skip to main content

Container Gardening

Is bone meal a good slow-release fertilizer?

earthwatersunwind

18 years ago

I am an organic gardener and there's a shortage of good slow-release products. Will this work in a container if mixed into the soil? I have a good 3-3-3, but I need extra P for my veggies. Should I dissolve it in water? How much? Any help is appreciated.

AS

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

sleeplessinftwayne
18 years ago
Hey there. As a fertilizer, bonemeal is pretty poor although I do dump in a cupful when I'm making soil blocks. It is very slow to break down. I buy the stuff that is mixed with poultry feed. That is almost a powder and so the calcium in it is more quickly available. I don't know what % is available as Potassium but 15% is available as Calcium which is important for tomatoes, peppers and calla lillies. Sandy
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
18 years ago
All organic fertilizer that is animal based is slow release by nature. Mammal and bird products are quite slow (bone/blood meal, feather meal) - fish tends to assimilate a bit faster. Again, look for Dr. Earth Organic 5 or 8 - specifically formulated for bloom, fruit and vegetable production. Don't dissolve in water - just include a handful or so when potting up the container or sprinkle over the top.
Related Discussions
Slow release fertilizer not good for succulents?
Q
Comments (1)
paulsiu, I am not being evasive when I say "It depends". Monitor the soil moisture in the container on a regular schedule. Over time, water will settle at the bottom of the container and from there it will move upward in the soil by capillary action. As moisture is depleted, two things will happen. The top layer(s) of the soil will dry out. Eventually all moisture will be lost except hygroscopic water. Whatever is dissolved in the soil water will get more and more concentrated as the moisture is depleted. By fertilizing you have added to this component; and you can expect it to increase as the fertilizer breaks down. How rapidly that will happen depends on how quickly the fertilizer is released. As moisture is depleted, the plant has to expend more and more of its energy to extract water. This takes a toll on its appearance (its good looks if you will). Leaves roll up; lowest ones lose green color; stems/stalks become furrowed. The plant dies. Learn the earliest symptoms of moisture stress and watch carefully for the symptoms - a daily visit to your mailbox will help - and add water judiciously. Watch for improvement and after a short while you will get to know how much water to add - and how often.
...See More
Slow release and green up fertilizer
Q
Comments (1)
What do the ingredients say? I ask because if it itemizes the Nitrogen as part Urea (or whatever) and part "polymer-coated" or something like that, then you should be all good. That means there's some "instant-release" and some (the coated) that is slow-release (waits for rain/irrigation to wash that polymer off). If it's all poly-coated, then a bit of quick green wouldn't be bad, but I'd do a small number and/or go easy on the app rate.
...See More
bone meal fertilizer or liquid fish fertilizer
Q
Comments (13)
I started using fish emulsion for my roses last year after it was recommended by Marissa at Greenmantle Nursery. Marissa grows her roses organically. I tried multiple brands, and they do not all smell alike--with some the stench is so strong it is enough to make me want to keel over. The difference appears to be in the way they process the fish, with some cheapy brands having the most disgusting odor. I have found two brands whose products smell MUCH better than the others and which give good results with my roses. My favorite is Gro-Tone from Espoma. It's 2-2-2, and while it does smell fishy, they've added mint which makes it less so. The other brand I like is Neptune's Harvest. Their fish fertilizer is cold-processed so as not to destroy "all the good stuff". It too smells fishy, but it is a much fresher smell than other brands. I use mostly Gro-Tone, and diluted to half the strength recommended on the bottle. I find that is plenty and works well with most of my roses (only a few are more avid feeders and need a boost from a powdered organic fertilizer). Melissa
...See More
Slow release fertilizers
Q
Comments (15)
I read somewhere that slow release ferts come in two kinds...one releases with the temps and one with the amount of moisture. ==>>> you heard wrong ... as far as i know.. and i dont claim to be 'up' on the technology think sucking on a jelly bean ... you add moisture .. and the warmth ... once the two start attacking it.. there is a release ... the MOST IMPORTANT thing in using a POTTING fertilizer.. on mother earth ... is the duration of the dump ... there are 3 .. 4 .. 6.. and 9 month dumps... [a bunch anyway] in z5 .. obviously.. a 9 month dump .. is going to be a problem.. because you will be fert'ing.. late in the season.. and the hosta will not properly harden off ... and can rot in winter.. or the following spring so start.. by getting ONLY a 3 or 4 month dump ... in z5 and since it needs something like 78 degrees or something [???] .. its of little use to put it on early ... but you have to consider such .. in counting your 3 or 4 months ... FWIW ... its an engineered product for the greenhouse biz ... and i truly do NOT understand using it in mother earth.. considering the cost ... IMHO.. you would be better off.. going to the mill store.. and buying 50# of 12-12-12 .. for 17$ .. and putting it on.. and then getting something like 6-24-24 and putting it on in july ... again ... under $20 .. and using the remainder of the saved money on MORE HOSTA ... you all should know ... there is NOT an easy way for anything .... ken ps: and then there is the whole issue of fert'ing ONLY AROUND YOUR HOSTA ... and how your trees are going to react... if its a maple.. all you will be doing is calling its roots to where you put the fert near the hosta ... consider general broadcasting over the whole bed ....
...See More
sleeplessinftwayne
18 years ago
Please excuse me if I sound snippy today. It has been a bad morning so far. I've been gardening for more than 40 years and I have never heard of Dr. Earth Organic 5 or 8 - specifically formulated for bloom, fruit and vegetable production. I have heard of organic and mineral products sold under many different brand names to increase their price to cover packaging. Bone meal is bone meal made from bones left from butchering of cattle primarily. The bone is cooked under pressure (steamed) to remove any fat then milled for different uses. Bone meal does not disolve in water. If it did, you would be a puddle of goo rather than a biped.It has been cooked and ground to various sizes so it will break down faster or add protein to chicken feed but bone meal is bone meal. It may be mixed with other things but then it isn't just bone meal anymore. Please read labels. Sandy
I do sound snippy this morning.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
18 years ago
Sandy, there is no need to apologize. Dr. Earth products are based on the west coast and very common in CA, where the OP lives. Dr. Earth markets both blended organic fertilizers as well as the 'simples' or single ingredient materials like bone meal. The blended products are a mixture of various organic fertlizers which provide an assortment of various macro and micronutrients and trace elements specifically combined and formulated for specific plantings and growing conditions. They are no more expensive than buying the simples and far less work and actually save the consumer money than if they were to buy an assortment of the single ingredient products to achieve the same result.

