bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Getting A Tree Ready For A Show

Leesa: Fertilizing is something that is necessary with Bonsai if you hope to keep them healthy. The problem is that, like watering, everyone has their own opinion and methods. Here is what I suggest for you to think about: in the spring you have your heaviest growth, so feed heavily..miracle grow or something ballanced 20-20-20. In the summer when it is hot your trees will try to shut down you do not need a strong fertilizer, so switch to organics like fish emulsion 5-1-1. In the fall, your trees will grow again but will not need nitrogen, so use full bloom which is
0-10-10. This will help your trees to store the energy that they will need in the spring. This sounds complicated, but is not. The most important thing to remember is that trees will only use what they need and so more is not better. Feed your trees a weaker solution more often so that when your trees want fertilizer it is present. Also to much fertilizer can be harmful to your trees, so again less is better.

I hope that this helps.

5-Sep-2002	#14
ripsgreentree bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Sep-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: U.S.A USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,260	Leesa: Fertilizing is something that is necessary with Bonsai if you hope to keep them healthy. The problem is that, like watering, everyone has their own opinion and methods. Here is what I suggest for you to think about: in the spring you have your heaviest growth, so feed heavily..miracle grow or something ballanced 20-20-20. In the summer when it is hot your trees will try to shut down you do not need a strong fertilizer, so switch to organics like fish emulsion 5-1-1. In the fall, your trees will grow again but will not need nitrogen, so use full bloom which is 0-10-10. This will help your trees to store the energy that they will need in the spring. This sounds complicated, but is not. The most important thing to remember is that trees will only use what they need and so more is not better. Feed your trees a weaker solution more often so that when your trees want fertilizer it is present. Also to much fertilizer can be harmful to your trees, so again less is better. I hope that this helps. __________________ ripsgreentree It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.