For those who love orchids, this kind of plant is not as tricky as other plants to grow if it lacks one of four factors: proper light, enough water, temperature, and the right type of fertilizer.
From our experience of chasing after orchid fertilizers for many years, we have conducted careful research and found out the top 6 best orchid fertilizers that you can take as a useful reference.
Here are the best orchid fertilizers you can buy in 2023:
- Best Overall: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food
- Best for Root Growth: Aquatic Arts All-purpose HousePlant Fertilizer
- Best for New Shoot Development: Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes
- Best for Gorgeous Blooms: Joyful Dirt Premium Concentrated All-Purpose Organic Plant Food and Fertilizer
- Best for Moisture Retention: Scotts Miracle-GRO Orchid Plant Food Mist
- Best for Dark Green Leaves: EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food
| 6 Best Orchid Fertilizers | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food | |
Best for Root Growth | Aquatic Arts All-purpose HousePlant Fertilizer | |
Best for New Shoot Development | Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes | |
Best for Gorgeous Blooms | Joyful Dirt Premium Concentrated All-Purpose Organic Plant Food and Fertilizer | |
Best for Moisture Retention | Scotts Miracle-GRO Orchid Plant Food Mist | |
Best for Dark Green Leaves | EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food | |
Best Overall: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food
High presentation
Easy to apply
Affordable
Long-lasting
User-friendly instruction
Slow-releasing the nutrients to plants
Already making it a name in the plant food industry, the Miracle-Gro is proud to provide diverse needs with such a flower fertilizer like Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food.
With the maximum of Nitrogen up to 30% and a balanced ratio of 10% Phosphorus and 10% Potassium, this kind of fertilizer serves an orchid plant as a miracle vitamin to push leaf, and stem development as well as promote its fantastic look with continuous flower production.
Aside from keeping the plant beautiful and healthy, such a flower food is also simple to apply, following the instructions. You need to take the right amount of fertilizer to mix with enough water before feeding.
Remember to spray on the topsoil layer only to water its roots, not its foliage to prevent it from damaging. Then, you can adapt the feeding schedule that depends on indoors or outdoors with the different fertilizer amounts.
Despite slow-releasing nutrients into your plant, it is good to nurture the soil without harmful chemicals—the product is also a reliable choice for your flowers at a pleasant level of price.
| Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food Specifications | |
|---|---|
Fertilizer Analysis | 30-10-10 |
Size | 8 oz. |
When to Apply | Every 2 weeks during active growth periods Every 4 weeks during rest periods |
Highlight Features | Maximum nitrogen (30%), spray, long time use |
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Orchid Food offers every essential feature that plant growers, either for fun or profits, seek in a flower fertilizer.
Best for Root Growth: Aquatic Arts All-purpose HousePlant Fertilizer
Great outcome
Good NPK ratio for indoor plants, 3-1-2
Ease of use
Strong root system
Non- organic
The Aquatic Arts company is devoted to providing customers with the best out of houseplant fertilizer. So, it has continuously updated the latest innovation in its products. The Aquatic Arts All-purpose HousePlant Fertilizer is no exception.
With a perfect ratio of NPK 3:1:2, the plant food formulated for orchids strengthen the growth of roots and stems.
While nitrogen promotes the color of foliage and potassium helps the plant bloom more often, phosphorus is a crucial nutrient which stimulates healthy root development and prevents it from either root rot or bacteria.
If your orchids are potted plants placed indoors, it may lack airflow around the soil and sunlight to promote photosynthesis which creates sugar to feed your plant. Therefore, this product can help indoor orchids repair these damages.
Also, due to the type of the fertilizer is liquid which is more accessible to spray on the soil. Moreover, it can stop wilt or reduce brown spots better than granules or pellets. You are supposed to follow the guide on the label to mix water and fertilizer in a proper ratio to get the best results.
Despite 100% natural ingredients, the flowering plant fertilizer is non-organic because of additional minerals. However, it’s a helpful supplement to raise your healthy orchids for a long time.
| Aquatic Arts All-purpose HousePlant Fertilizer Specifications | |
|---|---|
Fertilizer Analysis | 3:1:2 |
Size | 8 oz. |
When to Apply | Spring and summer |
Highlight Features | 100% natural ingredients, perfect for all types of houseplants, liquid |
The Aquatic Arts All-purpose HousePlant Fertilizer can make a reliable companion for orchid lovers craving for healthy root growth with longer lasting color, but not wanting to pay a fortune for high-end products.
Best for New Shoot Development: Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes
Simple to use
Long-lasting, 2 months
Fantastic new shoot growth
Suitable for indoor orchids
Slow-releasing effect
If you want your orchids to thrive and encourage its new shoot growth, it’s best to find a proper fertilizer as quickly as possible—this kind of plant food from Miracle-Gro may be a suggestion.
