Fertilizers a Guide!

Elm237

I decided to create this post because I think that it would be useful for people, to know not just different brands of fertilizers, but what fertilizers are good with what trees. In order to do this I need to know what are the most common fertilizers you use {while training a tree or maintaning one}and what were the good and bad points of the brand. Also what kind of tree is good with what kind of fertilizer {what trees do you feed with that fertilizer}. Try to stick with brands that sell all over U.S.A.. The more detail about that brand{anything about it}the greater the guide. The more responses the better.Thanks

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Elm237

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melisan

Well, since I am new, I will be interested too in posts by seasoned folks.
I have in my arsenal: Mircle grow 1/2 str., Fish Emulsion, SuperThrive, 0-10-10 and Osmocote 9 month slow release. I first used some osmocote and now I am using Mircle Grow (1 x month) on my Ulmus Parvifolia. Currently, I am using the MG and 0-10-10 alternating on the cotonester. Once it flowers, I think I will try Fish emulsion and MG. I have a dwarf quince (chaenomeles Japonica "chojubai", which I will start to feed with 0-10-10 and Fish emulsion alternating. I will hold feeding during flowering and until fruit swells. My juniperous Prucumbens (dwarf) is just planted so I have to investigate still what to use on it. This could all change of course. So far, all my little ones are still alive!
Melissa

BonsaiGreenhorn

I feed most of my trees 20-20-20 fert. So far the seem to love it, I do this once every 2 weeks spring through summer then I'll go to a lighter organic fertilizer when winter starts to come around. For my azaleas I use the "miravle grow" mixture found at kmart or whereever. It is 30-10-10 to get the rapid growth and push out flowers like crazy. I plan on (don't have the fert yet) to give the azaleas a higher Potassium (K) fertilizer when winter comes until spring again. (I've read in some books that this is good for them in numerous ways.) I am new to bonsai (December 04) and gave my plants the lighter organic I told you about until this spring. So I am fairly new to the fertilizing scene just like bonsai. But there is sooooo much information not only on this forum but throughout online websites.

I recommend reading this from evergreengardenworks: http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/fertiliz.htm

Hope this all helps to adding to this thread.
-Evan

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

My sensei, Chase Rosade taught me that any commercial fertilizer was fine, but that it was important to use several brands, as they all differ slightly in the trace elements they provide.

Having said that, he also indicated that he really preferred home-made organic fertilizer cakes, but that his dogs loved to eat them, so that was impossible for him.

I use Espoma (Tree-Tone), Miracle-Gro, and Osmocote, supplemented with Fish emulsion (when trees are outdoors) and whatever else catches my fancy.

I feel that using the timed release stuff helps cover any irregularities in my feeding schedule.

pootsie

I've been using osmocote supplemented with the occassional dose of miracle grow in the h2o. So far, so good. KISS is cool by me!

pootsie

mkonig

In my eyes this fertiliser thing is really quite simple. once you have figured out what the main constituent elements of most fertilisers do, it is easy to apply this to the purpose of what you want to achieve.

Nitrogen is used by plants for leaf growth, Phosphorous primarily for root-growth and Potassium mainly for flower and fruit production.

For example, to bulk up young plants give plenty of balanced fertiliser during the growing season and increase phosphorous in autumn to build up root strenght for dormancy and the spring push.

There is planty to read up on this subject but it all boils down to the simple statement above. I do not believe it really matters what brand the fertiliser is, as it's the balance of NPK that does the work.

Good point by Bart about the trace elements though- I think some more reading is required for me to cover that.

Mike

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Tobias

I have seen inconsistent information as to whether it is primarily phosphorus or potassium that aids in flower and fruit production, but have always been under the impression that it is primarily phosphorous that does this. I have heard in the morass of available information that potassium is generally required to aid in nearly all plant processes, including flowering and fruiting, but also green growth. I'm curious to know what other people have heard about this.

I agree that the brand name of a fertilizer is totally irrelevant so long as it has the elements that you need, and you are applying it properly. that said, i primarily use a nitrogen high osmocote, supplemented with a nitrogen high fish emulsion. if i want something to flower i'll lay off the nitrogen and give a high phosphorous feed.

toby

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~Self-proclaimed dendrophile!

midwestbonsai

Dou all of you use the same fert when trees are planted in the ground?
Thanks
-Paul

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Aaron_K

Reading from Peter Chan's "Bonsai Masterclass" It is recommended to use a high nitrogen fertilizer from spring till late summer. Then switch to tomato fertilizer or rose fertilizer which is low in nitrogen but high in potassium and magnesium in the early autumn. This is especially benefical to flowering and fruiting trees.

Fertilizing should then cease with the onset of winter as trees lose their leaves. The exception to this are pines and junipers that can be fed all year round apparently.

Regards,

Aaron