’s edge and the plant’s roots.

 

How To Shop For The Best Orchid Fertilizer For Blooms?

We hope and believe that upon reading the product reviews for the best plant food for orchids, you have a good idea of the best orchid fertilizer for blooms. You have to decide which amongst these six best orchid fertilizers for blooms will be the best for your orchids. Here, in this section, we will discuss some factors that you must know to ensure that you pick the best manure for orchids.

 

Type

Typically all the good fertilizers for orchids are available in four forms – capsules, granular, powder, and liquid. If you want the easy-to-use best feed for orchids, you should opt for granular and liquid fertilizers. They are relatively more involved because of their rigorous mixing process needed to get them up for use in plants. Using the best plant food for orchids in liquid form is quite easy as you do not have to measure the required quantity. Just add the required quantity of water, mix it thoroughly, and you can apply them to your orchids.

 

On the other hand, the best manure for orchids in capsule forms is even more straightforward. You only have to take these best plant food for orchids and push them into the potting mix. Ensure that you keep the capsules as close to the roots as possible.

 

For the best plant food for orchids in granular and powder form, you have to stir product mix and water till the fertilizer is completely dissolved in water before it is up for use.

 

Further, consider whether you want an organic or inorganic fertilizer. If you are eco-conscious and like to keep things natural, go for the best natural fertilizer for orchids.

 

Active ingredients

It primarily refers to the best plant food for orchids’ nutritional composition, that is, the compounds absorbed by the roots. The best plant food for orchids is the one that has the right ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

 

In addition to these, the best orchid food should also have some active macronutrients, such as magnesium, calcium, and sulfur, which are needed by the plants, but in smaller proportions.

 

The last group of nutrients that the plant needs is the micronutrients. It is a large group of vital components, which are found in the best plant food for orchids in trace amounts. The micronutrients that you can find in the best orchid fertilizer are growth hormones, vitamins, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron, among others.

 

Disease and insect control

To shield your orchids from black rot, you need to eliminate the water, which gets collected in the container after fertilizer application. It is necessary to discourage fungi growth, which is the major cause of a number of diseases. You need to apply the required quantity of the best orchid food to ensure that your plant does not burn and there is no bud blast.

 

Also, do not over-fertilize the orchids, even if it is the best fertiliser for orchids. Why? Overfertilizing the plant can lead to the decaying of the potting medium. This can be the breeding ground for fungus gnats, which can attract maggots to feed on the roots or the leaves, which may come in contact with the potting media. Thus, your chosen best fertilizer for orchids to bloom must be capable of guarding your plant against diseases and insects.

 

Package weight and type

If you have a bunch of orchids, then we would recommend you to opt for a bigger pack of any good fertilizer for orchids. It is because this best orchid fertilizer will last you a long time. Additionally, the best fertiliser for orchids in liquid or powder form, which are mixed in a gallon for every 1/4th to 1 teaspoon, also lasts you a long time.

 

On the other hand, if you have only a few orchids, any of our above-listed picks can be the best fertilizers for orchids to bloom, including the capsulated variant. For you, the capsule form won’t be pretty expensive as you only utilize a couple of capsules per application.

 

Effectiveness

The true effectiveness of the best orchid food is in the difference it brings to your orchid. It is only a matter of time, and you will know whether the chosen one is the best orchid food for your plant, i.e., if the plant transforms from a limp one to a firm, robust one with strong roots and stem. The foliage must also sprout and grow at a steady pace after using your chosen best fertilizer for orchids to bloom. However, how often the plant blooms depends on the genera.

 

Price

In general, even the best food for orchids plants is quite affordable, and the prices most start from 10 USD for about an eight-ounce bottle and 15 USD for a 3-pound powder fertilizer. Typically, the powder and the good liquid fertilizer for orchids tend to last longer. Thus, they are more economical for the people who have planted several orchids. However, that does not mean the best feed for orchids is always affordable.

 

There are many fertilizers titled as the best food for orchids plants, which are a little on the expensive side. For instance, if you purchase the EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food on a vast spread garden, it can be quite a costly affair.

 

What Kind Of Fertilizer For Orchids Should You Buy?

The best fertilizer for orchids to bloom should have three macronutrients in it, which are vital for orchid’s growth. Unfortunately, these macronutrients are not something that the plant can produce by itself. These are:

 

  1. Nitrogen (N) – It helps in stem and leaf development.
  2. Phosphorous (P) – It helps in promoting flower production and keeps the roots healthy.
  3. Potassium (K) – It strengthens the plant tissues.

 

These macronutrients are required by the orchids in large numbers. In addition to the above-listed three macronutrients, the plant also needs carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium.

 

Furthermore, there are also some micronutrients, such as zinc, iron, copper, boron, manganese, chloride, nickel, and molybdenum, which are needed by the plant. Each of these elements has a role to play in the metabolism, production and breakdown of sugar and carbohydrates, reproduction, the formation of chlorophyll, etc. You do not have to worry about carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen as these can be availed directly from the water. But for all the other elements, you need to feed the plant with the best fertiliser for orchids.

