Dr Earth Organic Fert?

[fore]

I forgot who mentioned this product to me, but it looks good. This one specifically: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Earth-736P...1&sr=8-9&keywords=dr+earth+organic+fertilizer

Has anyone used this? How large are the pellets? Do they smell at all? I can't use any organic cakes and the like due to living in the city with rats (disgusting I know!). They will eat any cake I put on the trees in one night. So I'm not sure this product will work, may have to use liquid org fert, but these are pretty spendy, hence why I just use Miracle Gro last yr. It'd be great to find a organic product I can use within my limitations lol

 

[Poink88]

Chris,

Are you having any problems with the MG?

 

[fore]

Chris,

Are you having any problems with the MG?

No problems Dario, I'd just like to be able to have some ferts being absorbed with each watering in addition to my weekly fert. If I can't go organic, then I'm thinking of just using osmocote in those brown plastic cake holders.

 

[Poink88]

Thanks, I use MG and would like to know if there is anything I have to watch out for.

I also use Osmocote and other slow release (Pennington I think) but just mix them to the soil once a year. Mine are still in plastic training pots anyway and far from being display worthy. Maybe next year I'll have a couple in bonsai pots...I'll worry about unsightly pellets then (or not!).

 

[fore]

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about looks, heck, the cakes alone are pretty unsightly lol

And Dario, just fyi, I used MG at 5X the normal strength as per Walter Pall's regimen. I slowly worked up to this concentration last summer, every week, with no problem at all! No leaf burn, no leaching. The plants just ate it up.

 

[Poink88]

I am conservative and using 1/4 strength but apply weekly. Plants look healthy enough so in my mind, there is no reason to pump in more and potentially just go to waste. In my mind, plants can only take so much and yes I also fear damage though you (and Walter) said it doesn't happen. Main difference, most of my plants are still in their original soil...not inorganic substrate as Walter's plants have. Cost also adds up when watering 100+ plants (and I am a cheapskate) LOL

 

[fore]

LOL! Me too That's why I just bought the big box size of MG at home depot. Lasted me all yr. But you're right, to do this, you must have a inorg. substrate.

 

[yenling83]

Dr. Earth in general is a good brand IMO and i've used it for the last few years-However I make cakes with it. Anything made out of differnt meals should be good. Have you ever tried using tea bags to hold the fert? or they sell fert holders from Japan on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20pcs-Plast...717?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aea7bf48d

-Might keep the criters away. Just putting lumps of it in differnt locations on the soil works okay too. Just make sure to clean off the top soil at least once/year anytime you use organic.

I think the type of fert you use should depend on where the tree is in development and what your goals are with it. Generally i'll use whatever chemical fert for growing trees out to increase trunk girth. However, there are a few benefits IMO with organic,one of the main is that it allows the tree to bend more without breaking or snapping.

 

[Poink88]

However, there are a few benefits IMO with organic,one of the main is that it allows the tree to bend more without breaking or snapping.

First time I've read about this...could it be due to NPK ratio (esp P)?

 

[fore]

Dr. Earth in general is a good brand IMO and i've used it for the last few years-However I make cakes with it. Anything made out of differnt meals should be good. Have you ever tried using tea bags to hold the fert? or they sell fert holders from Japan on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20pcs-Plast...717?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aea7bf48d

-Might keep the criters away. Just putting lumps of it in differnt locations on the soil works okay too. Just make sure to clean off the top soil at least once/year anytime you use organic.

I think the type of fert you use should depend on where the tree is in development and what your goals are with it. Generally i'll use whatever chemical fert for growing trees out to increase trunk girth. However, there are a few benefits IMO with organic,one of the main is that it allows the tree to bend more without breaking or snapping.

Yenling, these damn rats ate 1/2 of all those brown plastic holders. I'm actually so frustrated from last yr, I'm going to hire a exterminator this yr so hopefully that'll help. So disgusting!

 

[yenling83]

First time I've read about this...could it be due to NPK ratio (esp P)?

I'm afraid I don't know why this is the case, but it's what i've experience and I've heard Boon talk about it as well. Also think of Ryan Neil and Kimura doing their crazy bends on Conifer, yes they use raffia, but their trees are fed with organic.

 

[yenling83]

Yenling, these damn rats ate 1/2 of all those brown plastic holders. I'm actually so frustrated from last yr, I'm going to hire a exterminator this yr so hopefully that'll help. So disgusting!

