Feeding, Substrate and Watering Methods of Walter Pall

[kcpoole]

Here in Perth we have just had our hottest November on record, with average temps of 33 that is 8 above average, these are Celsius temp.
So the normal fertilising has been put on hold, as watering has been more important.
That means fertiliser put on in the morning is washed out at midday by watering . So we wait for cooler temps. Also the danger of salt burn from the salts in the fertilisers.

Just one of the many variants to hot dry climate's.

Cheers Pup

If you have to water agressively, then woud not an application of a Granular organic Fert on the surface be a bonus?
That way with every watering, it will get leached into the substrate?

i use Neutrog "Sudden Impact" and as walter say can look pretty ordinary, but if you are to show them then you scrape the top and redress with new material

Ken

[Pup]

Here in Perth we have just had our hottest November on record, with average temps of 33 that is 8 above average, these are Celsius temp.
So the normal fertilising has been put on hold, as watering has been more important.
That means fertiliser put on in the morning is washed out at midday by watering . So we wait for cooler temps. Also the danger of salt burn from the salts in the fertilisers.

Just one of the many variants to hot dry climate's.

Cheers Pup

If you have to water agressively, then woud not an application of a Granular organic Fert on the surface be a bonus?
That way with every watering, it will get leached into the substrate?

i use Neutrog "Sudden Impact" and as walter say can look pretty ordinary, but if you are to show them then you scrape the top and redress with new material

Ken

Thanks for your input Ken. I am not a keen advocate for slow release pellets. Although I do use home made fertiliser cakes at times. At the moment I have run out so I will have to make some more for this very reason. It is also why I use them in the summer months. So that I do not have this situation very often.
Cheers Pup

[Steven]

G'day all,

For anyone who hasn't read this thread yet, particularly the 1st post, I suggest you go back and read it now. This thread may just change for the better, the way you grow bonsai.

A lot of my trees are now in a 'modern' substrate and are being aggressively fed and watered. I am feeding my natives with Maxfeed (Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron) and Leong's Compact Bonsai for the rest of my tree's. Both are at 1.5 times the recommended dose. So far this growing season I am seeing better than excellent growth on my trees. I have been trialing different combinations of medium but haven't noticed a huge difference between them as I have been watering heavily. I have however given up on Akadama as I found it unsuitable to my temperate conditions.

I am interested to hear from anyone else who has adopted this style of growing, particularly anyone who is feeding more aggressively that 1.5 times the recommended dose.

Regards,
Steven

Edit: Please take note!

Summary: Do all three or nothing! You have no choice here. To just pick one method and refuse the others will end in disaster. Those who do 'super feeding' using old-fashioned soil, and insufficient watering will kill trees. Those who use modern substrates, aggressive watering and fertilizes like the old days will have very weak and, in the end, dead trees. That's all there is to it.