As a stick fertilizer, the package comes down with ten spikes very simple to apply and store. You can break each stick to half and insert them in the soil.
Please leave them in 2 months; you get an attractive and healthy orchid plan as far as you imagine. Because of the balanced NPK ratio, 10-10-10, this option does wonder for all indoor orchids.
On top of that, according to the positive customers’ comments, they saw tons of new root growth like new stem buds, and their orchid plants started sending up fresh blossoms or reblooms. So, as we can say, the effect of this fertilization impresses their product-mind.
Also, remember to apply these sticks on active growing periods; you soon recognize that these products are worth your investment.
| Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes Specifications | |
|---|---|
Fertilizer Analysis | 10-10-10 |
Size | 10 spikes (0.32 oz or 9g) |
When to Apply | During active growth, every 2 months |
Highlight Features | Sticks, for indoor orchids, balanced ratio of NPK |
With a small package but incredible efficiency, Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes promises to challenge any plant fertilizer on the market in terms of new shoot development.
Best for Gorgeous Blooms: Joyful Dirt Premium Concentrated All-Purpose Organic Plant Food and Fertilizer
Easy to apply
Safe
Quick-acting
Disease resistance
The “Joyful dirt” water smells bad after 1 week.
If you could only buy an orchid fertilizer for blooms, this Joyful Dirt Premium Concentrated All-Purpose Organic Plant Food and Fertilizer would be the most appropriate decision.
The plant food formulated with organic ingredients results in an excellent performance on a flowering plant like healthy growth, foliage extension, and constant bloom production.
Some customers exposed their surprises for the fact that the product helps to revive sick plants, fall-off leaves, or stagnate blooming. It is due to the macronutrients, which helps the plant absorb easily to its roots and provides the crucial elements for it to thrive.
Another benefit of the fertilizer is disease prevention. With the presence of Mycorrhizae and other nutrients, these specks of Joyful Dirt protect the orchid from bacterial rot, leaf spots, and flower blights.
As an organic fertilizer, the plant food is safe for children and pets, even doesn’t harm or burn your orchids when over-application.
The ease of use allows users to either sprinkle the dirt directly on the base of their plants, then water in or mix with water in a container is also a highlight.
Apart from the smell of this kind of fertilizer, it is perfect for orchid care.
| Joyful Dirt Premium Concentrated All-Purpose Organic Plant Food and Fertilizer Specifications | |
|---|---|
Fertilizer Analysis | 8-1-5 |
Size | 2 oz. |
When to Apply | Once per month For sick plants: every watering |
Highlight Features | Organic, Mycorrhizae nutrient |
This flower fertilizer doesn’t make us think twice before buying it. Everything you need for your orchids is right in it.
Best for Moisture Retention: Scotts Miracle-GRO Orchid Plant Food Mist
High humidity
Great performance
Easy to spray
Safe for foliage spraying
Easy to be over quick, so use wisely
A bit expensive
If you ask us which orchid fertilizer is the best for moisture retention, the Scotts Miracle-GRO Orchid Plant Food Mist is the very first name coming up in our mind.
This product provides the crucial nutrients to increase the moisture level of your orchids. You are supposed to give your orchid more water than you thought.
The proper amount of water is so essential that it may impact on the process of photosynthesis either well or not.
Having absorbed the soil, water through roots goes to the leaves and generates oxygen and hydrogen. Then, the elements combine with carbon dioxide in the plant's cells to produce 'sugar' - the critical food to feed your plant.
If the plant is not hydrated enough, it breaks the instant plant growth and bloomings. That's why orchid lovers need to provide mist to their plants.
Only by spraying the mist directly on its leaves, stems, roots, and soil once per month, you will be amazed at how your orchid plant has sprouted new growth without being damaged or burned.
| Scotts Miracle-GRO Orchid Plant Food Mist (Orchid Fertilizer) Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 8 oz. (2 packs) |
When to Apply | Once per week |
Highlight Features | Sprayer |
Deserving the best moisture retention fertilizer for orchids, the Scotts Miracle-GRO Orchid Plant Food Mist is useful in providing enough water to process food production for your flower plants.
Best for Dark Green Leaves: EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food
Great for deep green color
Easy to apply
Eco-friendly
Safe for kids and pets
- Slow-release
With this organic product, you won’t wonder if it is safe for pets, kids, or your orchids any longer. The EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food also comes with a ton of benefits to promote deep green leaves and strong new growth.
By each capsule every two or three weeks, this fertilizer helps flower caretakers to apply in their plant easily. Either they can insert a capsule into the soil near the stem, or they open one gently and sprinkle the contents around the root.
