Dr Uwe Stroeher talks to Graham Ross about the unique world of orchids. Learn how to get the most out of your orchids and what fertiliser to use.

🌿 Available in pellet and liquid form, Strike Back for Orchids all potted flowering and fruiting plants. It is an organic-based, chemically-boosted fertiliser specifically developed to enhance the growth and flower development of orchids, and combines the best of both worlds – its organic base provides a full range of plant nutrients in a slow release form, whilst the carefully selected water-soluble nutrients have been added to maximise the performance of each application. Apply all year round, or from February to October to maximise flowering.

Strike Back for Orchids is recommended and endorsed by The Orchid Club of South Australia Inc, the Orchid Society of Western Australia, the Cymbidium Orchid Club of South Australia, the Cymbidium Club of Australia Inc., the Cymbidium Orchid Society of Victoria and the Cymbidium Orchid Club of WA.

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Interview Transcript

This week the Doc from Neutrog will have a chat about fertilising
your orchids. Hi Uwe.

Hi Graham. Before we get started, I just want to invite the listeners to a free presentation I’ll be giving about soil microbiology at Wavell Heights in Queensland, on the 24th March at 1 o’clock. All attendees will receive a free sample of Neutrog products. Seats are limited, so book now by sending an email to info@neutrog.com.au or phone 1800 65 66 44.

Now onto today’s chat. Most people would be aware, orchids are epiphytic, meaning they often live in areas that essentially have no soil, in say the forks or trees. These are areas where leaf litter collects and decomposes to provide nutrients. Also, these environments tend to be free draining. Which is why orchid growers use mediums containing things like bark chips, coconut husk chips or perlite. These hold some water but are free draining. Others will use some charcoal to hold onto some of the micronutrients, and when mounting orchids the use sphagnum moss.
Finding themselves in these environments, orchids have different roots and feeding habits.

So, how do they differ?

Orchid roots have a spongy covering on the roots known as velamen. This tissue has a number of functions, such as holding water and nutrients to be absorbed by the plant. The velamen may be white or grey when dry, and appear green when moist. This is because you can see through the dead velamen cells when it gets wet to the underlying tissue. The plant required this covering as free draining media results in leaching of nutrients. However, the velamen can only hold a limited amount of nutrients and water. So, to get the best out of your orchids the feeding has to overcome this limitation.

What is a suitable fertiliser for these plants?

Many growers use a liquid feed for growing orchids. For the liquid you feed every two weeks, and an excellent product is Strike Back for Orchids which contains composted organic material just like in nature, but is chemically boosted and filtered to ensure it won’t block your growing media. Strike Back for Orchids will provide all the essential nutrients and is easy to apply while watering. The nutrients are then absorbed by the velamen and used by the plant over the next few weeks.

So, now we know why you should give your orchids a more regular feed, and an ideal product is Strike Back for Orchids from Neutrog. Strike Back for Orchids is available at Bunnings, other hardware outlets, and many good garden centres.

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