How Long Should You Wait To Feed A Tree After Repotting

Stickboy

I am not sure how long you should wait till you feed a tree after you repot it. Ive heard that you should wait a month after repotting , or 2 weeks after the growing season starts in spring.

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bnsaijim

Seems people are looking but no-one is responding... more room for my pontificating! ;^)

I don't think this a question with a single right answer.

Here's my logic.

I don't think it really matters to the tree. If you are using a strong chemical fertilizer there might be root damage i.e., "salt burn", but I've never seen it.

The tree has to "re-establish it's relationship" with the soil. I think it's less a case of direct pathways between root and soil particles. It is more likely a case of repairing damage to cell walls and membranes before it can begin to exchange solution and gasses.

So, part of the equation is how much trauma was inflicted upon the roots- drying, washing, trimming, etc.?

Best thing to do is watch the tree to see when it really starts "drinking" again.

One more thing to consider is, if the tree ain't absorbing it, where's it going?

On my lawn most likely.

Another is, if I'm putting a tree into a "show pot" and I'm really trying to refine it- short internodes and small leaves- do I want to OVERFEED it? A well thought-out fertilization schedule is going to be enacted...

So, now info you can use...

stock in development, I'll throw fertilizer on at any point I get around to it- 15 minutes or 15 days later - more room in the pot, results less critical...

I potted up about 40 junipers end of June, first week of July (full blown summer in my neck). Spread the rootballs out, i.e., orange-peeling style. I'd call it fairly moderate trauma. Fertilized with blue stuff right away, only one is struggling and it was a weak spindly thing to begin with. Deserves to die. Anyhow, not a practice I'd recommend unless you know your hortey-culcher.

"finished trees" - it depends on what I'm going to be doing to them. Typically organic feeds, after a few weeks, then cycle in on the biweekly to monthly blue-water feeds.

One thing I might add- I don't dilute- I mix it more like my gin and tonics- a bit on the strong side... BUT I WATER FIRST THEN FERTILIZE... I also water every day and use a very organic mix...

Ron Martin is a really good source of fertilizing wisdom...

LMK if you need more info.


Jim Stone
TX

Stickboy

Hey thanks a lot for the good information. Your really cleared it up for me.

TreeBay

There's a common misconception that fertilizer is plant "food" that provides energy to the plant. Actually, plants make their own food - from air, water and sunlight. A fertilizer can provide building blocks that are important in growth and propagation, but it isn't food as we know it, more like a multivitamin.

Adding a fertilizer with some phosphorus the "P" in NPK, like bone meal may be a useful additive that you can mix with your soil or use immediately after repotting. The important thing is not to overdo it.

There is additional information in the ***FAQ***

Good luck!

Matt

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bnsaijim

I usually throw some bone meal in with the soil as it's going in. Ready to roll, no harm to the new root tips...

Some more thoughts:

Those buds that everyone wants to grow big and strong- typically have stored their own "food" needed for opening. Roots are closed for repairs...

Begs the question- is there really any big rush to feed?


Jim

Tony

My general rule is to not fertilize until I see new growth extending. Then start with a mild fertilizer like fish emulsion. The tree really can't use the fertilizer until that point anyway.

Tony