Orchid food consists in the nutriments that an orchid will take in nature from anything that is nearby. A terrestrial orchid will absorb minerals from decomposing leaves or animal droppings while a epiphyte orchid will take nutriments from rotten leaves, bird droppings or dust. But an orchid that lives in artificial conditions doesn't have access to natural nutriments so you must procure plant fertilizers to provide the orchid with the minerals needed. But over-feeding an orchid or feeding it incorrectly can damage or even kill the plant.

At the beginning of the growth season in spring a high calcium fertilizer is recommended, with a slow release placed near the roots. Also you should use a water soluble fertilizer on the leaves and roots twice a month. Fertilization should only be done on plants that are in the growing stages. Only apply the fertilizer after the plant has been watered and never fertilize an orchid if the roots are damaged, because then they won't be able to properly absorb the fertilizer leaving most of it in the pot doing more damage than good.

You should be careful as to not over-feed the orchid since it needs less food than a lot of other plants. Check the quantities recommended on the fertilizer label, and give your plant only-of the quantity prescribed. I recommend avoiding a time-released fertilizer because it is of very high concentration, not adequate for the needs of an orchid. Over-feeding your orchids can even lead to their death. But even if this isn't the case, it will still have a negative impact. The leaves will be affected and burned tips will appear on them. Also it is possible that the plant won't bloom. The roots could also be affected from overfeeding and won't work properly any more, not absorbing water and leading to plant dehydration.

It is Important to know exactly when it is time to fertilize your orchid. It's best to apply fertilizers once a week when the plant is in its growing stage, between March and October. After that you should use water for a month without any fertilizer to prevent over fertilization. When the plant gets older it is best to reduce the frequency of feeding. Also the plant doesn't need fertilization during winter.

All fertilizers contain Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium. An ideal orchid fertilizer should contain a 3-1-1 report with not more than 20% Nitrogen, and also some secondary nutriments as magnesium, sulfur, cooper, zinc or iron.

Using and providing your plant the correct orchid food at the correct moment is not that hard to do if you know exactly what are the needs of your orchid plant.