Bonsai fertilizer

[Nor Cal AC]

Is there a fertilizer you all might recommend for all bonsai's? Or should I use it by a plant by plant basis.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Most my trees get BioGold, then every two weeks Peter's (Jack's)20-20-20...once a month Fish emulsion...*once foliage hardens off.

Bougainvillea gets Bougain...tigerbark gets Dynamite per Adam Lavigne 's suggestion.

Many use a variety of fertilizers. That was a regiment Don Blackmond gave me when I bought a tree from him. But, actually... 1/2 strength Peter's for the Satsuki azalea. Now that I think about it. Forgot that above.

 

[River's Edge]

Is there a fertilizer you all might recommend for all bonsai's? Or should I use it by a plant by plant basis.

Apex Plus for developing trees, by SIMPLEX slow release temp controlled.
Alaska Brand liquid fish fertilizer once a month
Dyna Gro Grow liquid.

Favorite is my organic which I make up myself instead of purchasing Bio Gold.
Neem Meal 6 cups
Blood Meal 2 cups
Fish Bone meal 2 cups
Alaska brand liquid Fish fertilizer 2 cups
Mix into a cookie dough consistency with additional warm water as required, dry in the sun on cookie sheet, crumble and place in tea bags!

AKA Bonsai Brownies ( this one I feel comfortable using on all trees)

 

[Tums]

This is probably one of those personal things like soil mix. I like Dynamite plus select (controlled release granules) and DynaGro Foliage Pro liquid, both of which have a complete set of micronutrients. I tried organic fertilizer and it seems too attractive to the local critters.

 

[Nor Cal AC]

This is probably one of those personal things like soil mix. I like Dynamite plus select (controlled release granules) and DynaGro Foliage Pro liquid, both of which have a complete set of micronutrients. I tried organic fertilizer and it seems too attractive to the local critters.

How do you water?

 

[River's Edge]

This is probably one of those personal things like soil mix. I like Dynamite plus select (controlled release granules) and DynaGro Foliage Pro liquid, both of which have a complete set of micronutrients. I tried organic fertilizer and it seems too attractive to the local critters.

Many of the organics have a base that attracts little critters, that is why I chose Neem Meal instead of cottonseed meal used in the traditional formulae.
Not all organics are the same.

 

[Tums]

Many of the organics have a base that attracts little critters, that is why I chose Neem Meal instead of cottonseed meal used in the traditional formulae.
Not all organics are the same.

Yeah, I think a lot of the cheaper stuff is blood/feather meal so maybe I'll give it a try again sometime.

How do you water?

How do you mean? I water from above with a hose, or a can if I'm applying the liquid fertilizer or some other product.

 

[Nor Cal AC]

Yeah, I think a lot of the cheaper stuff is blood/feather meal so maybe I'll give it a try again sometime.


How do you mean? I water from above with a hose, or a can if I'm applying the liquid fertilizer or some other product.

I work 12 hour days, so I have all of my trees on a drip. During the spring and fall I water every other day I the morning for 7 minutes. During the hot (90°-100°) summer months I water twice a day 7am and 7pm.

 

[PaulH]

Gro-power tablets (12-8-8) , hydrolized fish with kelp, llama manure.

 

[Tums]

I work 12 hour days, so I have all of my trees on a drip. During the spring and fall I water every other day I the morning for 7 minutes. During the hot (90°-100°) summer months I water twice a day 7am and 7pm.

Gotcha. I'm still renting so I haven't had any automated systems set up yet, plus the summer's cooler in New England so so far I've only had to water once per day. It's still manageable by hand.

 

[sorce]

I didn't fertilize last year after running out of my 2 gallons of fish that I refused to pay full price for.

Went and bought some plant-tone from Ace the other day...Since Plant tone mixed in the soil been the best growth I ever got.

That was over 4 years ago! Lol!

Sorce

 

[BrianBay9]

Whatever is on sale. Preference would be for more nitrogen as ammonia or ammonium salts, less as urea. Often you can find that as orchid fertilizer.

 

[Lazylightningny]

You're going to get a lot of different answers. Personally I use Dr. Earth or Espoma Plant-tone, available at big box stores. As well as a balanced organic fertilizer mix, they contain humates, mycorrhizae, and beneficial bacteria, and are significantly cheaper than organic ferts made specifically for bonsai. I place this in small piles on the soil once a month for developing trees, or every 6 weeks on more developed trees. If you prefer cakes, you can use the formula that @River's Edge recommended above. I also supplement with fish emulsion and kelp/seaweed extract once a month, on alternating weeks.

 

[Nor Cal AC]

I bought this fertilizer. How often should I use it?

 

[Cadillactaste]

I bought this fertilizer. How often should I use it?View attachment 371599

There should be directions on the back. Each fertilizer regiment can vary.

 

[Nor Cal AC]

There should be directions on the back. Each fertilizer regiment can vary.

I says how much to use, but not how often.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I says how much to use, but not how often.

Peculiar... I've not come across that before. Is there a website address on the container? You may find more detailed directions there.

 

[Joe Dupre']

I do simple. Miracle-Gro at double strength on the 1st and the 15th of the month for everything. Deciduous, evergreen, citrus, fig, vegetables ......in pots and in ground. Never had a plant not respond well to it in 6 years. And , no, the "salts" don't build up in the soil. Google the meaning of "salts" in the chemical world. It's not what the layman thinks the meaning is.

 

[Nor Cal AC]

I do simple. Miracle-Gro at double strength on the 1st and the 15th of the month for everything. Deciduous, evergreen, citrus, fig, vegetables ......in pots and in ground. Never had a plant not respond well to it in 6 years. And , no, the "salts" don't build up in the soil. Google the meaning of "salts" in the chemical world. It's not what the layman thinks the meaning is.

Do you think this would would work with the fertilizer I showed in the comments above?

 

[Joe Dupre']

I guess it would, but I see no need for both. I have about 60 bonsai and several shrubs and small trees and 10 bucks of Miracle-Gro lasts a whole year at the doubled rate I use it. The idea that a liquid fertilizer is labeled especially for bonsai seems a bit shakey.