Help with Miracle Gro please

[FiestaRed]

I've only recently realised that Miracle Gro soluble can be used on bonsai although I've been using it around the garden for years. Unfortunately, the more I read posts about using it, the more confused I become.

Could anyone advise on their methods of using Miracle Gro please? What powder to water ratio and how often to apply. Can it be used as a foliar feed too? Apologies for so many questions but rather than just following the labels instructions which are mostly aimed at gardeners, if more experienced users on here would care to share the 'recipes' it would be much appreciated.

Also I see Miracid soluble mentioned in many posts too, but this is no longer available here in the UK. But I was told by Miracle Gro that their Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron soluble plant food is the same. The use of Miracid was advised to help combat problems found in hard water areas over here. Again, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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[Frozentreehugger]

I use MG all the time . I will admit there are several strengths available . My understanding is there essentially the same product and I’m guilty of purchasing whatever I get a good deal on . Along with other fert like fish emulsion . Fertilization can be as complicated or as simple as you wish . I’m sure there are a lot of people that use a very specific regime of different products for different trees . With a great deal of success . I prefer to keep it simple . Believing a weak mixture more often is better than strong applications less frequently . I water with a garden hose tap water . And add fert like MG to my rain barrel normally weakens to about 20 percent recommended application . Or less then it is water can applied to trees . Depending on level off development . As much as every second day for stuff in development to several times a week for some . The goal is a weak mixture very often . I live in zone 4 and don’t stop fert in the heat of mid summer . Like some suggest believing most of the cold hardy trees I grow don’t stop for the heat and need all the strength they can get to survive the long winter . If you go a route like this it’s recommended you flush the trees every week to 10 days with pure water for 1 or 2 days . Especially if you go hard and fert every day . I believe this to be much better then a stronger dose of fert once a week so to speak . I’ve performed both . Trees respond very well to the small amount very regularly . MG in general promotes vegetative top growth compared to other fert . Using a weakens mixture like this you can even combine with other products . To simplify the science . A plant absorbs water thru the roots based on the fact that . There is more salts and sugar in the plant then the soil . Hence the water flows into the plant . If the soil had more salts and sugar ie fertilizer in it than the plant . It can absorb water from the plant this is root burn . So a weaker mixture over a longer period of time allows the plant to absorb more nutrients . Of course there are other theories and applications practised . But there is also a safety factor with this principle hope this helps

 

[Paradox]

Kinda depends on what you're feeding.

I usually double the amount of water (or half as much powder per gallon) for the dose they recommend for trees in maintenance. For trees I want more growth and for tropicals I use the recommended concentration on the package

 

[penumbra]

I mix according to instructions. I foliar feed about every two weeks.

 

[FiestaRed]

I mix according to instructions. I foliar feed about every two weeks.

Thanks for the reply. When you say you foliar feed every two weeks, is that using MG at a normal strength please?

 

[FiestaRed]

Thanks everyone for all the help and advice, really appreciated.

I don't seem to read of many people using Miracle Gro for their bonsai here in the UK, most of what I have read about its use is through posts on pages like this one, in the United States. They make really interesting reading.

 

[penumbra]

Thanks for the reply. When you say you foliar feed every two weeks, is that using MG at a normal strength please?

yes as directed on packaging

 

[BobbyLane]

The instructions are on the packaging.
In the past ive used it at every watering. id use a house plant dose in a 5 litre watering can. it comes with a plastic measure in the package
my trees responded very well to this type of feeding. Little n often

 

[FiestaRed]

The instructions are on the packaging.
In the past ive used it at every watering. id use a house plant dose in a 5 litre watering can. it comes with a plastic measure in the package

Thanks for the reply Bobby, really appreciated.

