What is the best product for feeding an orchid tree?
Orchid trees generally do not require too much in the way of fertilizer, and when you do fertilize is dependent on its stage of growth. New trees, for instance, a balanced fertilizer while older trees may need one with a higher phosphorus content.
This time of year my orchid tree stops blooming and then goes through an ugly shedding stage. Then it starts to produce new growth. What I want to do is give it it a nice healthy boost, and I'm thinking that ironite will give it a good boost and also green it up, I HOPE.
If you are looking to use Ironite, I would recommend Ironite Plus. Ironite itself would just add mostly micronutrients, where Ironite Plus would add the micro and macro nutrients the tree needs to be all round healthy.
If you have noticed that the tree has been yellowish for awhile, Ironite may help, but it will be most effective if you make sure that the tree is getting all the water it needs so that it able to best take up all the nutrients that the Ironite would supply it.
My orchid tree looks like a skinny bush on a STICK. How can I get it to bulk out or spread in growth? If I top it, will that help to get more horizontal growth?
If you nip off the terminal bud (the top 1/2 inch of growth), this will force the side shoots to grow out.
I have 3 orchid trees which I planted from seeds I collected from a local tree. They are about 8-10 years old. They are probably about 8 feet tall. I live in South Texas and they have died back in the winter several times. Most branches survived this winter. There has never been any blooms.
There may simply be a nutrient imbalance in the soil. You could try adding phosphorus rich fertilizer or bone meal to the soil to help encourage flowering.
USDA Zones 9 - 11. Orchid tree is a subtropical plant that usually recovers from brief freezes (after dropping its leaves). It gets tree sized in the tropics, but will stay shrublike where it is subjected to frost and freezing. Not being very familiar with this tree, I offer no suggestions regarding no flowers. You could contact your local agricultural extension office.
I have an orchid tree that bloomed, pods came out at the beginning of May and now the tree looks sick. The leaves are brown and dry, watering/vitamin routine hasn't changed. The pods are still coming out but I don't see new leaves. The tree was planted almost a year ago (professionally) and is 10 feet tall and the canopy is 8 feet wide. I am very worried and the tree seemed to be doing well until very recently.
I have an orchid tree that has been growing beautifully for years. Suddenly (seemingly overnight) the leaves turned yellow, most fell off and it looks awful. We live in central Florida where we have had one of the wettest winters I can remember. Would the moisture be hurting the orchid tree?
Yes, absolutely. Orchid trees really don't like wet soil; possibly the spot where you have it has a bit more clay in the soil. Here's more info on orchid trees: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/orchid-tree/growing-orchid-trees.htm
I have an anacho orchid tree that is fairly young and is about 7 feet tall. It is covered in seedpods which are weighing the branches down. They have been on there for a long time and I am concerned that it is going to ruin the shape of the tree because of how far they are bending the branches. Should I remove them?
You can remove them. It will not hurt the tree and may actually help, as the tree will be better able to send energy to things like growing roots and branches rather than producing seeds (that you don't want anyway).