Frank - It is a joy to have a new AV grower joining us! In my opinion it doesn't matter if you have your soil fertilized or not at that point. Unfertilized vermiculite works OK too. Or water. The leaf uses its own resources to grow roots. When the new plantlets are hatching - they will need fertilizer to grow and to grow green. I read the recommendations of using half-strength fertilizer - so if you use 1/4 of a teaspoon per gallon in every watering - you can use 1/8th. Fish emulsion works really well too. How many days will take to start roots - they sure start fast in spring. If you put a heating pad under the tray - it will help too. Medium aged leaves root faster than old - that's why it is recommended to take a leaf from the middle row if you are rooting it. And different varieties have different rooting speed. And the last one - if the mother plant is healthy - off they go, if you are trying to save a leaf from a weak and sick one - it takes longer or it just dies. There is always a discussion - to use rooting powder or not - but looks like rooting powder increases the mass of roots at the expense of plantlets. Patience-patience! Irina

I have sea grow 16 16 16 with urea and as I am wondering if this is a good source of nitrogen for my plumeria it is just starting to grow its new leaves and they are about 2 inches long and I heard a general all purpose fertilizer is good for this time of grouth but I was wondering if the urea is OK I've read different things

Hey everyone, thanks so much for posting!! I currently have my lemon tree in a 7"-8" plastic pot, that is elevated from the ground with saucer (for collecting excess water) with plastic clothes pegs (I kind of got creative). The soil type is an organic tropical plant soil, but it seams very absorbent and takes about two weeks to even start drying out, so I have been debating to mix it with 1:1 potting mix and cactus soil. I do have a problem with over watering, which I am trying currently to figure out the best method of watering. I've heard it's best to keep watering on a schedule but it still doesn't seem to be working, once every two weeks, but I'm still not convinced it is the best method. I've been trying to stay organic with my lemon tree, but I really want whats best for it, so I think I'm going to try out Oscomote Plus fertilizer, or if you guys have any good organic alternatives, I would love to hear your input. =) Also thanks on the tip about the urea, I had no idea, and I'll get some new fertilizer without it asap. I was also wondering if it is possible that the salt burn could be from the type of water I use to water my plant? I use tap water, from my kitchen sink, and I actually tried misting my plants with the water, which I read can helps the tree and act as a humidifier. The tree didn't seem to like it though, and that's what the weird blotchies are. Is it possibly salt residue on the leaves? And is it possible that the water in combination with the fertilizer and my over watering could be the issue? I also am not sure how to 'flush' my plant, so any possible clarification would be very much so appreciated. Because I originally thought like down a toilet... I also just watered my lemon tree just a week and a half ago, so should I wait to 'flush' and/or re-pot when the soil becomes drier or would it be best to change it up immediately? Thanks so much again, and I'm definitely looking forward to your comments, Sonja

I don't know that they would really consider that as OM, more of a bio stimulant