This is a water release-slow release fertilizer, that does most of your work for you. Put a teaspoon of it on a 4 inch orchid pot once every six months (a tablespoon for a 6 inch pot) and it will release fertilizer every time you water. This low price is because we repackage it from large commercial bags into reused water bottles. Saves you money and helps the environment. We do not recommend Osmicate or similar temperature release fertilizers for warm climates. Since this releases only with water you can not overdose. If too much water releases too much, it also washes the excess away from the plant. We once dropped a handful on a 2" pot and the plant was fine.