 

Generally speaking, every orchid fertilizer comes labeled with three numbers that give you an NPK ratio. So, if the best natural fertilizer for orchids states 10-10-10, his implies that each of these macronutrients makes up 10 percent of the total mix. When the label claims that your chosen best fertilizer for orchids to bloom is complete, it means that all the necessary nutrients are present in it. If it says that it is balanced, then it means that the best fertilizer for orchids to bloom has all the nutrients from NPK in equal quantities.
 
Related: Causes of Orchid Leaves Turning Yellow and Wrinkled | How To Make Orchids Grow Faster| Orchid’s Lifespan
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1. When is the best time to fertilize orchids?

Ans. When should you provide your plants with the best orchid fertilizer for blooms depends on the plant’s blooming cycle.

 

Growing Period

It is vital to give your plants the best manure for orchids during the growing season, usually before the bloom period. However, it is different for different kinds of orchids. Some orchids bloom during the summer and spring months, while others bloom during the winters. Some orchids bloom twice a year. You can follow a schedule during this time, wherein you offer the plants with the best food for orchids plants every third week, using just plain water.

 

At this time, the plant is getting prepared for growth. Thus, it needs essential nutrients. In this while, moisture is quintessential. So, if you find dry soil in-between the treatments, you need to moisten the soil with plain water as required. Please bear in mind, this holds for the best orchid fertilizer that is mixed with water, such as granules or concentrated liquids. However, if your best orchid fertilizer is a stick or a spray, you need to follow the package instructions and adhere to the timeframes mentioned here.

 

Dormant Period

Once the orchid blooms, the flowers will fall off. This is when the orchid goes into the dormant phase and is ready for the next one. In this period, you do not have to fertilize often. Having said that, the summer bloomers will require a higher dosage of the best orchid food compared to the winter bloomers during the dormant period. Also, morning is the best time of the day to provide your plant with the best plant food for orchids. It gives the leaves adequate time to dry in the sunlight.

 

Ques 2. How often to fertilize orchids?

Ans. Unlike palm and citrus plants, orchids are not just to getting a higher degree of nutrients. Thus, we recommend that when you provide your plants with the best feed for orchids, do not overdo with the quantity. Using a lot of best orchid food can lead to the leaves browning and result in root damage. Carefully read through the directions mentioned on your best orchid fertilizer. Some best fertiliser for orchids is to be used every two to three days, while others are to be used only weekly with a water break without fertilizer every few weeks.

 

Ques 3. Can you use orchid homemade fertilizers?

Ans. Sadly, even the best plant food for orchids is not good enough to provide your plants with the required nutrients and meet the plant’s needs. For instance, the commonly used fertilizer recipe for the orchids includes the bone meal, dolomite lime, cottonseed meal, used tea leaves, and kelp meal. This mix will not provide your orchids with adequate magnesium, manganese, and iron.

 

More so, if you reside in the Western US, your soil will be alkaline, and the pH level will be high. In this case, bone meal (that contains calcium) can cause issues instead of solving them. Alternatively, other home fertilizers have Epsom salt, beer, water, and ammonia in them. This will not provide the plant with adequate nitrogen and potassium. The best natural fertilizer for orchids is particularly formulated to offer the plant all the required nutrients.

 

Ques 4. Should I fertilize my orchid while it is blooming?

Ans. The fact of the matter is when the orchids are blooming; they need less fertilizer. It is because, during this time, no active growth is taking place. While the orchid is blooming, it is actively growing the leaves and roots. After the growth period, the orchids go into the dormant season, wherein the flowers fall off. This is when the orchids need minimum fertilizer. While the orchid is in the blooming season, the fertilizer requirement is somewhere in between. Usually, you can feed your plant with the best orchid food once or twice a month in a diluted concentration.

 

Ques 5. What is the best fertilizer for orchids?

Ans. The best orchid fertilizer for blooms is the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food. We have already covered this on our best orchid fertilizer list above.

 

Wrapping Up

If you are curious about your orchid’s growth but are feeling overwhelmed by everything you have heard about the right way of growing them, fret no more. With the proper research, the right proportion of water and light, and good fertilizer for orchids, you can figure out what it takes for your orchids to thrive.

 

In this guide, we have provided you with a general overview of what an orchid needs. Another important thing that you need to bear in mind is to follow the label instructions mentioned on your chosen best orchid food, concerning the frequency and the concentration.

 

Lastly, we would like to conclude that each of the six best food for orchids plants is unique. So, following the label instructions is quintessential. Also, bear in mind; orchids do not need a lot of fertilizer, and it is always better to under-fertilize than over-fertilize. You can commence with the diluted concentrations and work your way up to find what works best for your plant.