AusBonsai

How many mm of fertilizer to water does everyone use? Was looking at the bottle and didn't know what category a bonsai tree would come under thanks

Charlie Carp I use 100ml to 10 L of water.
Miracle grow is 1 scoop / 10L water. ( do not use powerfeed)


Ken

I use it like THIS and have had great results with it.

Is this saying to put 1.5ml of both into a spray bottle and use together or separately?

On Seasol Power feed and Fish (full nutrition) it 180 ml per 9 liter watering can. I use half that amount with only rain water. I have a separate tank. Hasn't done my bonsai any harm. Our tap water tends towards 8 p.H in Armidale from Malpas Dam.

They are both used together as a foliar feed. 1.5 ml to 1 litre of water of each (roughly) It is much more economical to foliar feed with a pressure sprayer rather than watering with a watering can. I find it much quicker too.

I read it as mixing them together

Dosen't anyone make cakes anymore? You're just paying mainly for water with those liquid types.
Nutrient for nutrient homemade solids, eg blood and bone and soybean meal, are hundreds of times cheaper! The N in Charlie carp is mainly from Urea too which (in my exerience) makes leaves too big.

Why not dynamic lifter, I read somewhere, a few pellets in winter around the edge of the pot, does no harm.

Might go buy some of that as well bush bunny. I'm not sure who said it but they said just get whatever is on special that week that way you have a wife variety to choose from?

I just fertilized and watered before dinner, seemed to go alright lol. Had a pressure sprayer and worked very well and extremely efficient

Bush bunny wrote:Why not dynamic lifter, I read somewhere, a few pellets in winter around the edge of the pot, does no harm.

I use Neutrog "Sudden Impact for Roses" pellets scattered on the top of the soil. About 1/2 handful each pot and they break down over about 6 weeks.

Tried Dynamic lifter and lost a few trees ( Azalea, Banksia,) and the only reason I can think was the chook poo pellets, as they went down hill rapidly after applying them. Saved a couple of Azaleas by scraping the surface and flushing the soil with plenty water. Convinced is was DL that was the issue.
I have had no problems at all with Neutrog so can only assume it milder in some way.

DL will be fine on Ficus and pines tho.

Ken

treeman wrote:Dosen't anyone make cakes anymore? You're just paying mainly for water with those liquid types.
Nutrient for nutrient homemade solids, eg blood and bone and soybean meal, are hundreds of times cheaper! The N in Charlie carp is mainly from Urea too which (in my exerience) makes leaves too big.

Got a method or link to how to make your own fert cakes treeman? I have been thinking about giving them a go lately.

EDIT: Never mind, found it here: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4911

Off-topic a bit, would it be unwise to spread straight blood meal or meat meal under my trees? We use it as a feed additive at work but I've been reluctant to try it on my plants and I can get both in 25kg bags, as well as fish meal, soya bean/canola meal, aglime...

Not meant to offend anyone but sometimes we think too much.
I haven't lost a tree of note for quite some time. I take the top off either the Charlie Carp or Powerfeed ( I alternate ) and just pour some into the watering can ( with tap water in too!! ) and I do this every second week. On alternate second week I do the same with a plant starter or root booster, same method- no measuring.
I'm also about to throw a small handful of Dynamic Lifter pellets on ALL of my trees, I've had no issues from this so far.

Few ferts state rates for bonsai but think a little - my bonsai are 'trees/shrubs' so I use the rates for trees /shrubs if stated on the label. They are also potted plants so if no rating for trees/shrubs look for potted plants. Basically it does not matter - use any of the rates on the label. (banksias excepted??)

I have also heard talk of Dynamic lifter being detrimental to bonsai but I have been using it for many years and so far no trouble.

Blood and bone is just nutrients. I have used it sometimes - the only issue was banksia seedlings one year but may not have been related to B&B. Do not use B&B if you have dogs - they will damage trees trying to lick it off the pots.

Home made solid fert may be hundreds of times cheaper but that does not work out to many $ and how many $ are spent chasing the ingredients and brewing and drying and applying and are you really getting the full range of nutrients??

It does not matter what fert you use. Too many people worry about WHAT to use and end up not using ANYTHING. Plants cannot read . They just take the nutrients they need and leave the rest to leach out of the pot.

Not meant to offend anyone but sometimes we think too much.