If you ask 10 orchid growers about fertilizer you will get 10 different answers. The important thing to know is that you can harm a plant by overfertilizing. What kind you use is less important than how much you use. Boarded plants usually slow their growth when they leave the greenhouse, so they do not need much fertilizer. If you are going to keep a plant at home more than 2 months feed it a half-strength solution every other time you water.

WHY DO BUDS DROP?

Several things can cause bud drop. Sudden temperature changes, dry, or stale air and insufficient light are the most common reasons. Several types of orchids (Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums and Cattleyas) are especially susceptible to smog damage. This can happen in certain areas of the city where the smog levels are high or even in a kitchen when there is a leaky gas stove. In these situations the effect is usually quite dramatic and all the buds will turn yellow overnight or the sepals (the outer 3 parts of the flower) will wilt within a few days.

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