NPK Ratio for Orchids - What it is & Why it Matters

What is in orchid fertilizer? Fertilizer for orchids is composed of a three-part number separated by dashes composed of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. This is known as the NPK Ratio. Some fertilizers have a small dose of calcium and magnesium, but most concentrate on the first three elements. This number is called the N-P-K ratio and is the balance of three nutrients that make up the fertilizer. Each one will promote a specific quality in your plant, so picking the right orchid fertilizer is essential. Before I explain each one, let’s look at what fertilizer is and isn’t. Knowing how to pick the best fertilizer for orchids is essential to growing orchids. Basic Orchid Fertilization Information It is important to note that orchid fertilizer is not a miracle—unlike one brand name suggests. Nutrition doesn’t come from fertilizers, but from photosynthesis and sun / light water humidity Orchid fertilizers will aid in speeding up the natural process of the orchid, inducing the production of chlorophyll, stimulating leaf growth, and aiding in conditions that the orchid already is living in. One common mistake that new orchid growers have is that fertilizers are used as plant medicines. “Oh, my orchid is yellowish-green. Let’s add a fertilizer.” Band-aid type treatment is not proper fertilization. In this aspect, use fertilizers to stimulate a healthy plant, not cure a dying one. If you want the full explanation of this video in writing, go to https://orchideria.com/orchid-fertilization/