Hi! Broke college student who loves plants and was given an orchid!

I have plant fertilizer, but have read I can't use it on orchids. Also not to use tap water, to buy distilled, get extra fertilizer, etc, etc. But I don't really have the money for it, nor the space to store a bunch of distilled water and even more plant gimmicks. What I do for most of my plants is feed them with aquarium water and a touch of fertilizer-can I use this on the orchid? Maybe hydroponically? Would it be better to just use the aquarium water with no added fertilizer?

Hi Ellie,
yes, you can use tap water. Just bring it up to room temperature and if you like, let it set for overnight to let any Chlorine dissipate. I personally use sometimes tap water, but prolonged use of the hard water in my area clogs up the "pores"/stomata, and some delicate Orchid suffer in the long run. I use mostly rainwater. Don't bother with distilled water, it has no benefit at all.
I kept Fish in my greenhouse for some years and Orchids absolutely loved the "dirty" water I poured over them when I cleaned the tanks. Especially small mounted species and Slipper Orchids really thrived on that routine.
You might add some fertilizer with a higher middle number once in a while to regular water as a bloom booster.

Ursula said: Hi Ellie,
yes, you can use tap water. Just bring it up to room temperature and if you like, let it set for overnight to let any Chlorine dissipate. I personally use sometimes tap water, but prolonged use of the hard water in my area clogs up the "pores"/stomata, and some delicate Orchid suffer in the long run. I use mostly rainwater. Don't bother with distilled water, it has no benefit at all.
I kept Fish in my greenhouse for some years and Orchids absolutely loved the "dirty" water I poured over them when I cleaned the tanks. Especially small mounted species and Slipper Orchids really thrived on that routine.
You might add some fertilizer with a higher middle number once in a while to regular water as a bloom booster.

So you think it would be safe to use my fish tank water? I do significant water changes once a week and use it to reduce waste and help out my plants. it's lots of water so I use pretty much exclusively that water. It sits in my watering can until I'm ready to use it, which means if I have to switch to tap then I either use a water bottle or have to empty out my cherished aquarium water.

Most conveniently, I'd just use that aquarium water and nothing else.

I think using "old" aquarium water is great for growing green, healthy Orchids. ( I used to do an at least 25% water change once a week, siphoning out the detritus from the gravel into a bucket.) I still would add some Phosphorus in the form of NPK fertilizer/higher middle number once in a blue moon. Just to encourage the next blooms.
May I ask, what kind of Orchid did you receive?

Ursula said: I think using "old" aquarium water is great for growing green, healthy Orchids. ( I used to do an at least 25% water change once a week, siphoning out the detritus from the gravel into a bucket.) I still would add some Phosphorus in the form of NPK fertilizer/higher middle number once in a blue moon. Just to encourage the next blooms.
May I ask, what kind of Orchid did you receive?

I'm not really sure to be honest, it did not come with a tag, but I have a suspicion of Phalaenopsis. here's a pic of the flowers

Yes, Phalaenopsis!

Miss Ellie, don't believe all the crap you've heard over the years. Your orchid is super east to grow. The fish tank fertilizer is great. Just make sure it gits plenty of light. As soon an the temps allow ya might wanna put it outside to git plenty of sunshine. Not derrict sun but like under your porch. Good luck, you have a beautiful orchid.

Zeta7 said: Miss Ellie, don't believe all the crap you've heard over the years. Your orchid is super east to grow. The fish tank fertilizer is great. Just make sure it gits plenty of light. As soon an the temps allow ya might wanna put it outside to git plenty of sunshine. Not derrict sun but like under your porch. Good luck, you have a beautiful orchid.

Understood! Thanks!

I've used fishtank water on all kinds of orchids. I do have one type that does need "RO" water. I get it at a "drinking water" kiosk outside a grocery store for 25 cents per gallon. I have a 3 gallon bottle, and spend about 75 cents every 2 weeks or so. Otherwise I have never seen orchids suffering from fishtank water. (No salt water though!)