bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Why Not Use Organic Fertilizer After Repotting?

There was a dead thread on another forum in which the author writes

'In Colin Lewis's The Art of Bonsai Design, Lewis claims, "They [Golden Junipers] are all weak growers and prone to all manner of infirmities. They respond poorly to pruning and wiring and, frankly, look sick"'

I know nothing about any health problems with them, but the foliage texture, color and growth habit offer little to advance their case, IMHO.

BTWm I ran across that thread awhile back doing a Google search on Sabina (tam) which has about the same reputation. You can read the thread by searching on "bad juniper species" in google and then click on the CACHED link next to the link of the same name.

It's hard to develop any expertise on a sample of one, but IMHO if you killed this Golden Oldie and had to buy something else to replace it (anything but a thuja that is) , you'd be that much ahead of the game.

I use organic fertilizers primarily for the health of the microorganisms in the soil. I don't see much point in mixing organic and inorganic fertilizers for that reason. Fish emulsion isn't going to hurt anything by itself, but what it's going to do in combination with all that other stuff is anyone's guess. Junipers are pretty tolerant but at some point you'll run into diminishing return and eventually, fertilizer burn.

Regards,

Matt

1-May-2004	#6
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,745	There was a dead thread on another forum in which the author writes 'In Colin Lewis's The Art of Bonsai Design, Lewis claims, "They [Golden Junipers] are all weak growers and prone to all manner of infirmities. They respond poorly to pruning and wiring and, frankly, look sick"' I know nothing about any health problems with them, but the foliage texture, color and growth habit offer little to advance their case, IMHO. BTWm I ran across that thread awhile back doing a Google search on Sabina (tam) which has about the same reputation. You can read the thread by searching on "bad juniper species" in google and then click on the CACHED link next to the link of the same name. It's hard to develop any expertise on a sample of one, but IMHO if you killed this Golden Oldie and had to buy something else to replace it (anything but a thuja that is) , you'd be that much ahead of the game. I use organic fertilizers primarily for the health of the microorganisms in the soil. I don't see much point in mixing organic and inorganic fertilizers for that reason. Fish emulsion isn't going to hurt anything by itself, but what it's going to do in combination with all that other stuff is anyone's guess. Junipers are pretty tolerant but at some point you'll run into diminishing return and eventually, fertilizer burn. Regards, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!