With regard to the appropriateness of using Miracle Grow type concentrated nutrient products, I think it depends totally on the growing methods and media employed and the correct rate and frequency of application. For example, Miracle Grow and similar products provide ideal means of delivering nutrients to tomatoes and peppers grown in containers, IMO, and I have had excellent results and repeated success with such products. Let me address a few points made in a previous post: 1) The build-up of "salts" can easily be flushed out of the growing media in containers and raised beds by occasionally and flooding the growing media a day before you plan on repeating the fertilizer applications. 2) As to "quick fixing" the soil ... when growing in containers, I use a soilless mix of rotted bark fines, sand, ground corn cobs, peat, etc., and the plants depend on supplemental nutrients on a regular basis. Raised beds present a similar problem, but not as dramatic as I fill them with composted manure and other materials supplimental to the other soilless media. I agree that Miracle Grow is rather inappropriate for grade level, traditional dirt farming ... manure, compost, organic fertilizers, and granular chemical fertilizers are more appropriate to that type of gardening. 3) I'm not sure why finely granulated, instantly water soluable nutrients such as Miracle Grow wouldn't be readily available to plants? Maybe Dave can elaborate on that one. But yes, I agree they can be leached out of the growing media easily, and as I mentioned above, it might be appropriate to frequently flush them out and reapply. 4) When using Miracle Grow and similar products on tomatoes, one should pay close attention to the nitrogen percentage as over application will result in excessive foliage production and not address flower/fruit, stem, and root production. That's why such products have formulations especially for bloom boosting, tomato plants, rose plants, azaelias, etc. Read the labels. The products Korney highlighted above work well for tomatoes especially in containers. I've gotten great results in 5-gallon containers using tomato or rose formula after transplant and before blossom set, Bloom Booster a couple of times after blossom set, and then tomato or rose formula again later in the season. I flush the containers and reapply fertilizer once every week or ten days until a good fruit set and then less frequently afterwards. I had to water daily this summer due to extreme heat and drought, so I didn't worry a bit about salt build-up in the containers. In raised beds, I use a modified Earl's Hole Method at planting (do a search), granulated 9-15-15 or 9-12-12 side dressing once on transplant and once again after fruit set, and only use Miracle Grow if I see a serious deficiency. Some varieties are just naturally heavier feeders than others. Has anyone mentioned Epsom salts in this thread. It's very helpful for trace minerals, magnesium and sulfur, and helps the tomatoes take up needed calcium from the soil. I also believe in bone meal ... don't know why, but my tomatoes seem to love it. I can't stress enough the importance of heaping on the compost, mulch, grass clippings, whatever you have to build a good mellow growing medium in your beds and ground level gardens. But I also believe that no matter what you add in the way of organic material, tomatoes need more nutrients than what one gets from rotted organic matter. Just my opinion from experience.

Thank you, bikerdoc5968, for your photos. Your E. chihuahuaensis all look so beautiful! I was getting very confused after researching photos online. Now it looks like the one with a deeper red tips is a closer match to E. chihuahuaensis, so I will call it that for now until it reveals itself to be an imposter when it flowers, LOL. hoovb, yes, I will have to wait for the flowers to get a proper match. For now they all look like either E. chihuahuaensis, E. colorata, and maybe E. 'Tippy' to me. The more I looked at the photos online, the more confused I get, haha.

Yes, it's hard and even the experts don't agree. I have hundreds, and it's really hard.I have a few internet sources I trust to be correct, but even some of them are sometimes "wrong", as best I can tell. I usually look for at least 2 of my trusted sources to agree.....luckily I just LOVE all echeverias, and don;t care too much to know the names:-) However, yours is "definitely", ha ha, Chihuahuensis.

The issue with this group of Echeveria is no one knows for certain what is what. They are so closely aligned to one another as you will see in the following pictures. the first picture has been ID'ed by John Tragger, HBG as labeled but I can't guarantee all of the others are correctly named. Flowers are on no help as they ALL have the exact same flower. Truth be know, all of these could be the same plant! Kevin, don't go down the Echeveria road.... you will need a new residence in short order as you know after seeing what I have! This was purchased as Echeveria colorata