Fertilizer schedule for potted figs.
keepitlow
14 years ago
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bonsaist
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Another question about fertilizer schedules
Comments (10)Al, no matter, you and I do not see eye to eye on 'any and every' plant related issue. Since today's topic, I have researched several sites regarding overfertilized plants. Wikipedia and Google for starters. I've also read this topic via various house plant books, including names such as Hyponex that sell fertilizers. You would think, if anything, they'd be inclined to 'push' their product, inducing people to use fertilizers often and/or feed during winter months. On the contray, they advise discontinuing use on most plants, reducing strenght for others, during non-growing, dormant seasons. And plants do rest. You know as well as I, continuous use of fertilizer increases salt build up. Salt buildup can lead to root damage, causing symptoms such as reduced growth, brown leaf tips, dropping of lower leaves and wilting of plant. When the concentration of ferilizer in soil is too high, it is difficult for plants to absorb water and they will eventually decline. Overfertilizing also causes plants to grow quickly; this type of growth makes them vulnerable to insects and disease. Overfertilizing can also cause plant deficiencies. The object is, Use Fertilizer in Moderation. We also know, leaching soil resolves salt build-up, but most people do not bother leaching. I've worked in retail nurseries, and the majority wants easy-to-care-for-plants, that involves the least work. To some, watering is a major chore. I believe this is one reason artificial plants have reached an all time high. This includes Christmas Trees. Most people no longer want to bother with felled needles or adding water, so they buy man-made look-alikes. I do not know or understand the chemistry of soils and fertilizers. This I admit. But, considering I have been growing plants a good number of years, with, for the most part, excellent results, I feel I know enough to continue mixing soils, fertilizer, and whatever needs doing, including the use of Superthrive and misting. I am not saying your way is wrong. If your plants are growing to your satifaction, so be it. That's great, but you have to respect my opinions, my views, even if you don't share them. When I advise someone, my advice isn't something made up. I give advice from my own experiences, books and articles read, and listening to others' dilemmas, what went wrong in their cases. So, back to the Subject of this thread. No, I do not think it's a good idea to fertlize, morso, with chemical fertilizers with every drink. Especially in winter. For the sake of peace, when you disagree with something I've posted, please do not suggest, 'the above or other' poster is wrong. Just say you do not agree with me, then continue with your side and reason. Thank you, Toni...See MoreFertilizing Schedule
Comments (4)Personally, I've found perfectionism & plants don't go together, they're not machines or computers & don't require that (IMO). I DO think you're both making this wayyyyyy too complicated. I have neither the time or the patience for all this. Earlier in my collecting, when I had abt 200 plants, I tried to keep a bit of a journal, that became a project in itself, which was NOT what I intended, took wayyyy too much time so I abandoned it. Ultimately, I chose to put all info. relevant to me on the tag(s) (I live alone, so no one's gonna take the tag out of the pot). Sometimes there are several tags in the pot if I've had the plant more than a few yrs. I think people find fertilizers more important than the plants do, really (I know you'll disagree Toni ;>) ). I'll fertilize abt once a month for the next few months, tho' now that I use E VF-11, it says not to use w/ fertilizer, I'm still pondering that. I fertilize everything at the same time all over the aptmt & then I'm done. Some of the succs, I fertilize only once or twice a year. Ultimately, the surest way I've found is to stick a post-it note w/ a date on the jug(s) of fertilizer. This year I also got fish meal food sticks (?) which I haven't tried yet ... hum ... thanks for reminding me. I just went & put them into some plants. Interesting experiment, I'm only putting them into plants of which I have 2 separate pots, 1 I'll do, the other I won't. Since the sticks get buried into the mix, I realized I have to mark the pots I've done it to (used 1/4" quilter's tape)... we shall see!!...See MoreSeeds in Turface fines - fertilizing schedule?
Comments (5)Dave, I always just figured max sun possible for the seedlings, especially when it's not that hot right now. 72 tops? That or soil-borne reasons sound feasible; I am relatively certain it's not the seeds themselves as I have 6 from an earlier sowing that all made it and 12 more coming up right now without problems, so far, in pure Turface. But after reading your suggestion of sunburn, I peered into my seedlings in Turface and I kind of see some browning similar to that previous batch, as shown below. Does that look like sunburn possibly? Agreed on the feeding seedlings, but I guess I am more concerned solely because Turface has no nutrients vs. my regular seed mix would have some. I made a really weak batch of Foliage Pro in water (1/2 tsp for 40 ozs) in a spray bottle and spritzed them yesterday but perhaps this, too, is unnecessary. But yes, I realize that I wouldn't get many replies to this in terms of what to do. :-) but now I've learned I can burn my seedlings! :-) Susan, I never got any feedback re what it might be! (And to be clear, the green sprout was the normal one; the brown ones were the oddities, haha.) I have strong shiso going right now (6 weeks plus?) so I am really inclined to think it isn't the seeds themselves. But having said that, I'm still at a loss. I'd heard of damping off, but thought it affects the stems first. The stems remained upright and green until almost the end when they withered away and disappeared. The leaves changed color to brown while looking healthy in texture but towards the end, they dried up. Most bizarre. But in the end, dead is dead, and these were dead dead dead. Boo!...See MorePerennial and shrub feeding (fertilizer) schedule?
Comments (11)I sprinkle fertilizer on the bed when I replant annuals twice a year, 10-10-10, osmocote, or whatever balanced fertilizer I found on the clearance shelves, usually not organic only because I haven't found a good organic that gives me equal results. I ask alot of the soil where annuals grow, so I feel they need it. Since I started doing this I get much bigger and more numerous blooms without a doubt. I use a light hand when sprinkling. For perennials and shrubs, I feed the soil, trying to add organic material to the bed at least once a year: composted manure (from bags), or compost, plus organic mulch that is constantly rotting in. Then I feed on an as-needed basis. For instance, my azaleas looked awful this spring. So I sprinkled a cup of Holly Tone around their root zones in early spring. MAde a world of difference. I usually give my roses the same treatment with Rose Tone, but not once a month like the package says! Once a year, plus good soil gives me great results. You really don't need a cheat sheet. Stick to organics as much as you can, care for your soil, and mulch. You'll find that you save money, time, and labor....See Morekeepitlow
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