Bonsai Pro Fertilizer

[jameseroni]

Hi all, new here.

I bought a bonsai starter kit from bonsai outlet and it came with "Bonsai Pro" 7-9-5 formula in a liquid concentrate. I am supposed to mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon with a gallon of water, then it says water to promote growth.

My question here is, do I water with that solution EVERY day, OR only during the growing season and every couple of weeks, like most recommended fertilizing schedules?

Secondly, is this fertilizer enough by itself, or should I still add some soil fertilizer?

Lastly, should I go with something else all together and why?

Thanks for your help.

 

[JudyB]

Hi Jamesroni, and welcome.
I use the same fertilizer, it's a good one. But to answer your questions, we need to know where you are (please fill in your profile, so it shows up with every post) what kind of tree, and what your watering habits are, and what kind of soil it's in to help you with this. I use this fert along with a granular, so only use it once or twice a week. Before I used a granular, I used it every watering. But I have a pretty inorganic soil, so you may need to do it differently. If you post more info, you'll get some great advice, and pictures are always best to go along with questions.

 

[cmeg1]

I prefer the bonsai pro and use it.It is actually just a version of their popular Dyna-gro 7-9-5 Grow.The Bonsai Pro is just 1/4 tsp per gallon.The directions say use 1/4 tsp. per gallon with every watering.That is what I use every watering.Now to promote absolutely rapid growth,say,after freshly repotting or anytime you want to push some rather heavy growth you can use 1/2 tsp. per gallon with every watering.I use the 1/2 tsp with normal container plants every watering and also on bonsai just after repotting until I see some rapid growth and then I cut back to the 1/4 tsp for bonsai.I do this all from following the instructions on the bottle.It is correct.Buy a bottle of their regular 7-9-5 Grow and you will see that they are the exact same fertilizer.The Bonsai Pro is just recommended primarily at half the dosage.This is good news to me cause' I always wanted to use the 7-9-5 at half strength.If you buy the 7-9-5 Grow you will also see the other schedules they have too.I primarily buy the 7-9-5 Grow and just use the Bonsai Pro dosage.I left a photo of the 7-9-5 Grow and also the Bonsai Pro labels.They are exactly the same fert,just different dosages.Both Dyna-gro.

 

[jameseroni]

Thanks for the information - I have since updated my profile but did not see a place to put watering habits or tree collection so I just added tree collection to my signature.

My watering habits are pretty standard - once a day in the evening for Sensi Chelm and Dentma, about 3 times a week for the other two.

 

[jk_lewis]

Just a quick note to say you are probably paying an extra 10% for the fertilizer because it has the word "Bonsai" in its name. Your trees do not care what brand of fertilizer you use just as long as it has a relatively well-balanced amount of NPK and the necessary trace elements.

 

[GrimLore]

Just a quick note to say you are probably paying an extra 10% for the fertilizer because it has the word "Bonsai" in its name. Your trees do not care what brand of fertilizer you use just as long as it has a relatively well-balanced amount of NPK and the necessary trace elements.

I agree and therefore I usually find what I need here - http://www.growmore.com/products/type/fertilizers.html and then find a competitive price. For example I can get 20-20-20 from Plants That Produce in CA - 25 Pounds for 32.85 (25 pounds of Miracle Grow would be 99ish). They do make a wide variety of types at real nice pricing and if I remember correct you can contact them to even make custom mixes

 

[Anthony]

Jkl,

very sensible. I have a fertilizer here from Eve's Garden, that has 7N 8P 6K save it is actually
7N 3.5P and 5K, because the P and K are in oxide form and not as Phosophorus and Potassium.

It is also used as 1/4 teaspoon to 1 gallon.

Called - Bonsai Master Fertilizer .

As a test I used the equivalent of 1 teaspoon to 1 gallon, into moist soil. No burning, so I started to wonder what was the use of this product.
I normally use 1/3 strength of Miracle Gro or 1/3 strength Lawn Fertlizer [ 38 N with some P and K.] into moist soils, with no excessive growth, just keeps the leaves very green, in hot dry weather and full sun.

Please note my soil is 1/3 or a little less of organic material and the inorganic part contains a porous fired earthenware clay.
Good Morning.
Anthony

 

[Poink88]

Just a quick note to say you are probably paying an extra 10% for the fertilizer because it has the word "Bonsai" in its name. Your trees do not care what brand of fertilizer you use just as long as it has a relatively well-balanced amount of NPK and the necessary trace elements.

Basically what Walter Pall says. Also pay attention to the ratio, you probably can get things much cheaper by getting the higher ratio and just water it down more. For example 24:8:16 can be diluted down to 12:4:8 by adding twice as much water, saving you 50% in the process right off the bat.

