AusBonsai

Oh come on Bretts, there are many plants from all over the world that require special fert regimes. South African proteas also drop dead from phosphate poisoning, Sarracenias, most of the sundews, venus flytrap and many other swamp dwellers dislike high nitrogen levels. There are lots more from all over that have evolved to survive in impoverished soils and can no longer stand higher fertility.

I have never seen any adverse reaction from my melaleucas (paperbarks) to fertiliser. They get the same as the Callistemons which get the same as the majority of my trees.

And there we go!

My old faithful for eucs was dynamic lifter & the trees powered, now days I stick with Osmocote Slow Release for Natives which has a N:P:K of 21.8:0.7:7.2, as far as I know the highest nitrogen levels of any SR fert so I also use it on all my exotics aswell, growth is fantastic & the low P doesnt seem to reduce flowering.

the low P doesnt seem to reduce flowering.

I thought K was related to flowering

I would actualy like to hear what the experienced growers have to say but I see that won't happen now

shibui wrote:

the low P doesnt seem to reduce flowering.

I thought K was related to flowering

I thought it was both. ... Whats phosphorus for?

This is a eucalypt I trunk chopped a while back. It start out at 8 foot tall and very leggy. I chopped it back about a foot or soevery couple of months hoping it would back bud. And it did. I don't know what variety it is though but is going strong. I need to work out where to go next with it.
Here is a river red gum I got as free tube stock from our local council at the shopping centre. They give 2 tube to each household every year.
I wired it to get some movement into it and then cut it back. Will let it grow now to get some size. I love seeing these trees back bud and take off. Any advice on where to go with either of these trees is quite welcome. Both are fed with osmacote native fert and also got a liquid feed the other day by mistake.

Josh

Regardless of the type of fertiliser, the composition of the product can be understood by its "NPK" ratio, which is the proportions of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). In addition, because bonsai live out their lives in small containers, the addition of trace minerals can be beneficial. Yellowing leaves with prominent green veins are usually a sign that there is a problem with pH or lack of nitrogen or iron.
NPK simply: N - Nitrogen helps plants grow strong and green. High nitrogen fertiliser will help the tree grow longer and stronger. Use high N when developing a trunk and branches. P - Phosphorus helps strengthen plant cells and promotes root growth. K - Potash (potassium) helps strengthen plant cells and promotes reproduction ie flowers and fruit.Taken from a bonsai site (not sure which one, maybe here, maybe not) Can any one confirm this..

Josh

shibui wrote:I have never seen any adverse reaction from my melaleucas (paperbarks) to fertiliser. They get the same as the Callistemons which get the same as the majority of my trees.

Yeah I fertilize all my melelucas with whatever I'm using for everthing else, last time I used full strength thrive, the time before that seasol, they are powering along, I fertilized my gum tree with thrive to see what would happen and it went down hill a bit later on, wether it was due to the fert or something else I don't know, would have to repeat the experiment to be sure it was the thrive, could have been though

so now ive got shake n feed slow release fert and today i bought powerfeed liquid fert.

on the powerfeed bottle it says for indoors add 25ml to 9l of water ive only got one small plant to feed would i still use 9l and just put it all on one plant?
or should i half everything?

Bretts wrote:I would actualy like to hear what the experienced growers have to say but I see that won't happen now

Apologies my experience isnt enough for you, will not bother in future...

An old chesnut I have said all I have to say before.

i would like to hear what everyone has to say no matter what there experience is.

Bretts wrote:I feed my gums any normal fert and they don't seem to mind. I know Dennis is great with Natives and has heaps of experience. I know Pup is great with Natives and has heaps of experience. Now when two great nurserymen have some what conflicting advice (for lack of better words) then I would love to ask some more questions.
From what I read and my limited experience it seems that some natives are more suseptable to phosphorus than others. I believe bottle brush is ok with higher levels of phosphorus but paper bark is not.
My first question to Dennis would be do you fertilise paperbarks with Normal fert and if so can you give examples of what your normal fertiliser is.

Also what species of paperbark and approximate age.

NPK simply: N - Nitrogen helps plants grow strong and green. High nitrogen fertiliser will help the tree grow longer and stronger. Use high N when developing a trunk and branches. P - Phosphorus helps strengthen plant cells and promotes root growth. K - Potash (potassium) helps strengthen plant cells and promotes reproduction ie flowers and fruit.Taken from a bonsai site (not sure which one, maybe here, maybe not) Can any one confirm this..

Yes, that's my understanding of the major contributions of these elements.

Bazron,

on the powerfeed bottle it says for indoors add 25ml to 9l of water ive only got one small plant to feed would i still use 9l and just put it all on one plant?
or should i half everything?

Its best to mix up just what you need at one time. The rate they have given is roughly 2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) per litre. I'd just mix up a litre at a time and only use enough to water the plant. If it runs off or through the pot it is just wasted. You could try storing whatever mixed stuff is left. It will probably keep for a week or so or use it to water other plants, trees or the grass????

Matt,

Apologies my experience isnt enough for you, will not bother in future...

I thought the sme thing. Maybe he's having a bad week?