Feeding during hot spells?

[Paradox]

So its been hotter than hades the last week or so. Not sure how much the trees are growing because of it.

Do you guys continue to feed your developing trees during these hot spells or do you ease off until it cools down and growth resumes?

 

[GrimLore]

I use a 20-20-20 on everything at 3x the dose every 14 days from Spring until the Plants get put into proper places for the Winter. Been doing it a long time except 1 year when I tried with none at all I suspect it would depend on soils and drainage. During our 12 inch waterfest last month I still fertilized as all of our stuff(even potted veggies) have awesome drainage. We have stuffed the same heat wave and I still change nothing except water when it rains.

Walter Pall uses 10x the strength in 10 day intervals. I believe it is all delegated by drainage as the more they drain and get watered the more they need nutrient. I AM NOT pro just what works for me

 

[Poink88]

I stop feeding. Note however that (on spring time) I apply a little slow release fertilizer, so they still get fed a little.

BTW, for us here in the south, we do not just get hot spells...ours is the entire summer which is 4-6 months of brutal heat and most plants do shut down (or slow down tremendously) almost that entire time. Our growing season is spring and early fall.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I feed weekly here in the south, continuously from April to October, and do not stop when it's hot outside.
http://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/category/bonsai-care/fertilizing/

 

[JudyB]

I use my regular fert program all summer.

 

[lordy]

According to a pro bonsai nursery owner I spoke with this weekend, the plants are not growing per se, but working to not get cooked in a heat wave. They said plants can do just fine on water alone for a good while.

 

[Poink88]

I failed to clarify how deep south and to note the big difference in temps between places on the same latitude between east and west. The high temperature that causes root/plant shut down is my reason for not fertilizing. Regardless, it is just personal choice.

 

[Nybonsai12]

I keep feeding regardless of temps. I don't see how it could do any harm.

 

[GrimLore]

I failed to clarify how deep south and to note the big difference in temps between places on the same latitude between east and west. The high temperature that causes root/plant shut down is my reason for not fertilizing. Regardless, it is just personal choice.

LOL - Listen Bender It is not personal choice it is what works for you in your location(being a smart-ass to make a point- sorry). I does seem to me "most in the NE" just follow a regular schedule throughout(no matter good or bad) growing season. I do see that people do that in other areas as well but all that info is once again based on drainage, organic matter use, and the damn rain which has just washed off my copper treatments I did earlier today - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. On the non smart-ass side of me your posts are always true to your situation and well respected

 

[Paradox]

Lol
Guess I should have thought about the question a bit more before asking.

@Dario, I appreciate your input but you are in a very different environment in that you have a reverse sitiation. Your trees have a "summer dormancy" of sorts and grow the rest of the year.

Where I am, we have a winter dormancy as would be expected but we get this interruption in growth during the summer if it gets hot enough for long enough to shut down growth, then the plants resume for a couple of months before winter comes.

I do apply 10-10-10 granular in the early spring and a lighter application in August for fall growth. When growth really takes off in the spring, I apply miracle grow at half strength every 2 weeks if its not raining every other day and can get a watering in. I had been using it full strength but was worried about buildup in the soil so I cut back. Keeep in mind this is on developing trees that I'm trying to promote back budding etc on.

I'm amazed by the amounts some of you say you use and not have issues.

 

[jk_lewis]

I don't change anything, but then I only fertilize about three times a summer.

 

[Poink88]

We do get winter dormancy here too (but shorter).

I believe the biggest factor for those who are super feeding (like Walter Pall) is their substrate (soil mix) choice. If I do the same and with my current mix, it'd probably kill all my plants in less than a season.

 

[GrimLore]

I'm amazed by the amounts some of you say you use and not have issues.

I only use 3 times the amount recommended of 20-20-20 every 14 days. The "Big Boys" use a LOT more! I find in our general area with 0-10 % semi organic POTTED plants it works for me - Keep in mind we are of similar climate but I am in a higher elevation and I reap the rewards of weather protection by living center of the Pocono Mountains and the Jersey Shore - very mild here by most accounts. The material I use for most all potted is very similar so I do not have to vary wet/fert etc... if you have ten plants or more I strongly suggest you unify production and SAVE yourself a LOT of hassle. The point in my humble opinion is to enjoy the plants and to deal with pests, training, general growth and all else is enough to keep us busy - WATER and NUTRIENTS should again in my opinion be stable and practiced leaving you a lot less to worry about

GEESH I cannot wait to hear what others say

 

[GO-OK]

Trees do stop growing when hot...at what point is open to debate. As that is fact they do not require NPK in as high a dose. However micronutrients are important so some feed is required. Frequent fertilizing at a mild strength has its benefits in that pests are less prevalent....after all most little suckers and chewers are after excessive nitrogen and suculent growth.

I feed with cakes all year...except pines after decandlnig. Cakes are as much for good soil chemistry as they are food for the trees. I supplement with a weekly fish emulsion with a bit of MG. But when it's really hot only the shimpaku get a good weekly dose of fish.

Simple and cheap. Also reliable. I think one key to strong trees is watering and sun. feed is a secondary consideration. I have learned that Many water according to the schedule of their day job as opposed to when the trees need it. I've found great results watering in early am which gives the trees water in the heat of the day. I only water in the evening if the tree is absolutely bone dry. This prevents the tree from sitting at night with wet leaves and roots when it's no necessary. As a result my trees are very drought tolerant and have amazing root systems, as they must "go looking" for water as the day progresses toward evening/night time.

Feed only what can be used, let them dry out a bit. Works for me.

 

[GO-OK]

I forgot....I use no organic materials in my soil. It's an akadama base, with varying degrees of pumice or sand. Sun from sunrise until 4 pm.

 

[cmeg1]

I go by the schedule on Bonsai Focus website.Sais' organic all the time and developing trees generally still get fed with just a little less around this time.

 

[dkraft81]

I have been feeding weekly with organic fertilizer. The trees seem to like it which is what matters.

 

[edprocoat]

I fertilize every other week all the time, I also have slow release fertilizer on the soil. My plants grow like crazy when its hot here in Ohio, its been high 90's here for the past two weeks plus a boatload of rain and they - (elms, bougainvilea, ficus, natal plum, junipers) have put out a lot of new growth.

ed

 

[Poink88]

Our average summer weather here...

View attachment 38917

 

[Anthony]

Amazing Dario,

simply Amazing!

Why would anyone want to live in that type of heat, and you have humidity to match as well?

We are still at 70-72 deg.F at night, 90 to 93 by day [ but only for an hour or so ], no heat waves.Humidity 80 to 65 % and breezy.
We also have rain from June until Christmas, and apart from an osmocote type fertiliser, normally no feeding is needed.

Oh yes, and our sunlight should be stronger due to the angle and nearness to the equator.
So fair skins will burn under 15 minutes or less, with no shade i.e. beach.
Europeans look like roasted pigs, no insult intended, just a discription.

Akadama and compost balls, will become as akadama mixed with compost, if not re-potted for 3 to 5 years. You see this in the Japanese images.
Good Morning.
Anthony

Don't worry Dario, our turn comes from the last 2 weeks in August or the first 2 weeks in September, the winds will slow or stop and the rest is sunlight and humidity.
BUT then we start the cooling down process.YAh!