Berries, Berries.....

[Chub]

Probably no biggie to you Bonsai veterans here, but I'm pretty excited about it..lol. In previous years my firethorn has been getting at most 4 or 5 bunches of berries on the whole "tree". But this year it has put out at least 30-40 bunches and stiil putting out more. Can't wait until they ripen up this fall....Anyways... About a year ago I started feeding monthly as opposed to the twice a year feeding I have been doing since I bought it. So can I assume it's the extra feeding doing this, or just the "tree" getting a year older. And another thing, it didn't drop it's leaves this winter as it has done previous winters.

 

[painter]

what no pics.

 

[rockm]

You fed it twice a year? Yeah, you're probably going to see better result by feeding it more. Once every two weeks full strength through mid-summer. Let off in July, begin again in mid Aug. until late Sept. or early Oct....

 

[Chub]

You fed it twice a year? Yeah, you're probably going to see better result by feeding it more. Once every two weeks full strength through mid-summer. Let off in July, begin again in mid Aug. until late Sept. or early Oct....

Been feeding Miracle Grow all purpose, 1/2 tsp per half gal. monthly.....I seem to remember reading somewhere that generally bonsai should be fed twice a year. Sping and fall. That's why I was doing that. It just wasn't progressing at all, so I started feeding monthly.

 

[rockm]

Um, don't know where you're reading that bonsai should be fed twice a year. If that's the case ditch the book--it's wrong.... FWIW, I think you may have misinterpreted--there are two seasons when it is appropriate to feed bonsai--spring and summer. You feed spring THROUGH fall

Traditionally, bonsai are fertlized every two weeks with chemical ferts beginning when the tree starts pushing new growth in the spring--older outdated books say use half strength--modern techniques now say full strength.

Fertilization continues EVERY TWO WEEKS through till Fall. Some people (like me) back off a bit in the hottest part of the summer on some species.

 

[Bill S]

Um, don't know where you're reading that bonsai should be fed twice a year. If that's the case ditch the book--it's wrong.... FWIW, I think you may have misinterpreted--there are two seasons when it is appropriate to feed bonsai--spring and summer. You feed spring THROUGH fall

Traditionally, bonsai are fertlized every two weeks with chemical ferts beginning when the tree starts pushing new growth in the spring--older outdated books say use half strength--modern techniques now say full strength.

Fertilization continues EVERY TWO WEEKS through till Fall. Some people (like me) back off a bit in the hottest part of the summer on some species.

Good short basic instructions for using chemical ferts., then fine tune on a tree by tree basis, if the horticultural needs of a particular tree call for it, but for the beginner the first part(rockm's version above) is the important part. As you advance you will learn what your trees need.