After applying, the capsule breaks down and soaks up the nutrients on roots, and it enables the crucial elements to deliver to all the parts of the plant.
Once the plant is nurtured with the proper amount of nutrients, it enhances the process of absorbing the sunlight to produce chlorophyll, which helps the plant green-up right away.
Apart from the green and healthy look, this kind of flower food also helps the orchids grow steadily and sprout new growth as fast as possible.
| EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food Specifications | |
|---|---|
Fertilizer Analysis | 2.6 oz. |
Size | 100 capsules |
When to Apply | Every 2 or 3 weeks |
Highlight Features | Organic ingredients, spike |
If you give priority to affordability and reliability, the EarthPods Premium Orchid Plant Food is a top choice in the orchid fertilizer system, especially for those who prefer deep green leaves.
How To Choose The Best Orchid Fertilizer?
Before making the final purchase of the best orchid fertilizer, there are several factors that you need to bear in mind.
NPK Ratio
For those orchid lovers, the NPK ratio is too easy to identify each macro ingredient. Nitrogen enhances foliage and stem growth. Phosphorus promotes solid roots and instant blooms. And potassium aids to extend plant issues.
You can find a complete ratio which contains three macronutrients. Or, a balanced NPK means equal amounts of Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Potassium, for example, 10-10-10.
These elements are so important for orchid growth because the plant can not produce itself. We recommend you choose the product with much nitrogen to have a better result.
Types of Orchid Fertilizer
There are main types of orchid food, including concentrated formula, spray and stick.
First, the concentrated fertilizers, liquid or granules, are required to combine fertilizer and water according to a proper ratio before applying on the soil and roots.
In fact, orchids don’t need too much fertilization, so you can dilute the mixture to feed your plant to prevent over-fertilization.
Second, spray fertilizers are very easy, and safe for every part of your plant except the blooms.
Last, sticks are another type of orchid fertilizers that are slow-releasing, no measure and no messy.
The Speed of Releasing
There are some orchid fertilizers which are fast-acting within 3-4 days; otherwise, some have a slow-release formula. It depends on your demand and the state of the orchids.
Proper Time to Apply
For each period, you can choose the right fertilizer that is suitable for the plant growth. Please take note that we usually feed orchids much during the growth period, medium fertilization before blooming, and less in the rest period - after the orchid blooms.
The simple tip, we highly recommend, is to read carefully on the label to learn how to use it in a proper way.
Which Brands Make The Best Orchid Fertilizer?
Miracle-Gro
Starting as a manufacturer of garden products, fertilizers, grass seeds, and plant food, Miracle-Gro quickly embarked on the lawn care industry. Its founder has made significant improvements to efficient performance, including different features in various types so that consumers can approach such incredible plant care experience on the market nowadays.
Aquatic Arts
Since the very first days of establishment, Aquatic Arts™ has devoted itself to creating high-quality aquarium equipment, foods, and additives. Its plant foods are referred to as both compact in packing and effective in operation, making a reliable companion of plant caretakers.
Joyful Dirt
Joyful Dirt has been founded in Portland, Oregon, in the plant food industry for recent years. It offers a wide range of products with the best nutrients to apply plants easily and safely for both pets, kids, and plants.
FAQs
What kind of fertilizer is best for orchids?
A balanced fertilizer with equal amounts of macronutrients is highly recommended as the best for orchids.
The reason for that is except essential macronutrients, the kind of fertilizer contains less or no urea and additional trace elements that feed orchids at the best results.
When should you fertilize orchids?
We recommend you fertilize orchids during growth periods or before and after the blooming.
What is the best fertilizer for Phalaenopsis orchids?
There are many different products available to promote Phalaenopsis orchid growth. However, growers recommend that a complete, balanced orchid fertilizer formulated with equal amounts of macronutrients in the product is a perfect choice.
Because this kind of orchid is very cold sensitive, using a formula with a higher first number like a 10-5-5 distribution helps plants resist the freezing temperatures and promote solid roots.
Are used coffee grounds good for orchids?
Yes, coffee grounds help orchids improve soil quality and prevent insect infestation, but you are not supposed to overuse it because it is too acidic.
How often should you spray orchids?
If orchids are overfed, they become wilt or have root rot. Some apply every 2 or 3 days for fast-acting. And, some should be fed once per month for a slow-releasing formula. It depends on each type of orchid fertilizer, so you are supposed to read the directions carefully before use.
Conclusion
An improper fertilizer is likely to damage your orchids. Understanding the everyday needs of orchid lovers, we’ve finished reviewing the best orchid fertilizers in terms of type, purpose to performance. We hope you can pick out your favorite from the list.
