A recommendation for Jack Peters 20-20-20

[coh]

Chris
I really don't consider my dyna gro a speciality fertilizer. They do push the Urea free ticket which was once popular. Urea is a 'hot' fert and some fear it will burn roots. I've never had this happen in my many years of growing plants. I think you would need an overabundance of MG on very delicate roots for this to happen. Urea is an inexpensive form of N and is widely used. No I use dyna gro because I think they have really put a lot of research in their products. the over all ratio of macro and micro nutrients seems consistent with my own research. Nitrogen sources have always been a topic for discussion. Wherever Smoke copy and pasted his N info from, is very accurate. However in the end as long as all the limiting factors are in place, your plant will receive its fair share of N despite the source. Now i was a little confused.I use the weakly weekly fert scheme as per orchid culture. I'm thinking that is what you are doing, but you also say you are using an increased rate of application. Somewhat confusing! Anyway I may check out your ez flo, not familiar with that product

My comment was not really intended as a slight...but dyna-gro was originally developed for hydroponic applications, which I consider to be "specialty".

I've read a lot about this issue, had discussions and arguments on the internet...people presented strong evidence that urea was not a good source of nitrogen (for a variety of reasons) so I tried urea-free fertilizers. I honestly did not see any benefit.

Regarding increased rate of application - for a couple of years I was using about 1/2 the recommended strength every 7-10 days, i.e. weekly, weakly. Why...because of so many warnings about using too much fertilizer, burning roots, etc. When I mentioned this to Bill he asked "why?" and told me that he basically uses full strength miracle gro every week or so. So I increased my application rate, but only to the recommended rate on the package. I use this every 7-10 days, depending on the weather. I'm not doing the Walter Pall super-feeding technique, but I'm no longer doing "weekly, weakly". Plants seem healthier and more vigorous this year. Not sure how much of that may be due to using the higher dose every week versus using continuous but low-level supplementation with the ez-flo.

 

[qwade]

for a couple of years I was using about 1/2 the recommended strength every 7-10 days, i.e. weekly, weakly.

Well after reading your post, I may have misrepresented my application rate. I use dyna gro's recommended rate for weekly or foliage feeding which is about a capful, 1/2 teaspoon per gallon. I'm not really using half the recommended strength as I would in orchid culture. Still not a lot of ferts. Just posted to be clear of my current feeding technique.

 

[M. Frary]

Walter Pall super-feeding technique,

That would be me all day.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I always tell people to listen to those who have trees you admire.
Here is another fertilizer debate between jkl and smoke.
Anybody stopped to consider which of these guys' trees look strong, healthy?
I admire strong and healthy trees.

 

[quietobserver]

That would be me all day.

Me too, albeit with a little more expensive ferts than big box cheapest u find as I believe I've heard Walter say. I crush and cover with BioGold and topdress with osmocote. Best results I've ever had since starting the routine a couple years ago.

 

[M. Frary]

Not me. Miracle Grow products for me. I was think of sending some to Smoke so he could piss some of his excellence on them.

 

[Smoke]

I always tell people to listen to those who have trees you admire.
Here is another fertilizer debate between jkl and smoke.
Anybody stopped to consider which of these guys' trees look strong, healthy?
I admire strong and healthy trees.

Just to be clear, I am not debating nor arguing against any fertilizer. Any fertilizer is better than no fertilizer. I also don't care what you use. Buy it at Walmart if you wish and buy it on sale if that floats your boat. My rant had to do with the flip comment about all fertilizer just being NPK. While technically true it is far from the whole story and patently misleading. Kind of the same thing with pinching junipers, candle pruning pines, or mixing soil. We all understand that many ways work but there those that seek out the best way and try to reflect that in their trees. It stands to reason if you buy your material at wall mart then by all means buy your fertilizer there too.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I was told that MG for azaleas is good...but purchased Peters 20-20-20 (what Don uses for the most part or something comparable other times) and offer half strength. As directed by Don for my azalea...I'm seeing a happy tree that is pushing new growth in my care. So no complaints at this end.

 

[sorce]

wall mart

Has better Barberry than depot.

Sorce

 

[fredman]

I also use Foliage Pro 9-3-6 for the reason various studies has shown that plants take up nutrients in a 3.1.2 ratio. It has all the minors in to (most other regular fertz don't). Only the very best for my plants will do...
It was developed for the horticulture industry, but as I see it a inorganic mix is basically a horticulture medium.....