Orchid Culture - Watering, Water Quality and Fertilizer

Watering Orchids

The How and Why of Water, AOS
Watering and Fertilizing Your Orchids, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Watering Orchids During Each Season, Sue Bottom, SAOS

pH Management and Plant Nutrition

Bill Argo, Blackmore Co., Journal of the International Phalaenopsis Alliance
Part 1 Intro
Part 2 Water Quality
Part 3 Fertilizers
Part 4 Substrates
Part 5 Choosing the Best Fertilizers

Water Quality

Choose Your Fertilizer Based on Water Quality, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Water Quality and Fertilizer in St. Johns County, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Soluble Salts, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Rain Collection Solution, Linda Stewart, SAOS
Reverse Osmosis Water, James Arnold, JOS
Are pH Checks Necessary, Harry McElroy, SAOS
Citric Acid for High Alkalinity Waters, Sue Bottom
Alkaline Well Water and Fertilizer, Sue Bottom, SAOS

Fertilizer

Conversion Tables, Formulas and Guidelines, University of Georgia Extension
Applying Fertilizers and Chemicals, Sue Bottom, SAOS
What Do Orchids Eat?, Rick Lockwood, AOS
Orchid Myths - Urea Sue Bottom, SAOS
FirstRays.com Fertilizer Calculator
Purely Organic Fertilizer, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Without High Phosphorus - A New Fertilizer for Orchids, Jan Szyren, AOS
Fertilize Weakly Weekly? Sue Bottom, SAOS
Evolving Thoughs on Fertilizing Your Orchids Eric Milstrey, SAOS
Orchid Myths - Foliar Feeding, Sue Bottom, SAOS

Plant Nutrition and Supplements

Calcium and Magnesium, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Calcium Deficiency in Cattleyas, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Silicon Supplements, Sue Bottom, SAOS
Magnesium or Phosphorus Promote Flowering? Dr. Yin-Tung Wang
Orchid Supplement... Or Snake Oil?, Sue Bottom, SAOS

Peters Complete Guide to Fertilizer Selection

You can download a selection guide with lots of detailed information about their fertilizers. Consider adding supplemental magnesium in the form of Epsom salts with your fertilizer.
- For low to moderate alkalinity water or if you grow in a mostly organic mix like bark or coconut husks, use a Cal Mag fertilizer (like Peters 17-3-17 Peat Lite Neutral Cal Mag or 15-5-15 Cal Mag fertilizer).
- For high alkalinity water from our shallow wells, use an acid generating fertilizer and Epsom salts (like 20-20-20 or 20-10-20 available from retail outlets; or Peters Excel 21-5-20 Multi Purpose from horticultural sources; Peters 18-8-17 Peat Lite High Mag Special would be ideal but is not available in Florida.)

Rainwater Harvesting

Making a Rain Barrel, Texas A&M AgriLife
Rainwater Harvesting, Texas A&M AgriLife
Rain Barrels - A Homeowners Guide, SW FL Water Mgmt District
Rainwater Harvesting for Irrigation Barrels, Dotty Woodson
Harvesting Rainwater for Use in Garden, Oregon State Univ
Choosing a Pump for Rainwater Harvesting, NC State
Choosing a Pump for Rainwater Harvesting, Rain Harvest Systems