I've started using balanced organic fertilizers that have a low nitrogen content, together with "PLANT GROWTH ACTIVATOR PLUS" made by ORGANICA, with great sucess. I also provid minor trace elements. Formulas for hydroponics are a good source for these foods. Organic fertilizers seldom burn roots and when applied correctly, provide nutrients as plants need them. Mixed into the potting soils, they break down slowly, and rarely wash out. The "PGA PLUS" also works great, and helps roots take in all the available food.

1-2" layer of below...
Horse sh*t, or cow manure or chicken (sh*t), all are
natural (possibly... stay away from RACE horse manure,
for any lack of possible stimulating (illegal)
hormones... Natural is good and IT was done for a very
long time ago...

watch the chicken stuff, can be very hi in nitrogen and burn roots. i am a big manure user, mainly cow and canada goose.

I don't know what the "obvious reasons" are, however fertilizer does not a lot of good for the threes if the nutrients aren't readily available to your trees... especially when container grown. Organic fertilize usually require soil microbes to digest the organic material before it can be used by plants. A North Caroline Cooperative Extension paper suggests that only half of the nitrogen in manure is available during the first year... less than that if you simply lay the manure on top. Traditional fertilizers provides more readily available nutrients as they are. Which tends to be more efficient in container culture where new growing mixes do not always contain the necessary soil microbes to break down organic matter.

Regardless of the type of fertilizer you use, improper dosing is hazardous to your plants. If you use enough of the recipe above to adequately supply your trees with Nitrogen, you will end up with excess Phosphorus (by a lot) and Potassium. If you apply enough to provide the right amount of Phosphorus, you will have inadequate supply of Nitrogen and Potassium. Excess of one or more nutrients is as detrimental (perhaps more so) to plant development as under feeding. The recipe above doesn't mention secondary and minor nutrients, either.

Plants in containers are more reliant on you to provide adequate moisture and nutrients than those in the ground. They are also more affected by excesses or omissions.

I use liquid fertilizer at about 1/4 strength with every watering (when I am home). I never knew how long to expect the slow-release fertilizers to last given my particular situation. My current method takes the guess work out of it.

~james

Here is a link that might be useful: Fertilizer Program - Containerized Plants

I agree with James, and while I agree with the philosophy of 'feeding the soil' in gardens & beds, I think it is easier on the grower, more productive, and easier to quantify your growing (nutritional supplementation) efforts when 'feeding the soil' is left to the garden. I respect anyones wish to remain 'organic' when growing in containers, but there is no getting away from the fact that nutrient delivery is erratic and unreliable when using organic sources in container culture. It also hastens soil collapse.

I offer the former information in concurrence with what James offered, and only for the benefit of those who have no particular desire to be sure nutrient delivery to their trees is by 'organic' means.

Al

Thanks everyone! Sorry, didn't mean to offend with the organic comment. I live in California, where anything other than organic growing is severely frowned upon. Some areas are worse than others, and I tend to forget that not every state is as "green" crazy as this place! LOL! Also, in a completely unrelated event, I had lab tests done a while back which showed extremely high levels of chemicals associated with eating non-organic grown produce, among other things. Ironically, in my fit to get healthier, I started researching natural power-house foods - this is how I came into the fig world. Funny how things happen, right? :) So I love the idea of organics for nothing else other than just to get healthier and improve my family's health...has nothing to do with anything other than that.

Anyway, I agree with the other elements being left out of the normal N-P-K combinations. This is what prompted me to ask about C-Crop, since it is extracted from sea water and contains NUMEROUS trace elements in higher concentrated forms, except without the salt. Looks like thick, white, Milk of Magnesia...in fact, most of it is Magnesium, but if diluted, say, a couple of tablespoons per gallon of water, it provides a punch of full spectrum nutrients. I'm not associated with the product in any way, but I have known people who have used it and have given rave reviews....nothing on figs yet.

Thanks for all the input!

~ Erin

Erin
Try this 'Planet Natural' site, you may find something
that you are looking for there... I used them before.
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/index.html
George (NJ).

Here is a link that might be useful: Planet Natural