Little or no food leads to smaller growth, a slower growth rate, paler
growth, poor or no blooming. Interestingly enough though, it can lead to a
more extensive root system as the plant reaches for sustenance, giving the
grower who isn't really thinking the idea that the plants are nice and
healthy, and not simply starving to death.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"J Fortuna" wrote in message
...
I have some questions that relate to Ray's answer: (Ray, you say that "a
few
weeks" may be a bit long without food.)

What are the long term consequences of neglecting to fertilize orchids (or
more specifically Phals)? What would happen if one neglects to fertilize
most of the time? What would be some signs that would show on an orchid
that
had been thus neglected? I know that overfertilization may be visible by
tips of leaves turning brown, are there a simmilar signs for
under-fertilization? Can orchids recover from such neglect if it had been
going on for months or even years?

Thanks,
Joanna

P.S.: Ok, I admit, the questions above were on purpose written to sound
hypothetical, but unfortunately aren't. If there is one major weakness in
my
orchid care nowadays it is that I tend to forget to fertilize them. After
having overfed them the first year, I then went to the other extreme. The
orchids seem to have been very forgiving of this type of neglect thus far,
but I worry a bit, and will try to improve, ...

"Ray" wrote in message
...
The medium contains no nutrition whatsoever by itself, but if you've
been
overdoing it, it's bound to have lots of stored-up stuff. "A few weeks"
may
be a bit long without food, but I doubt if it'll be a serious issue.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

. . . . . . . . . . .
"Charles Peters" wrote in message
...
Thanks for some great thoughts, I will remain committed. As for
some
of your excellent questions: temp goes up to about 70 during the day,
55
at
night. Plants are not too green, but I'm no expert either. I suspect
I
may be over fertilizing, as I tend to be like most beginners, and
think
more is better. One question though. Is it okay to leave out the
fertilizer for a few weeks in semi-hydro, or is some nutrient always
necessary in that medium

Charles Peters wrote:

I'm kind of new to all this, but have about 20 orchids, mostly
onc's
and phals. I've grown them outside in the summer (Baltimore, MD)
and
wintered them in my basement under HID lights ( 250 HPS in the Fall,
MH
in the Spring, cycling from 14 hours in October to 12 in December)
with
flours to supplement. Fertilize with Dyna Grow 1/4 tsp. every
watering. But very poor results to date. Good root growth, many in
semi-hydro, but no spikes so far this year. I'm wondering if the
drop
in
temperature in the basement, 55-60 F at night, might be inhibiting
blooming. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Charles