Question about fertilizing

[MeconNH]

Hello, bit of a noob question so I figured I'd post here.

I have a young Hinoki Cypress that came from the nursery with those fertilizer pellets in the soil, but those are gone now and I bought some Miracle Grow soluble fertilizer for it.

Anyway my question is regarding the application of said fertilizer. The directions for it say to dissolve half a tsp. in a gallon of water. Now to me that seems like a tiny amount to begin with, and then I dont use nearly a gallon of water when I water the plant, so it seems like the plant is getting almost no fertilizer using the standard directions, which obviously didn't have bonsai in mind.

So what do you guys do when using soluble fertilizer?

 

[sorce]

I always/mostly wet first....

Then hit em full or double.

Sorce

 

[M. Frary]

In nursery soil I don't hit them too hard. Maybe double at most but I still fertilize every week.

 

[twisted trees]

Let's see. 1/2 per gallon is too much solution. I'd try 1/4 per 1/2 gallon or maybe 1/8 per quart. After that I'd need a calculator. Wait until it's in full growth then fertilize full strength according to the directions unless it's in a bonsai pot then once a week throughout the growing season and then Superbloom in the fall for root development.

 

[M. Frary]

In nursery soil I don't hit them too hard. Maybe double at most but I still fertilize every week.

In bonsai soil I go 5 times the amount recommended. Per week. Sometimes twice.

 

[MeconNH]

OK thanks guys. My question was also concerning how much of the solution to use. When I normally water my tree I don't use anything near a half gallon, more like three or four cups if I had to estimate. So if I'm dissolving the half tsp into a gallon and only using a few cups of that, I'd estimate that the tree is only getting a few granules worth of fertilizer.

Do you guys pour like a whole gallon of solution through your trees?

 

[M. Frary]

Do you guys pour like a whole gallon of solution through your trees?

I mix it in a 2 pallor watering can. I use about 15 to 20 gallons per week.
Pour it so it runs through just like when you water.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Hello, bit of a noob question so I figured I'd post here.

I have a young Hinoki Cypress that came from the nursery with those fertilizer pellets in the soil, but those are gone now and I bought some Miracle Grow soluble fertilizer for it.

Anyway my question is regarding the application of said fertilizer. The directions for it say to dissolve half a tsp. in a gallon of water. Now to me that seems like a tiny amount to begin with, and then I dont use nearly a gallon of water when I water the plant, so it seems like the plant is getting almost no fertilizer using the standard directions, which obviously didn't have bonsai in mind.

So what do you guys do when using soluble fertilizer?

Get gallon milk or tea bottle and keep unused fertilizer H2O in for later use. When fertilizing I generally use about 7 gallon jugs for mine so seems funny problem. Using recommended amount for potted plants has worked well for me and generally once a week in growing season.

 

[MeconNH]

Alright thanks everyone, guess I was just over thinking it. Potawatomi, I only have the one small tree, that's why I dont use much.

 

[Dav4]

Alright thanks everyone, guess I was just over thinking it. Potawatomi, I only have the one small tree, that's why I dont use much.

You NEED more trees for SO many reasons... trust me.

 

[MeconNH]

Ha well for now I just want to make sure this one doesn't die

 

[sorce]

Ha well for now I just want to make sure this one doesn't die

That IS THE VERY REAson to have more!
Many more!

Sorce

 

[MeconNH]

I figured that's what someone would say!

Anyway, here's another dumb question I should have asked first. The fertilizer came with a little spoon, where one end is for indoor plants and one end is for outdoor. Now I dont know if they base that off size or whether the plant is in a pot or not, in either case I have been using the indoor sized spoon. There is a large difference in size between the two. Which one should I be using?

For clarity I think the larger spoon is about 1.5 tablespoons compared to the small one which is 0.5 tsp.

 

[Dav4]

I figured that's what someone would say!

Anyway, here's another dumb question I should have asked first. The fertilizer came with a little spoon, where one end is for indoor plants and one end is for outdoor. Now I dont know if they base that off size or whether the plant is in a pot or not, in either case I have been using the indoor sized spoon. There is a large difference in size between the two. Which one should I be using?

For clarity I think the larger spoon is about 1.5 tablespoons compared to the small one which is 0.5 tsp.

If you had more trees, you wouldn't care.

 

[Dav4]

...but, if your tree is planted in an organic nursery mix, I'd use the former...if it's in a more inorganic "bonsai" soil, I'd use the latter.

 

[GrimLore]

I figured that's what someone would say!

Anyway, here's another dumb question I should have asked first. The fertilizer came with a little spoon, where one end is for indoor plants and one end is for outdoor. Now I dont know if they base that off size or whether the plant is in a pot or not, in either case I have been using the indoor sized spoon. There is a large difference in size between the two. Which one should I be using?

For clarity I think the larger spoon is about 1.5 tablespoons compared to the small one which is 0.5 tsp.

If it is Miracle grow just mix up a double dose in a 1 gallon empty water bottle or pitcher and use it as needed. Store it in a cool spot, not in the sun and shake it up good prior to use.

Grimmy

 

[sorce]

I figured that's what someone would say!

Anyway, here's another dumb question I should have asked first. The fertilizer came with a little spoon, where one end is for indoor plants and one end is for outdoor. Now I dont know if they base that off size or whether the plant is in a pot or not, in either case I have been using the indoor sized spoon. There is a large difference in size between the two. Which one should I be using?

For clarity I think the larger spoon is about 1.5 tablespoons compared to the small one which is 0.5 tsp.

This is like thinking you can beat a Mustang with a Prius just because you are wearing bigger shoes!

Sorce