best fertilizer

[benw3790]

I'm going to.be doing a lot of repotting this coming spring. This is my 3rd year in the hobby so most of my trees need repotting and this will be the first year that most of my material will be In an inorganic substrate bonsai mix. I'm going to need to fertilize them.and I.haveno idea where to begin. I've looked through the forum and the web but am totally overwhelemed. I'm from north carolina and wondering what people In my area typically use and everyone in general. I'm wondering what the best option for fertilizer is from big box stores, like home depot and lowes etc.. or the best place and or brand to order online. I use azalea diluted granual fertilizer from miracle grow on all my azaleas and it works wonders. (Most of them are in inorganic bonsai soil but not all.) Also, isnt it good to wait a month or so after repot to fertilize???

 

[sorce]

Oh no!

Man, I just opened that organic stuff that I got and it REAKS!

I'm gonna have more than raccoons This year!

I'm gonna have hot Damn Zebras, Koalas, and probably hella army of VC.

My neighbors are gonna love this!
(They are new, ha!)

The ones that get to wake up to rain on their a\c every morning at 4-5.

And now this stench!

I just dosed a couple ficus with miracle grow.
The miracle is the lack of ODOR, except that urine. If you sniff hard!

Pick your poison!

Sorce

 

[JoeR]

Fellow North Carolinian!
Went through same ordeal not too long ago.

http://bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/fertilizer-qs.17865/

To sum it up, pick either organic or non organic.

Inorganic
Use the cheapest stuff on the shelf!
Must be a balanced fert with trace elements.
Ex 20-20-20 or 10-10-10. Miracle grow or osmocote, etc.

Organic
Find a recipe for fertilizer cakes. Brian Van Fleet, a member here, has a blog with a good recipe. Try his. Smell! Also more expensive.

Honestly just go with the cheap chemical fertilizer. Just make sure it is balanced and has trace elements.

 

[edprocoat]

Lure a homeless person back to a secluded location where you kill him and put him through a wood chipper. Mix the remains with oatmeal, fish emulsion and flour in a blender and put it into square cake pans then bake for 3 hours at 450 degrees or until hardened. Cut these into 1 inch squares and put into empty tea bags and place on the surface of your bonsai mix. It may smell a little gamey but its high in nitrogen.

ed

 

[Smoke]

hmmm...now I'm worried.

 

[QuintinBonsai]

Seaweed concentrate. I mix it with a gallon of water, and it works great. Fish emulsion is okay, but don't over do it. Diluting it is a must, and even then, it still smells like putrid fish anus rotting in the sun. And then enjoy cleaning up the raccoon and cat late night party.

 

[sorce]

Lure a homeless person back to a secluded location where you kill him and put him through a wood chipper. Mix the remains with oatmeal, fish emulsion and flour in a blender and put it into square cake pans then bake for 3 hours at 450 degrees or until hardened. Cut these into 1 inch squares and put into empty tea bags and place on the surface of your bonsai mix. It may smell a little gamey but its high in nitrogen.

ed

No seals,rhinos,or condors......

But a homeless human.......ah, f em!

Sorce

 

[M. Frary]

No seals,rhinos,or condors......

But a homeless human.......ah, f em!

Sorce

Well yeah. There's lots. Not like they are endangered.

 

[edprocoat]

hmmm...now I'm worried.

You're safe Al, I have seen pictures of your home...

ed

 

[jeanluc83]

I use Vigoro 10-10-10 fertilizer. I mix it at about double strength applied about every 10-14 days. I'm not all that good at keeping consistent schedule. My substrate is mostly inorganic with about 20% pine bark.

 

[GrimLore]

Last year I used this http://www.jrpeters.com/Products/Jack-s-Classic/Buy-Jack-s-Classic.html. First one on the page 20-20-20 with micronutrients. I found the 1.5 lb tub for 9.99 at Agway as well. I used it to replace the 20-20-20 Miracle Grow as they no longer make it. The micronutrients do have a slight odor but not overpowering. With the addition of micronutrients I used 1/2 of what I used in previous years with good success. Highly recommend for inorganic substrate.

Grimmy

 

[JudyB]

I like bonsai-pro liquid, low dosage but with each watering. I also use Portland Rose Society organic during spring, early summer and late summer. Not smelly, doesn't seem to attract critters. I used to use Green Dream, but this stuff is cheaper, and better.

 

[benw3790]

I like bonsai-pro liquid, low dosage but with each watering. I also use Portland Rose Society organic during spring, early summer and late summer. Not smelly, doesn't seem to attract critters. I used to use Green Dream, but this stuff is cheaper, and better.

Thought about.using green dream but it.had bad reviews. Where can I find this bonsai pro liquid?

 

[benw3790]

Fellow North Carolinian!
Went through same ordeal not too long ago.

http://bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/fertilizer-qs.17865/

To sum it up, pick either organic or non organic.

Inorganic
Use the cheapest stuff on the shelf!
Must be a balanced fert with trace elements.
Ex 20-20-20 or 10-10-10. Miracle grow or osmocote, etc.

Organic
Find a recipe for fertilizer cakes. Brian Van Fleet, a member here, has a blog with a good recipe. Try his. Smell! Also more expensive.

Honestly just go with the cheap chemical fertilizer. Just make sure it is balanced and has trace elements.

How well does the osmocote work? Its slow release pellets right? The labeling markets it for like vegitables and flowers. Will it work with bonsai trees??

 

[Giga]

I used last year protek, fish emulsion, Cotten seed meal and osmocote. If I have time im gonna make cakes

 

[Smoke]

I wonder how many more people will add another fertilizer to the list of stuff that all contain NPK.

 

[JudyB]

Bonsai Pro is a product by Dyna-Gro. Ebay, amazon, lots of places carry it. Google...

 

[M. Frary]

I wonder how many more people will add another fertilizer to the list of stuff that all contain NPK.

Looks like a few. Just sticking with the same stuff I've been using. If it ain't broke I don't fix it.

 

[Eric Group]

Lure a homeless person back to a secluded location where you kill him and put him through a wood chipper. Mix the remains with oatmeal, fish emulsion and flour in a blender and put it into square cake pans then bake for 3 hours at 450 degrees or until hardened. Cut these into 1 inch squares and put into empty tea bags and place on the surface of your bonsai mix. It may smell a little gamey but its high in nitrogen.

ed

I wasn't aware others knew this recipe! Homeless work fine, but rich people will give you an extra 5-6 inches of growth per year... Something about the fat content maybe?

 

[benw3790]

I wonder how many more people will add another fertilizer to the list of stuff that all contain NPK.

I don't see why adding so many different things is necessary. I think it should all be kept simple and easy. When you think about npk and what each one does for plants, its pretty simple. Trace elements are good to have though. I am just looking for something simple.. either some pellets i can throw on the soil and just water normally or something I can dilute in a watering can and water with, every two weeks.