The Fertilizer Survey

[Scrogdor]

There is none.

I did not say fertilizer is a bad thing, I said that trees don't need as much as we think they do. Look at all the trees in the forest, no one fertilizes them, and yet they grow.

As with "roids" on the human body, too much fertilizer causes unwanted problems; like, long internodes, large leaves, deposits on pots, etc.

There is no substitute for proper draining soil, watering techniques, and sunlight exposure. Get those right, add a little fertilizer, and you are on your way.

My comment was a rhetorical question/ joke lol. I wish there were steroids for bonsai. But then again that would ruin the value/ reward.

 

[Kullas]

Anyone ever use compost tea for a fert?

 

[Shima]

Waiting for the resident chemist to chime in. Osoyoung? something like that.

 

[Shibui]

Compost tea is fine for any plants but nutrient levels will depend on the original compost and how well composted it was. There's a good chance that compost tea will be lacking in one or more nutrients and plant growth is limited by the least available factor so even if you have a high N tea growth will still be poor if something else is not available.
Compost tea, like many organic ferts, is usually quite low in actual nutrients so if you want good growth you'll need to apply large quantities.

Not knowing the actual makeup and nutrient content makes it hard to estimate how much and how often to use for good growth. Compost tea is usually used on plants in the ground where it acts as a supplement while the roots access other nutrients from the soil. Plants in pots don't have that luxury so your fert must supply almost all necessary ingredients for health and growth. You'll need trial and error to work out how much to use.
I'd use compost tea as a supplement rather than the main nutrient source just to be sure the trees get everything they need. If you want to rely on compost tea, or other home made ferts, make sure you also get good at recognizing symptoms of nutrient deficiency just in case.

 

[Cajunrider]

There is none.

I did not say fertilizer is a bad thing, I said that trees don't need as much as we think they do. Look at all the trees in the forest, no one fertilizes them, and yet they grow.

As with "roids" on the human body, too much fertilizer causes unwanted problems; like, long internodes, large leaves, deposits on pots, etc.

There is no substitute for proper draining soil, watering techniques, and sunlight exposure. Get those right, add a little fertilizer, and you are on your way.

Actually there are. In the US we mostly just stick with rooting hormones. In Asia you can buy other kinds