Fertilizer for Vanda Orchid

[Suhastar]

where to get vanda orchid's fertilizer.. and which brand and which type should i get?

[Rooo]

Moved to correct forum.

[redandyellow]

I am in Canada right now, but one type of fertilizer for orchids is 20 - 20 - 20

You know, phosphorous, nitrogen and the other one..in equal measure.

Kindest Regards,

Lovely little Red and Yellow Orchids

[samuijimmy]

Where to get, this may depend on where you live in Thailand, but some garden shops sometimes carry Water soluble fertilizers such as 20 20 20, or 15 -30 -15 which one would mix about a teaspoon to a litre of water and apply about once every two weeks... (in pots or in the ground)

Alternatively, you can buy Osmocote here, which is a slow release formulation, that lasts a few months .... sold in One Kg boxes. For a six inch (15cm) pot you would use about a teaspoon per plant/ pot.... larger pot use proportionally more ...... but cover it so it does not dry out and remains a little bit moist in the medium used for planting... (not so good for plants growing in garden soil in the ground)

If the plants are growing in the garden soil , then just use a general garden fertilizer such as 15 15 15 usually blue prills, about every month to six weeks, during active growing season... 8-24-24 which if remember is yellow prills, would also do to encourage flowering...

Many small general stores sell this for about 30 to 50 baht a small bag...

Always make sure soil medium is moist before applying any fertilizer!

[seajae]

the NPK(nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) levels vary for what you want, nitrogen is for green growth and the PK are for health and flowering. Most garden shops etc sell various mixed ones, as stated above look for and even mix, 15.15.15 etc and for flowering 11.21.21 etc. You can always check with an orchid info page to get the ones recommended and spread it around the edge of the pots not neat the plant or they will burn

[Suhastar]

i am very new to this. my orchid is very unhappy right now. its a vanda with purple flower. no medium . a hanging pot. i live in nonthaburi. where can i buy 20 20 20? I saw NPK at tesco and protein for orchid.. should i get those?

[samuijimmy]

i am very new to this. my orchid is very unhappy right now. its a vanda with purple flower. no medium . a hanging pot. i live in nonthaburi. where can i buy 20 20 20? I saw NPK at tesco and protein for orchid.. should i get those?

I have seen this type of orchid growing in the ground or in pots, sometimes 2 meters high... and can look very nice...

Really when it comes to fertilizer it's more a case of doing it regularly than what you use... although as Seajae pointed out to help promote bloom, less nitrogen (first number) is going to help blooming ....

BUT!!!! .... it sounds like you need to bring the plant back to good health... that may take quite a while...

So, yes get the Tesco stuff if that is all you can find... but don't expect immediate "overnight" results .... Also spraying down the foliage with water daily and having it in the right location would make a difference...

See if anyone in your neighborhood has the same type doing well ... and try and find out what they are doing....

As for finding the different fertilizer in your area it's really a case of looking around.... some times the small general or farm supply stores have it ....

Good luck!

Many different flower colours of this orchid.... these were growing in full sun...

[Ace of Pop]

There is a natural fantastic fertiliser all plants love. Its called E.M. Made from rotted pond weed. Locals made it themselfs years ago. A superb deodoriser too. Its now sold in 5 Litre Plastic bottles. One must dilute carefully as directed by a Friendly Native. Really worth searching out..... Dont bother Jim i use it for Smelly Drains not personally.

[Suhastar]

Thank you all for the tips. I might go to the chatuchak Wednesday plant market. Really should have researched before buying. Trying hard to improve the condition of the plant. Thnx a bunch