Sounds like some crazy rats! They will have to invent plastic holders made of steelBest of luck to you with that. Maybe try just lumps on the soil surface-I know Jonas of Bonsai tonight does that-

http://bonsaitonight.com/2012/05/01/bonsai-fertilizer-follow-up/

 

[Poink88]

I'm afraid I don't know why this is the case, but it's what i've experience and I've heard Boon talk about it as well. Also think of Ryan Neil and Kimura doing their crazy bends on Conifer, yes they use raffia, but their trees are fed with organic.

About Kimura and Ryan, is this because they are working with pines & conifers (more flexible to begin with) and the organic choice has nothing to do with it? Not questioning, just want to make proper connections.

If it is your experience and Boon mentioned it that is another point all together.

It is interesting to hear and nice to know though. Thanks!

 

[Beng]

I forgot who mentioned this product to me, but it looks good. This one specifically: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Earth-736P...1&sr=8-9&keywords=dr+earth+organic+fertilizer

Has anyone used this? How large are the pellets? Do they smell at all? I can't use any organic cakes and the like due to living in the city with rats (disgusting I know!). They will eat any cake I put on the trees in one night. So I'm not sure this product will work, may have to use liquid org fert, but these are pretty spendy, hence why I just use Miracle Gro last yr. It'd be great to find a organic product I can use within my limitations lol

I bought a box of this stuff this year, it has an almost perfect list of ingredients. Even has humates from leonardite. I've filled about 40 tea bags and plan on using it as my summer fertilizer.

 

[timhanson81]

I am just finishing off a 25lb bag of Dr. Earth Life that I have been using the past couple of years. I have been happy with it but am not really sure it is any better than similar products. I haven't noticed an abnormally bad odor from it but as you suggested, if you have had problems with other organics, I think you might have trouble with this one too.

It is kind of on the expensive side. Last week I bought a 50lb bag of Gro Power Plus for about the same price as the 25lb bag of Dr. Earth Life. I am trying the Gro Power both because of the cheaper price and because of the good reviews it has had on here.

Here's the pellet size.

 

[fore]

Sounds like some crazy rats! They will have to invent plastic holders made of steelBest of luck to you with that. Maybe try just lumps on the soil surface-I know Jonas of Bonsai tonight does that-

http://bonsaitonight.com/2012/05/01/bonsai-fertilizer-follow-up/

LOL! Funny, I left Berkeley after battles with raccoons, move here to Chicago, and it's rats. I can't win lol

Thanks for the link, I have that meal already so I'll def. give this a try!

 

[fore]

I am just finishing off a 25lb bag of Dr. Earth Life that I have been using the past couple of years. I have been happy with it but am not really sure it is any better than similar products. I haven't noticed an abnormally bad odor from it but as you suggested, if you have had problems with other organics, I think you might have trouble with this one too.

It is kind of on the expensive side. Last week I bought a 50lb bag of Gro Power Plus for about the same price as the 25lb bag of Dr. Earth Life. I am trying the Gro Power both because of the cheaper price and because of the good reviews it has had on here.

Here's the pellet size.
View attachment 31190

Thanks Tim! Great information. And that's what I was worried about.

You're right, I know of one other user too, Dave I think? I do like the look and size of that Gro Power Plus, and it won't walk away so to speak. lol
Chris

 

[Beng]

I am just finishing off a 25lb bag of Dr. Earth Life that I have been using the past couple of years. I have been happy with it but am not really sure it is any better than similar products. I haven't noticed an abnormally bad odor from it but as you suggested, if you have had problems with other organics, I think you might have trouble with this one too.

It is kind of on the expensive side. Last week I bought a 50lb bag of Gro Power Plus for about the same price as the 25lb bag of Dr. Earth Life. I am trying the Gro Power both because of the cheaper price and because of the good reviews it has had on here.

Here's the pellet size.
View attachment 31190

Is that the pellet size of gro power or dr earth? My dr earth seems smaller.

 

[timhanson81]

Is that the pellet size of gro power or dr earth? My dr earth seems smaller.

Sorry, that was a bit unclear. The picture is of the Dr. Earth.

 

[jkd2572]

Yenling, these damn rats ate 1/2 of all those brown plastic holders. I'm actually so frustrated from last yr, I'm going to hire a exterminator this yr so hopefully that'll help. So disgusting!

Go to the pound and pick up a couple of cats. Let them go outdoors. Rat problem will end.