IDK about NPK: Feeding Your Orchids

If buying plant food has you saying IDK (short for I Don’t Know) about NPK, don’t worry! You don’t need to be a chemist, biologist or professional grower. We’ve got the answers to help you select the right plant food.  

So, What is NPK? 
NPK is an abbreviation for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). Remember the abbreviations on the Periodic Table from high school chemistry class? These nutrients when applied at the right time in the correct amount can help you grow healthier, happier plants.

Behind the Numbers
Not all fertilizers say “NPK” on the packaging, but you will consistently find three numbers that correspond to the percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium content in the fertilizer. For example, you may see 10-10-10 on the packaging label which indicates the plant food contains 10% of each of these primary nutrients.  

What Do Each of these Elements Do?

• Nitrogen (N) is responsible for healthy foliage growth (thanks to the production of chlorophyll) and the development of new plant shoots. It’s important to note that Better-Gro plant foods do not contain urea nitrogen because it is not absorbed effectively by most orchids.
• Phosphorus (P) helps to grow strong root systems and aids in development of larger, more vibrant, longer-lasting flowers.​
• Potassium (K) increases a plant’s overall health including disease resistance and plant vigor.

​Not All Plant Foods Are the Same
Orchids are exotic tropical plants, so the typical all-purpose plant foods you use for your garden are not ideal for orchids. Look for a specially-formulated plant food designed to provide the nutrition an orchid needs to grow and thrive, such as Better-Gro® Orchid Plus and Better Blooms Orchid Foods .  These orchid foods were custom developed by our head grower and are used in our commercial growing operation as well.