View Single Post
Old 5-Jun-2005   #3
weeijk
bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
weeijk's a bonsaiTALK supporter! Click Here to find out how you can be one too!
 
weeijk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov-2004
Location: Apeldoorn
Country: Netherlands
Posts: 799
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spirit_Helper
when fertilizing with for example 20-20-20 in solution, which is the best way: immerse the pot in the solution until the top soil is moist or water it (ie. solution) thoroughly from the top? I currently water by immersion (up to the rim) and it takes about 20 minutes for my Fukien & Ficus and 30 minutes for my Ligustrum to become moist at the top soil.

Hi Wes,

Note that either way you fertilize, you have to have a moist ground to begin with.
When you would water directly on dry soil, you'll get burned roots.

I water my trees lightly before fertilizing, than I water with the fertilizer from the top of the soil until the water flows out of the drainage holes.
Or I water the leaves or needles with a water mixture of 1/10 of normal fertilized water. Note that you don't give leaf fertilization to a Spruce or Douglas fir.

Normal watering can obviously done either way.

Hope this helps,

Wessel
__________________
Every tree can be a bonsai, but only some will be.
weeijk is offline   Reply With Quote