One of the enduring myths about orchids

is that they do not require feeding. While it is true that orchids are unusual in many respects, the fact remains that they are still green plants. Like all green plants, orchids use the sun's energy to convert minerals into sugars and starches to produce their shoots and leaves. And like all green plants, they obtain their food primarily through their roots.

It is certainly true that orchids, especially epiphytes, have evolved in conditions where mineral nutrients are in short supply and therefore require lesser amounts than plants not subjected to these conditions. This makes it all the more important to provide the correct nutrition at the appropriate time in the orchids growing cycle to achieve their optimum growth and blooming potential.

Orchids are usually grown in an inert media such as bark, which offers no nutritional value, which is precisely why a comprehensive feeding program is essential to the proper care and maintenance of treasured specimens and collections.The orchid family encompasses countless varieties and different genera have very different habits. However their are certain nutritional specifics that are common to most orchids and these are built into the Orchid Focus formulations. Orchid Focus is entirely free of ammonia and urea which are known to be toxic to certain orchid varieties.

Which orchids need feeding?

The most commonly cultivated genera - Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, and Dendrobium, will all benefit from a proper program of nutrition. They can be fed through the roots and by foliar application to the leaves.

Use Orchid Focus Grow throughout the non-flowering growth season. When the orchid begins to send up spikes and develop buds, switch to Orchid Focus Bloom and use throughout the flowering period. Using Orchid Focus Bloom will not only result in larger flowers and more budding sites, it will significantly extend the bloom retention of most orchids as well.

Water

Water quality is crucial to success with orchids and it is a simple matter to get it right. Water in many parts of the country is very hard and mineralized - it is, effectively speaking, a nutrient solution already, with all of the wrong minerals of course predominating. As orchids need nutrients at low strengths it is inadvisable to use this type of water as it is already to richly concentrated with minerals.

If water is clean and pure to begin with it allows the grower to add the correct minerals in the correct proportions by adding a properly formulated orchid nutrient solution. For growers living in those parts of the country with hard water it is crucially important to find a source of purified water for your orchids. Rainwater is the cheapest and most readily available source of clean water. It is important to ensure that it has run off from a clean roof and is stored in a plastic container. Keep it covered at all times to exclude leaves and other organic rubbish. Clean water is a perfect start for orchid nutrition - just add Orchid Focus at the recommended rates and mix it in well.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is an element which is essential to growth in orchids, as in all plant species. Orchids, however, need less nitrogen than most plants and it has to be in the correct form. Nitrate is the ideal form of nitrogen for orchid cultivation - at the right levels it can deliver strong healthy growth over long periods. All of the nitrogen in Orchid Focus is derived from nitrates. Ammonia is a nitrogen source that should be avoided as it has a tendency to produce rank soft growth, especially in lower light conditions. It can also become toxic to orchids and other plants at surprisingly low levels. Urea is used by some fertilizer manufacturers because it is cheap. It is highly unsuitable for cultivating any type of plants in inert media, because these media lack the soil bacteria needed to convert urea into a form useful to the plant. Without this conversion, urea can quickly become toxic.

Orchid Focus solutions are carefully formulated to exclude these cheap and troublesome forms of nitrogen. Follow the lead of professionals who use Orchid Focus - avoid products containing ammonia and urea!

Root Feeding

Orchids should be fed at intervals throughout the growing season. Frequency increases as the weather warms up. Make up Orchid Focus Grow or Bloom at the recommended strength and simply water into the potting medium.

Foliar Feeding

Foliar feeding has very noticeable and positive effects on orchids. It helps to produce darker green foliage which in turn allows more light to be assimilated by the plant, which empowers vigorous growth. Foliar feeding should be carried out in conjunction with a normal feeding program through the roots. Use Orchid Focus at half strength for foliar feeding, misting gently over foliage ideally in the morning. This allows the entire day for foliage to dry off before nightfall. Foliar feeding can be carried out as often as once a week during periods of active growth. It should always be applied at half strength. Watch carefully for signs of over feeding - streaking or mottling of the leaves is a warning to reduce the regularity of foliar applications. These can also be an indication of burning caused by sunlight on recently wetted leaves.

A small number of orchids, specifically those with soft foliage, such as Thunias, Lycastes, Pleiones and Phauius, should never be misted with nutrient as it will quickly damage their leaves.

Mounted Orchids

Mounted orchids need to be sprayed regularly - ideally more than once a day. If the mount is just wood or bark, with no moss or compost, use Orchid Focus at half strength at every watering for a week at a time. This can be followed by a soak - for just a few minutes - in a bucket of plain water, so as to dissolve and flush away any excess nutrients.

If there is a pad of moss or other compost between the plant and the plaque (mount) which would trap water and hold the fertilizer, then it will be best to alternate sprays of nutrient with fresh water in successive daily applications.

Grow and Bloom Formulations

Orchid Focus is crafted in two separate formulations for the different needs of orchids during the growth and blooming cycles. Orchid Focus Grow has higher levels of nitrogen, derived solely from nitrates, to encourage the growth of healthy shoots and leaves. Orchid Focus Bloom has enhanced levels of phosphorus and potassium to support heavy flowering.

Please note that changing nutrients from Orchid Focus Grow to Orchid Focus Bloom will not cause an orchid to bloom. Orchid blossoms are dictated by the season and by the plants internal programming. Using Orchid Focus Bloom at the onset of natural blooming will ensure that the orchid has access to the minerals necessary to maximize and prolong the floral display.