Orchid fertilizers are a popular choice among gardeners and people with big lawns. But why is that?
Plants need various nutrients to grow- such as phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. Orchid fertilizers are an excellent source of the above, but have you been asking yourself, “can I use orchid fertilizer on succulents too?” Let’s read on to find out!
Can I Use Orchid Fertilizer On Succulents?
Like I mentioned above, orchid fertilizers have nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (collectively known as NPK) in a particular ratio. A good and well-balanced orchid fertilizer will have these in an equal measure, for instance, a 30-30-30 orchid fertilizer with all three nutrients in equal proportions.
In addition to these three nutrients, orchid fertilizers also have other crucial compounds necessary for plant growth. Though it sounds like these fertilizers are explicitly directed toward orchids, they have the same compounds as other fertilizers and essentially perform the same job.
In fact, you can check the label of an orchid fertilizer and compare it with that of any regular fertilizer that you’d use on succulents. You’ll see that the compounds are the same, and the term orchid fertilizer is merely a marketing ploy.
What Do The Compounds In Orchid Fertilizers Do?
There are many chemicals present in orchid fertilizers, and they all have different effects on a plant. Nitrogen aids in the growth of leaves and is usually added to a plant once the roots have developed since it promotes chlorophyll production.
In addition to that, the potassium found in an orchid fertilizer boosts the immune response of the plant and helps ward off diseases and pests. Moreover, it also controls the functioning of the stomata and stops the leaf tips from growing yellow.
However, phosphorus is a nutrient specific to orchids, in the sense that orchids need phosphorus in a higher quantity than other plants. So, I recommend not using orchid fertilizer too frequently on your succulents because an overdose of phosphorus could be toxic for them.
Are Orchid Fertilizers Suitable For Succulents?
Most kinds of succulents respond well to orchid fertilizers. Like most orchids (barring the high-humidity ones), they also have a sparse watering schedule. This is why they benefit from the use of orchid fertilizers.
However, I recommend using commercial fertilizers and manure tea fertilizers for succulents since they respond best to those. But if push comes to shove and an orchid fertilizer is all you have, then no need to worry since you can still use it in a controlled quantity.
Make sure not to overdo the fertilizer spraying because too many chemicals can spell doom for the plant. Additionally, I advise not using orchid fertilizers on trees, and vegetable and fruit plants. This is because the chemicals might contaminate the produce, creating health issues for the consumers later.
Final Thoughts
Before I bid you farewell, I request you to keep in mind that any fertilizer should be used only after properly evaluating the plant and its nutrient requirements. Moreover, always use protective gear if you’re spraying the fertilizer yourself.
With this, I’ll end this guide, and I hope to see you again soon with another one of these!