For the record, I mostly use Miracle Grow water soluble all purpose (24:8:16) and pretty happy with the results. That said, I have not conducted a real test comparison how it performs against other brands.

 

[GrimLore]

Basically what Walter Pall says. Also pay attention to the ratio, you probably can get things much cheaper by getting the higher ratio and just water it down more. For example 24:8:16 can be diluted down to 12:4:8 by adding twice as much water, saving you 50% in the process right off the bat.

For the record, I mostly use Miracle Grow water soluble all purpose (24:8:16) and pretty happy with the results. That said, I have not conducted a real test comparison how it performs against other brands.

Nothing wrong with Miracle grow except he price in my eyes. I also Don't care for the Blue Color so I opt for more commercial tank type no color. Honest though that company def has high quality stuff for less and a WIDE variety of types

 

[Poink88]

Nothing wrong with Miracle grow except he price in my eyes.

I get mine from Costco and a box of 12.5 or so pounds cost about $12.00. $1 a pound of dry water soluble fertilizer is very cheap IMHO and the box could last me for years.

 

[GrimLore]

I get mine from Costco and a box of 12.5 or so pounds cost about $12.00. $1 a pound of dry water soluble fertilizer is very cheap IMHO and the box could last me for years.

WOW - I go through 15-20 pounds of 20-20-20 every year and I only use 3 times the recommended dose

 

[Poink88]

WOW - I go through 15-20 pounds of 20-20-20 every year

Remember... I have a 19' x 19' yard and you have how many acres? Granted that my yard is packed with pots...it is still not that much.

 

[GrimLore]

Remember... I have a 19' x 19' yard and you have how many acres? Granted that my yard is packed with pots...it is still not that much.

I am downsizing sometime within a year. I love this place but 5 1/2 acres, trout stream, and more has my head spinning some days so we are currently looking at some single story 3 bed 2 full bath places on between 1 - 1/2 acres. Honest though I do not see myself using less next year.

 

[Bill S]

For your bonsai kit tree (seed) plant it and the 1/4 tsp / gal of water is pretty dilute, you can use that for every watering. Please realize this route is going to take you a very long time to achieve any decent results. Have you thought about buying a tree to start with???

 

[jk_lewis]

I also Don't care for the Blue Color

Huh? Does it turn your plants blue, or something?

Besides, mine is pink!

 

[GrimLore]

Huh? Does it turn your plants blue, or something?

Besides, mine is pink!

When I noticed that the blue color stains wood and some plastics I choose not to use it in clay pots and went to a clear solution. I just don't trust it or see it as necessary. You must also understand that I use it more often then they recommend at three times the dose.

 

[Vance Wood]

I agree and therefore I usually find what I need here - http://www.growmore.com/products/type/fertilizers.html and then find a competitive price. For example I can get 20-20-20 from Plants That Produce in CA - 25 Pounds for 32.85 (25 pounds of Miracle Grow would be 99ish). They do make a wide variety of types at real nice pricing and if I remember correct you can contact them to even make custom mixes

I remember reading a posted interview with Walter Pall being asked what kind of fertilizer he uses. His answer was; what ever was on sale. The basic elements of fertilizer do not change and the tree does not care from where it is provided. Organics can add some basis for other micro-organisms to grow----good and bad, but in general Nitrogen is Nitrogen, Phosphorus is Phosphorus, etc.

 

[fore]

Nothing wrong with Miracle grow except he price in my eyes. I also Don't care for the Blue Color so I opt for more commercial tank type no color. Honest though that company def has high quality stuff for less and a WIDE variety of types

Gotta agree with Dario, you can get that huge box of MG from Costco for like $22? It'll last 1-2 yrs depending on your dosing. I go thru one box/season using 4-5X the rec. dosing. Gradual workup to that dose btw.

I too got a free bottle of Bonsai Pro but haven't used it as it seems at 1/4-1/2tsp/gal is not very strong. But I plan on adding it to my fert program just to use it up.

 

[coh]

I'm not sure I'd want to use something like Bonsai Pro at any rates higher than suggested on the bottle. If it's the same stuff as the standard dynagro 7-9-5 (and I think it is), it's formulated for hydroponic growers. Therefore, it contains fairly substantial amounts of the trace elements, and you might be able to overdose trees if you use it the same way you might use miracle gro. Anyone who has the bonsai-pro, can you post what the percentages of trace elements are?

Over the past 2 years I've added dynagro to my fertilizer program. I rotate several different fertilizers through the season, and also use organic cakes. I haven't noticed any positive or negative impact since adding the dynagro.

Chris