Watering first reduces the uptake of nutrients.

Back in the days when little science was applied to plant nutrition,
fertilization was usually done heavily and infrequently. As a result, if
you fed first, you often burned the roots with excessive salts.

On a positive note, watering first does increase liquid uptake by the
medium, so it will retain more for future use by the plants between
waterings. Unfortunately, it also leads to more-rapid salt buildup.

--

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


"blass" wrote in message
...

What the point of watering the orchids before applying fertilizers (half
the strength recommended). What's the logic in this. I've been
directly applying fertilizers on the orchids for three months now and
they're all doing very well.


--
blass