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New England Gardening

Tickseed Coreopsis and Miracle-Gro don't mix

17 years ago

I had read somewhere on the internet that using Miracle-Gro on a Tickseed Coreopsis would burn the flowers. I should have listened, because within an hour of giving it MG, my blooms were turning brown.

Have any of the rest of you had this problem? I won't do that again.

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Comments (6)

Saypoint zone 6 CT
17 years ago
Did you pour it on the flowers? I don't see why a properly diluted solution applied to the soil would cause that, even though Coreopsis doesn't require much fertilizer. Did you mix it up too strong or something?

I never apply any plant food or fertilizer at the rates or strength recommended on the packages. If I use it at all, it's about half the recommended rate, but I usually rely on plenty of compost and dehydrated manure instead.
littleonefb
17 years ago
I'm surprised that you have had this problem. I've used miracle grow fertilizer for over 20 years on all my plants except my acid lovers and have never had a problem. I haven't tried the new already mixed one this year. I only use the prepackaged measured packets, pour it into the container, attach it to the hose, turn on the water and off I go. My tickseed have never suffered and I have 4 different kinds. Haven't used any fertilizer this year because we've had so much rain, I have only had to water my containers and WS flats that still need planting.

Please tell us how you used the miracle grow so we might be able to figure out what happened to your tickseed.

Fran
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natureperson
Original Author
17 years ago
I used the container meant for Miracle-Gro so it comes pre-measured. I normally use organic fertilizers but still had so much of the MG left from before that I thought I would use it. Everything looks good except the TC. Actually, after looking at it this a.m., not all of it turned brown so they will be okay. However, I should have just passed over the TC when fertilizing the other plants, and I will in the future.

Thanks for the input.
natureperson
Original Author
17 years ago
I used the container meant for Miracle-Gro so it comes pre-measured. I normally use organic fertilizers but still had so much of the MG left from before that I thought I would use it. Everything looks good except the TC. Actually, after looking at it this a.m., not all of it turned brown so they will be okay. However, I should have just passed over the TC when fertilizing the other plants, and I will in the future.

Thanks for the input.
corgicorner
17 years ago
One Question: Were the plants--particularly the coreopsis--
dry ? ALWAYS make sure the plants you are going to fertilize are at least damp, and preferably wet. NEVER, under any circumstance, fertilize a dry plant--i.e. a plant that has dry roots.
Good Luck !
mmqchdygg
17 years ago
Argyranthemum, Bacopa, and Verbena in a container. Mixed MG according to directions, and they were brown by the next day. Never recovered. Could have been any/all of the reasons stated- dry, too strong, too much...Next time I'll just leave them be. They were doing just fine w/out it.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

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