The OP is already using a Dr. Earth liquid solution of 3-3-3. Since she expressed a need for additional levels of P, I suggested a couple of the Dr. Earth dry products that would provide that nutrient in suitable levels, something that just an application of bone meal will not.

Related Stories

HOLIDAYS 8 Ways to Really Slow Down and Savor the Holidays

By Laura Gaskill

Running amok to fit in holiday tasks can leave you frazzled and unfulfilled. Here's how to focus on what you enjoy most

GARDENING GUIDES Pacific Northwest Gardener: What to Do in September

Put in cool-weather veggies, fertilize your lawn and tidy the garden this month before chilly weather arrives

GARDENING GUIDES The Poop Scoop: Enrich Your Soil With Good Old Manure

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Get over the ick factor already — this natural super-ingredient for soil has so many benefits, you'll wonder why you ever went chemical

GARDENING GUIDES Common Myths That May Be Hurting Your Garden

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Discover the truth about fertilizer, soil, staking and more to keep your plants healthy and happy

FARM YOUR YARD How to Get Good Soil for Your Edible Garden

By Abundant City

The nutrients in your soil feed the plants that feed you. Here are tips on getting it right — just in time for planting season

NATIVE PLANTS 5 Ways to Keep Your Native Plant Garden Looking Good All Year

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It’s all about planning ahead, using sustainable practices and accepting plants as living organisms

HEALTHY HOME 16 Ideas for a Healthy, Feel-Good Home

By Laura Gaskill

Making these small tweaks and bigger shifts at home can help you thrive everywhere you go

FEEL-GOOD HOME 21 Ways to Waste Less at Home

Whether it's herbs rotting in the fridge or clothes that never get worn, most of us waste too much. Here are ways to make a change

LIFE Simple Pleasures: A Relaxed Weekend at Home

By Laura Gaskill

To recharge your batteries, think about what you want to do, not what you have to do, during your precious respite

FEEL-GOOD HOME Simple Pleasures: 10 Ideas for a Buy-Less Month

By Laura Gaskill

Save money without feeling pinched by taking advantage of free resources and your own ingenuity

Sponsored

J.S. Brown & Co.

77 Reviews

Columbus Leading Full Service Design Build Firm

More Discussions

Fertilizing in a self water pot?

5

was just gifted a starter gardenia bonsai

1

How I Turned a Galvanized Stock Tank into a Stylish Planter

6

Combine 5-1-1 And Gritty Mix?

3

Birdbath with no cracks/ drainage

4