 

[BobbyLane]

Thanks for the reply Bobby, really appreciated.

so basically the small scoop. other days id use a capful of tomorite in the 5lt can and i add fish or sea weed occasionally in these mixes. I dont use as a foliar feed, although ill sometimes wet the leaves when watering. too much wetting of leaves can cause fungal issues tho

 

[Treefer]

I use 1 heaping tablespoon of MG in a 2 gallon watering can every Saturday. Since I have all 3 types of MG (regular, acid, bloom booster) I try to alternate. Wet foilage as well.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I use it full strength every month. No foliar feeding, plants absorb nutrients with their roots, not leaves.

 

[Paradox]

Yea I don't apply fertilizer to leaves either.
Seems counter intuitive

 

[FiestaRed]

I use 1 heaping tablespoon of MG in a 2 gallon watering can every Saturday. Since I have all 3 types of MG (regular, acid, bloom booster) I try to alternate. Wet foilage as well.

Brilliant, thank you. Miracid is no longer available here in the UK but I will try what Micacle Gro UK refer to as their alternative, Azalea and Rhododendron Soluble Plant Food.

 

[penumbra]

I have been using foliar feeding since my first nursery job 60 years ago this summer. Of the 5 nurseries I have worked for, 4 used foliar feeding. The results were as obvious then as they are now. I don't need to comment on it further, particularly to people who have not tried it.
It is interesting because everyone accepts the fact that systemic insecticides and fungicides work whether they are sprayed upon the leaves or poured around the roots. And if spayed rather than poured, it gets into the plants system faster while using lower dilutions.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I have been using foliar feeding since my first nursery job 60 years ago this summer. Of the 5 nurseries I have worked for, 4 used foliar feeding. The results were as obvious then as they are now. I don't need to comment on it further, particularly to people who have not tried it.
It is interesting because everyone accepts the fact that systemic insecticides and fungicides work whether they are sprayed upon the leaves or poured around the roots. And if spayed rather than poured, it gets into the plants system faster while using lower dilutions.

What is your system for foliar Do you use specific feeds do you apply to the roots and leaves at same time . Have to admit I’ve never really tried it other than wet everything Is there unique Ben if it’s to it compared to root feeding

 

[BobbyLane]

I have been using foliar feeding since my first nursery job 60 years ago this summer. Of the 5 nurseries I have worked for, 4 used foliar feeding. The results were as obvious then as they are now. I don't need to comment on it further, particularly to people who have not tried it.
It is interesting because everyone accepts the fact that systemic insecticides and fungicides work whether they are sprayed upon the leaves or poured around the roots. And if spayed rather than poured, it gets into the plants system faster while using lower dilutions.

what were the results or differences?
you can buy two types of systemics here, ones you spray on leaves or one you add water to and use as a soil drench, but mostly the soil drenches are for soil dwelling pests and the spray bottles for leaf dwelling pests.
Ive used sea weed foliar sprays on taxus, hear it recommended a lot over here. I havnt really seen much notable difference but just somehow feel like it might be working.

ps the MG in the box doesnt suggest it can be used as a foliar spray nor does my tomatoe fert, but ive often seen it suggested on fish emulsion and sea weed bottles. those are more tonic than fert.

 

[Scorpius]

I like to use fertilizer that uses ammonicial and nitrate based nitrogen sources that are more easily assimilated by our trees as compared to urea based nitrogen. Since our substrate we use for bonsai is so free draining and the frequency at which we water, any advantage at getting what my trees need is more important to me than the price or availability of fertilizers.

YMMV.

 

[penumbra]

what were the results or differences?

60 years of more than satisfactory results. I am very pleased that I am not dumping fertilizer through the pots of my plants with a bonsai mix. It seems wasteful to me, the gallons of water with fertilizer that just drains through. I have hundreds of plants I take care of, mostly growing them on for the future. Definately well over a thousand with all my tree seedlings. I fertilize all of these plants with 4 gallons of water.

two types of systemics here, ones you spray on leaves or one you add water to and use as a soil drench, but mostly the soil drenches are for soil dwelling pests and the spray bottles for leaf dwelling pests.

Many if not most systemics have directions for use both ways.