Which orchid fertilizer is the best for your needs? With our detailed guide we would like to help you answer this question. We get to the bottom of the most important purchase criteria, provide some basic information on the use and dosage of the fertilizer and briefly present three recommended orchid fertilizers - products that are very popular with Amazon reviewers and that we believe are good.

Liquid fertilizer is very easy to use

Our recommendations

our recommendation
Keyzers special orchid fertilizer 500ml for long-lasting blooms
21.97 EUR To the product
kind mineral
Type liquid fertilizer
Composition NPK 3-4-5 + trace nutrients
contents 500ml
price/l approx. EUR {PRICE/0.5}

The reviewers on Amazon are enthusiastic about this orchid fertilizer. It should be easy to use and really bring the orchids to life. Beautiful and extremely numerous flowers seem to follow the use of the Keyzers remedy. The relatively high price is absolutely justified.

our recommendation
Kolle's best! Orchid Fertilizer 500ml Liquid Fertilizer for Orchids Fertilizer Fertilizer Orchid Fertilizer
5.74 EUR To the product
kind organic-mineral
Type liquid fertilizer
Composition NPK 5-3-5 + trace nutrients
contents 500ml
price/l approx. EUR {PRICE/0.5}

The orchid fertilizer from Kölle's Beste! is a real price hit. Despite the good quality, it costs very little. The composition is similar to the winner in our comparative test and the effect is also considered convincing.

our recommendation
Compo orchid water, ready to use, rich in nutrients and low in potassium, 1 liter
9.12 EUR To the product
kind mineral
Type liquid fertilizer
Composition NPK 3×0.1 + trace nutrients
contents 1000ml
price/l approx. EUR {PRICE/1}

The highlight of the Compo orchid water is that it saves you having to pour it separately. In other words, the product acts as a low-lime irrigation water and orchid fertilizer in one. Practical! Amazon's customers are mostly positive.

Purchase Criteria

kind

Orchids only need small amounts of nutrients, but continuously. This is why organic fertilizer is less suitable here - it always takes a while before it makes the nutrients available to the plants. During this time, the orchids would not be taken care of, which would harm them. That being said, organic fertilizer relies on soil and water to be able to dissolve. However, the orchid only has coarse wood chips for soil and ideally only gets water in spurts every two weeks. As a result, organic fertilizer cannot decompose properly.

In this case, it is better to use mineral fertilizers. Since the tropical orchids are not suitable for consumption, you do not need to worry about organic quality for once. Mineral fertilizer is artificially produced from various salts, nutrients and trace elements.

tips

If, on principle, you prefer to use a natural fertilizer for orchids, you should opt for a product that contains microorganisms. These help with the decomposition and therefore force the fertilizer to take effect more quickly.

composition

Orchids need many different nutrients - but only in modest amounts:

  • nitrogen
  • phosphorus
  • potassium
  • calcium
  • magnesium
  • zinc
  • manganese
  • iron
  • and other

In most all-round houseplant fertilizers, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are over-present - from the orchid's point of view. It reacts extremely sensitively to an excessively high salt concentration and then becomes ill in the same way as with a nutrient deficiency.

So good orchid fertilizers contain a little of everything, but not too much.

Type

liquid fertilizer: Orchid fertilizers usually have a liquid consistency. The liquid fertilizer is preferably given when the orchid is immersed in water (the recommended watering process for this plant). You should enrich the water with the fertilizer every two watering or immersion processes. The basic process remains the same: submerge the orchid pot, wait a few minutes, then pour out the water. In this way you provide the orchid with sufficient nutrients. It is important here not to forget to fertilize or to apply it too often.

fertilizer sticks: Fertilizer sticks are a solid, low-effort alternative for forgetful orchid growers. Once stuck in the substrate, they often last for weeks or even months. The solid fertilizers gradually decompose and are perfectly adapted to the needs of the plants. As far as the required number of fertilizer sticks in the substrate is concerned, it is best to follow the instructions of the respective manufacturer. The chopsticks also come in handy when you're on vacation.

