You don't say how often you are using the fertilizer. If you use that rate more than once a month you're a very heavy fertilizer compared to my preferences. You don't say anything about your media or water quality either, and that can make a difference.
As far as watering goes what I've had success with before and have been using since i started again :
1) Neos - Sphag mounds in neo pots. I only water (municipal water) when all of the following apply :
- sphag is crispy when i squeeze the sides
- sphag is crispy when i push up on the bottom opening of the neo pot
- all of the roots i see are white and not a wettish green
If I get a sense that the sphag will dry out the next day during the day (i.e. the bottom of the neo pot is not fully crispy) the night before I stick all the neos in front of a fan and water the following morning. Last thing i want is my neos being thirsty to long during the day especially when it is really hot. Right now i pretty much water every 3-4 days. Each time I water, I flush each mound 3-4 times (about half a gallon of water for each neo).
I only fertilize every other watering at half the rate suggested by the instructions on the container (half teaspoon of 20-20-20 per gallon) I also add 3-4 drop of protekt in each gallon. I only water with fertilizer water once after i flush the media.
Back then I noticed that after a while there were white dusty flakes on the sphag when it fully dried out. After reading some reading I realized it was mineral build up. So now I'm much more generous on the flushing.
2) Phals - Inorganic S/H - I water (Municipal) similar to my neos. I flush several rounds and use fertilizer water every other watering. However, i only water when there is only a small trace of residue left in the reservoir.
To Lance's point (I have been away for quite a while) I will be putting the pink and blue fertilizer back in the box for the time being and stay with the 20-20-20 for now. I need to do some reading.
I may use the (30-10-10 : spring) and (6-30-30 : fall) on my phals at a later time since phals have been more forgiving for me. Neos on the other hand I will stick to 20-20-20.
Thoughts and opinions still welcome.
Thanks!