6 Best Orchid Fertilizers to Boost Your Garden Bloom
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Orchids are among the most popular flowers to grow inside as a result of their beautiful flowers, but they aren’t the easiest plants to grow. Despite the difficulty, there’s a dedicated community of people who love growing orchids and will talk your ear off about all the different varieties and colors they’re currently growing. Spoiler alert: I’m one of those people. That’s why I’m happy to be putting together this list and helping people find the best orchid fertilizers.
There’s almost as many types of fertilizers and plant foods for orchids as there are types of orchids. Many of them are represented on this list, since they’re ideally suited for different types of gardeners. We’ll get into all the details in just a second.
Key Takeaways
I put together this list from a few different sources, including my own experience with growing orchids, a couple of orchid-focused Whatsapp groups I’m a part of, and reading lots of product reviews. Overall, the best orchid fertilizer is Grow More Premium Orchid Food as a result of the ease of applying it to orchids and its urea-free ingredient mix. It’s an excellent option for home gardeners who are growing any kind of orchid, including those with exposed roots. I also included fertilizers that have similar components but different application methods, like The Grow Co Bloom Booster Fertilizer Pellets for Orchids and Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes.
Best Overall: Grow More Premium Orchid Food
Why This is a Quality Choice: Grow More Premium Orchid Food is a powerful fertilizer for orchids that’s capable of delivering the necessary nutrients to your orchids. You just need to add a bit of it to the water you’re going to use for your orchids every couple of weeks, and they’ll be set up to grow. It’s also urea-free, which makes a great choice for anyone worried about whether their orchids will be able to use nitrogen in that form.
Who is this for? This is a simple and no-frills fertilizer for orchids that anyone can use to deliver nutrients to their favorite flowers.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This is a very concentrated and nutrient-rich fertilizer, so make sure you follow the package instructions carefully to avoid harming your plants.
Active ingredients: Ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium molybdate, copper, iron, manganese, and molybdenum | Herbicides: None | N–P–K: 20–10–20 | Package size: 1.25 lbs |
Best Budget: Better-Gro Orchid Better-Bloom
Why This is a Quality Choice: Better-Gro Orchid Better-Bloom is another water-soluble fertilizer you can use to ensure your orchids thrive. It’s an inexpensive option, and the seller on Amazon gives you the choice of how many bags to order at a time. By ordering up to four bags at once, you can save on shipping and enjoy the convenience that comes with buying in bulk.
Who is this for? I think this is a great choice for gardeners who go through a lot of orchid fertilizer because they have so many plants to keep fed.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This is a high-phosphorus option that some states might restrict as a result of the impact of the chemical on water runoff. Some gardeners avoid high-phosphorus fertilizers for the same reason.
Active ingredients: Potassium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, sodium borate, sodium molybdate, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc | Herbicides: None | N–P–K: 11–35–15 | Package size: 1 lbs |
Best Spray Bottle: The Grow Co. Organic Ready to Spray Orchid Food Mist
Why This is a Quality Choice: This product from The Grow Co. is the best orchid food that comes in a spray bottle, making it easy to encourage strong roots, spike growth, and huge blooms. All you have to do to use this product is apply a few sprays to the leaves, roots, and soil that your orchids are growing in before watering.
Who is this for? Indoor gardeners who really love simplicity and are worried about harming their flowers by over-fertilizing should consider this product, which has really light N–P–K content.
Flaws but not deal–breakers: You might want to augment this product by using a higher N–P–K option while your orchids are growing and getting ready to flower.
Active ingredients: Ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, calcium phosphate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium borate, copper, iron, and sodium molybdate | Herbicides: None | N–P–K: 1–1–1 | Package size: 20 lbs |
Best Low Phosphorus: MSU Orchid Fertilizer
Why This is a Quality Choice: MSU Orchid Fertilizer is the best orchid fertilizer with low-phosphorus content. Unlike most fertilizers for indoor plants, it’s urea-free, which means your orchids will be able to take advantage of all the nitrogen you’re putting into the soil. And, the measuring scoop that’s included can help you add the perfect amount of fertilizer when you’re watering your orchids.
Who is this for? I included this option on the list for people who don’t like to use fertilizers with lots of phosphorus as a result of environmental concerns.
Flaws but not deal–breakers: At just 8 ounces or 0.5 pounds per package, you might find yourself running out of this fertilizer rather quickly.
Active ingredients: Ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, boric acid, calcium nitrate, copper sulfate, iron EDTA, manganese sulfate, potassium nitrate, sodium molybdate and zinc sulfate | Herbicides: None | N–P–K: 13–3–15 | Package size: 0.5 lbs |
Best Pellets: The Grow Co Bloom Booster Fertilizer Pellets for Orchids
Why This is a Quality Choice: These slow release pellets made by The Grow Co. are a great way to keep your orchids fed over a long period of time without using water-soluble fertilizers. In fact, just one application of these pellets can keep your plants fed for up to six months.
Who is this for? Fertilizer pellets that last for a long time are ideal for gardeners who don’t want to constantly be thinking about when it’s time to fertilize their plants next.