our recommendation
Substral Orchid Fertilizer Sticks - 40 St.
11.99 EUR To the product

By the way: Other solid fertilizers, such as granules, are completely unsuitable if you practice dipping as a watering method. Although they dissolve immediately in the water, they sink down and remain inaccessible to the orchid at the bottom of the pot.

fertilizer spray: The trade also has fertilizer sprays that you have to spray on the leaves of the orchid. But: The leaves can only absorb a small part of the nutrients (the roots take care of the rest). Therefore, this should by no means be the only form of administration. In principle, fertilizer sprays are more recommended for professional growers.

our recommendation
Seramis leaf care for orchids, vital spray, transparent, 250 ml
4.95 EUR To the product

dosability

Whether with orchid fertilizers or other fertilizers: the dosability is often a critical point. The fertilizer sticks are practical and easy to use. But especially with liquid fertilizers, the (non-existent) "ideas" of the manufacturers sometimes leave a lot to be desired. Before you buy, use the manufacturer's descriptions and, in particular, the customer reviews to check whether you can dose the fertilizer well.

In addition, it is of course an advantage if the fertilizer has to be dosed particularly low, keyword: yield.

frequently asked Questions

What is orchid fertilizer?

An orchid fertilizer is a fertilizer that specifically takes into account the needs of the popular exotic plant beauty. This means that the fertilizer is composed in such a way that it optimally covers the comparatively low nutrient requirements of the orchid (weak eater). With conventional fertilizers there is a risk of incorrect fertilization or over-fertilization, which damages the plant. It therefore makes sense to only use high-quality orchid fertilizer for orchids.

How do I use orchid fertilizer correctly?

This mainly depends on what type of fertilizer you are using.

  • Liquid fertilizer: Dose over the irrigation/immersion water, every two watering processes
  • Fertilizer sticks: Insert the sticks into the substrate, exchange every few weeks/months (follow the manufacturer's instructions!)
  • Fertilizer Spray: Apply by spraying the fertilizer onto the leaves (and roots)

When it comes to dosage, simply follow the manufacturer's instructions. As a rule, even a little less fertilizer is sufficient. Basically, it is better to have too little than too much.

Attention: Only fertilize during the growing season. Start in spring as soon as the first shoots of leaves and buds appear. Stop fertilizing when the flowers fall off after summer.

tips

If the orchid sheds its blossoms in the middle of summer, you can continue to fertilize until the end of September - the plant may produce a second blossom.

Here is an interesting video on how to properly care for orchids:

youtube

Which brands offer good orchid fertilizer?

The most popular brands for high-quality orchid fertilizers include Compo, Dehner, Neudorff, Chrysal and Greenworld.

Where is the best place to buy orchid fertilizer?

You can find orchid fertilizer almost everywhere, whether in hardware stores (OBI, Bauhaus et cetera), in garden centers, in drugstores (DM, Rossmann) or seasonally in supermarkets or discounters (Rewe, Lidl, Aldi). Amazon offers you the largest selection.

Can I also use orchid fertilizer for other plants?

no For plants that are of similar origin to orchids and have comparable nutrient requirements, you can use orchid fertilizer. For plants with a completely different profile, however, you should use a fertilizer that is tailored to them.

Can I make orchid fertilizer myself?

Yes, there are home remedies that you can use to make orchid fertilizer yourself. Here are some inspirations at a glance:

  • Epsom salt (supplies magnesium)
  • molasses (potassium)
  • Potato or Rice Water (Potassium, Calcium, Vitamin B)
  • Black Tea Bag (Nitrogen)
  • Oak Leaves (Nitrogen)
  • Egg shells (proteins, potassium, calcium)

However, since the dosage is more a matter of trial and error and it cannot be guaranteed that these home remedies will really take care of your orchids, we advise against DIY fertilizer preparation. In addition, the effort is generally much higher than with continuous fertilization with a special orchid fertilizer from the trade.

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