Rebecca Northern wrote the definitive text on orchids; however, someone
borrowed my copy and I don't know the title! The orchid society publishes
another, less expensive book titled "Your first orchid--A guide for
beginners." This book is a free gift when you become a member of the
American Orchid Society. Personally, I really like the Time/Life(?) series
put out in the 70s. The book is simply titled "orchids." I bought mine for
$3 at halfprice books.
Under optimal conditions, some larger Phal hybrids can bloom almost
continuously.
As for feeding, there are many different approaches and opinions, but little
scientific fact. I take the "weakly, weekly" approach, where I put a fraction
of the recommended amount in the water (probably about 1/5 to 1/8 the
recommended, but I'm guessing, as I just eyeball it). When it is neither
growing nor flowering, I don't fertilize at all and water to keep it alive.
Peggy, take my advice with a grain of salt, or fertilizer (grin). I've
killed more orchids than I have alive at this point!
Janna the orchid slayer
Peggy Fairb Fairbourne wrote:
> The orchid that I received as a gift for Valentine's Day has had 18-24
> blooms on it since mid February. It still has 23 blooms and 5 new buds.
> I'm just curious to know if this is unusual for a phalaenopsis, as I have
> not grown orchids before. I have not fed it, as I was told not to until
> it had finished its bloom cycle. However, I read some information from
> orchid growers that indicates I should have been feeding it all along.
> Can someone recommend a good reference book or material?
>
> Peggy Fairbourne
> Hennepin County Master Gardener
> peggy.fairbourne@juno.com
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--
Janna Beckerman
Department of Plant Pathology
495 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN 55108-6030
Voice: (612) 625-7022
Fax: (612) 625-9728
e-mail: janna@umn.edu
"A perennial is a plant that would have come back
year after year if it had survived."- Author Unknown
