Fertilizer question

Vide

Hello! I have a new Serissa which is doing very well (just grew its first flowers a couple days ago) and has thrived at my home, but I have a concern.

After reading a few guides, I took the advice to fertilize it with half strength fertilizer (in this case, 20-20-20). I did this about 2 days ago. I was reading today on bonsai, however, and discovered several "bonsai myth" sites that claimed that using fertilizer at half strength is not only useless, but can be harmful to the plant by denying it useful elements for growth.

I haven't tried to fertilize it again, but I want to know what to do. The plant, as I said, is doing just fine but should I fertilize it more often with my current fertilizer or mix together some that is the correct concentration? FYI, I'm using a chemical fertilizer powder that dissolves into water.

Help!

Vide.

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bonsaial1

When unsure about fertilizer it is better to error on the dilute side than on the full strength side. Just fertilize more often. Try half strength once a week till July. Do not feed in August and Sept. Start with fish emulsion full strength in Oct. till Jan. begin your reg fertilizer regimen in Feb. till July as above.

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ripsgreentree

Vide: Al has you on the right track. Your serissa will use the furtalizer that is avalible for it but if you use too much furtalizer you can damage the root tips and cause the death of your plant so in this case less is more. I always feed at half strength more often. If you follow Al's advice you should be ok..............ripsgreentree

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ripsgreentree

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Soildoc

I agree with Al and Rips. Too much of a good thing can really hurt you. If you're using 20-20-20 at half strength, you should not have any problems if you fertilize often.

Vide

Thanks for the advice everyone, and for the solidarity in your answers, which makes things much less confusing.



Vide.

Bonsainut

Vide,
To you and all of ya in chatdom , can I make a gentle recomendation to not rule out organic fertilizers. You will love how they promote a healthy soil enviroment. Just a thought.

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Lethal Use of Farce

Adam

I tend to use only organic fertilizers,as chemical tend to burn the tips on my leaves. 20-20-20 don:t you think thats a little too high of npk for tree in a pot.

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