Flaws but not deal–breakers: You need to poke holes in the soil to apply these pellets, which can lead to root damage if you’re not careful.
Active ingredients: Ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, calcium phosphate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium borate, copper, iron, and sodium molybdate | N–P–K: 13–4–14 | Package size: 0.3 lbs |
Best Fertilizer Spikes: Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes
Why This is a Quality Choice: Fertilizer spikes, like these from Miracle-Gro, are another great way to fertilize the pot or grow bag your orchids are growing in. Each of the spikes in this 10-pack can last for two months and provide everything your orchids need to grow stronger root systems, develop new shoots, and flower.
Who is this for? Since you don’t need to measure anything or decide how many pellets to add to your soil, these plant food spikes are a great way to feed your orchids without risking over-fertilizing them.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: On the flip side, you also don’t get very much control over the amount of fertilizer your plants are getting when you use fertilizer spikes. That means it’s up to your preferences about how you’d like to fertilize your plants.
Active ingredients: Methylurea, ammonium phosphate, potassium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, manganese EDTA, disodium salt, and sodium molybdate | Herbicides: None | N–P–K: 10–10–10 | Package size: Contains 10 fertilizer spikes |
Best for Use With Reverse-Osmosis Water: rePotme Orchid Food
Why This is a Quality Choice: rePotme Orchid Food is the best orchid fertilizer for people who’re worried about their reverse osmosis water interfering with how well their flowers uptake nutrients. Although the technical reasons for why different types of water make a difference to fertilizing orchids are beyond the scope of this article, a mismatch between your water type and the type of fertilizer you’re using might be the reason for issues you’ve been having.
Who is this for? rePotme Orchid Food is a great option if you have a reverse osmosis water system at home.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some customers have reported that this fertilizer changed color and appearance after being stored for some time, but others didn’t have this issue.
Active ingredients: Potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, boric acid, copper sulfate, iron, magnesium, sodium molybdate, and zinc sulfate | Herbicides: None | N–P–K: 13–3–15 | Package size: 0.5 lbs |
Buying Considerations for The Best Orchid Fertilizers
Ingredients
Orchids are complicated plants to grow because they need a lot of different compounds in the soil to thrive. Not only do they need lots of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (more on that in a minute), but they also require minerals like magnesium, zinc, and iron in the soil. Look at the ingredients of each orchid fertilizer you’re considering to see which ones contain what compounds.
Ease of use
The fertilizers on this list have different ways to apply them to orchids. The standard type of fertilizer is a water-soluble powder that you dissolve in the water you’re about to give your plants. Some people don’t like the amount of measuring and calculation that goes into this process, since you have to use a particular amount of fertilizer per gallon of water. If you’re worried about going under or over that ratio, you can use a different option like a spray bottle or fertilizer spike for your orchids.
N–P–K
Finally, you should pay careful attention to the levels of N–P–K (i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) that the fertilizers you’re considering contain. You definitely need some level of all three, but different fertilizers contain them in different ratios. I’d encourage you to research the needs of the exact species you’re growing and pick a fertilizer that has the best N–P–K for your plants.
How I Choose These Products
As I made clear throughout, I relied a lot on my own experience when coming up with this list of the best orchid fertilizers. However, since I’m aware that there are plenty of different gardeners with different preferences than I have, I tried to include a wide breadth of different products on this list.
For instance, I usually use a water-soluble fertilizer because I like how easily I can control the exact levels of fertilizer I can apply to my plants, but some gardeners aren’t comfortable doing that kind of mixing on their own. That’s why I also included options like the Chrysal Orchid Food Drops, which do the measuring for you, and fertilizer spikes (Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes), which don’t require any guesswork at all. I’d encourage you to choose the type of fertilizer that you’re most comfortable using.
Final Verdict
Overall, I’ve recommended Grow More Premium Orchid Food as the best of the best orchid fertilizers. It’s easy enough to use that anyone can derive the benefits of the product, but it will also give experienced growers the control they’re looking for. It has great N–P–K levels for growing orchids, and I’m sure it can help support your flowers. But, if you’re more interested in a different method of fertilizing your orchids, I’m sure there’s another option on the list that’s great for your specific needs.
FAQs
How do I get my orchids to bloom more?
Using fertilizers and plant foods for orchids is the best way to get your orchids to bloom more. If you’re providing the right kind of growing environment for your orchids, they’ll reach the stage where they’re blooming much more quickly and often.
Is NPK fertilizer good for orchids?
Yes, N–P–K fertilizer is good for orchids. Orchids, like all other plants, require nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (i.e. the compounds that N–P–K stands for) to grow to their full potential. Some growers advise using N–P–K fertilizers that contain nitrogen not in urea form but rather as nitrates and ammonium. It’s pretty controversial, though, since other growers and some manufacturers are just fine with using urea in their fertilizers for orchids.
When should you not fertilize orchids?
The only time you want to avoid fertilizing your orchids is during their dormant state. However, I wouldn’t recommend stopping all fertilization during this period; rather, you should just cut back on the amount and frequency of feeding your plants with fertilizers. For instance, you can fertilize dormant orchids once a month with about half the amount of fertilizer you’d normally use.
