What fertilizer from non-nitrate sources for blueberry in 5-1-1 mix?
Larry (Los Angeles, 10a, Sunset Zone 19)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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dale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Al's 5-1-1 and Sapwood. Worried about my mix...
Comments (17)Ah, the search continues to find the elusive Pine bark fines! I am in awe of Al's vast knowledge and in fact, became a Member of the Garden Web after reading the "Al Chronicles" in seven (or is it 8 now?) Volumes. Al, you are the Zen Master of wicks, water plateaus, and medium mixology! .....but I digress. I wanted to mention one source of nitrogen that will slow release and is more to my liking as it doesn't come out of a bottle (though it does come in pelleted form), which is Alfalfa Pellets. (the horse kind, not the rabbit). The pellets will swell and fall apart as soon as water is applied and offer a quick fix of readily available nitrogen to offset those pesky sap woods in your pine bark nuggets. For my OCD tenancies, I don't care for any of the bagged bark products available from your local Home Improvement Palaces, because in my estimation, none qualify as true Pine Bark Fines. What I consider pine bark fines is always PARTIALLY COMPOSTED PINE BARK, which by it's very nature, you can crumble into bits through a diamond mesh screen. Almost without exception today's "Forest Products" are the byproduct of lumber harvesting, which is ground up and dispensed into bags. Nothing even approaching composting of pine bark is occurring with these products because it takes too long. I haven't found a reliable source of "fines" other than harvesting my own from around the bases of harvested Ponerosa pines cut over a decade ago.Old timber operations often left the bark and branches piled at the harvesting site, which is another good source, as are old dead snags, which will have the bark slip from them and land about their bases. All of this requires a bit of labor on your part, but then again, it's a lovely way to spend the weekend, right? National Forests in California are quite accommodating and will issue a permit if required, or happily point you in the direction of a likely spot to forage. I can usually fill my pickup truck bed in about 4 hours and all it costs me is my time and gas for the truck. I attribute my OCD behavior on the subject to an ancient Bonsai Master I had the privilege to study under back in the late '60's, who was very exacting in his tutelage. "Fines" were exclusively "Partially Composted Pine Bark", period....See MoreOrganically fertilizing a 5-1-1 mix (lengthy with pics)
Comments (18)You might know some of this already, seysonn, but the super simple approach to fertilizing would be to premix up to 1 tbsp of controlled release fertilizer (Dynamite All Purpose Select, for example) per gallon of potting mix and then to apply a soluble fertilizer (Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro, for exampe) at every watering. In general, aim to provide the soluble fertilizer at label rate weekly (so if the recommended rate is 1 tsp per gallon you'd simply divide that by the number of waterings per week). The CRF provides a steady source of nutrients throughout the growing season (which is especially valuable in prolonged wet weather when you don't need to water), and the soluble fertilizer gives you some control over growth rates. If you want to slow down vegetative growth, for example, you can reduce or withhold the soluble fertilizer (or you can alter the NPK ratio with a supplementary product like Pro-TeKt, which can accomplish the same thing). This post was edited by shazaam on Sat, Nov 9, 13 at 10:50...See MoreUpdated trees from Coconut Husk Chips to the 5.1.1 mix. Pictures
Comments (12)Jay! Your tree looks great too! I save alot of Al's post and print them. :) The 2 tree's I have in the 5-1-1 were almost dead too. They just took off and came right back! Now the roots have filled the pots and will need to be moved to a bigger container soon. I'm like you and many other's and wont go back to store bought mixes again for anything. :) Hi Mike, You did all the work. :) I just hung around offering support to my good friend. ;) If anything, I owe you for comming to my rescue almost a year ago, and pointing out these mixes and the container forum.. ;) Yes, we do owe most of the credit to Al~ :) His support and patience with our endless questions, we'll always be greatful for. :) My plants are happy too.. So that means I am. :) For the first time in yrs! I get to enjoy them instead of fight with them all summer. I have a pear tree, and appricot in containers. A plum in ground. Just got my fig last week. And orange and lemon in containers.. but with soil from yard still, and not happy! LOL! This weekend i'm going to look at the citrus at a new place I went to. 20 acers to browse! Plants, tree's and cactus and succulents! Heaven..LOL!!! Oh, I never said Michael was "involved" :). He doesn't go near the garden unless it's to see what's ready to eat. LOL! But he see's how well everything is doing, and doesn't mind me spending the money now, because plants actually live now. Were getting 14" terra cotta's for them too. I make him look at your posts and Al's and Josh. ;) When he saw how well you guys were doing with your plants, he was all for me trying these mixes. It's been awhile since i've heard "oh, something new to kill" ROFL! It was so bad, my mail man would write R.I.P on a box if he knew it was a plant from ebay. lol... My mom and friend are asking me to get them set up with the mixes too. :) I wish you could take me shopping too! ROFL! I hate driving around. lol! If I get a chance i'll try and get some pics of the tree's strugling in the soil from the yard... then after being in the gritty for a few weeks and post them later....See More1) Al's 5-1-1 mix. 2) Bark sources
Comments (10)Probably orchid mix - I believe they are well sorted by size (it is sold as small, medium or large in plastic bags, and size is as they say). Perhaps more expensive if lots needed. Repti bark is good, but many posted that it varies in size from bag to bag (also quite pricey if quantity is needed). I hardly use bark in gritty any more, since it is difficult to find right size (even if I don't mind sifting); and usually there is too much sapwood & I don't feel like picking it. I would like to find a source of good bark as I like to use it in 5.1.1...See Moredale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoBahamaDan Zone 12b Subtropics
8 years agodale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLarry (Los Angeles, 10a, Sunset Zone 19) thanked dale92539 Riverside Co SoCaldale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLarry (Los Angeles, 10a, Sunset Zone 19) thanked dale92539 Riverside Co SoCalErnie
8 years agoewwmayo
8 years agodale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agoewwmayo
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agodale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agodale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoewwmayo
8 years agodale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLarry (Los Angeles, 10a, Sunset Zone 19)
7 years agoLarry (Los Angeles, 10a, Sunset Zone 19)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoinkfin
7 years ago
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Jay Part Shade (Zone 10B, S21, Los Angeles)