Elsi, there is a fertilizer, (by Schultz) meant to fertilize every watering. I think it's 7 drops per quart or gallon of water, something like that. It's been years since I've used it, too much work..LOL.
Some greenhouses/nurseries, those that have equipment to spray plants every half hour or so, add a little fert w/each squirt. There are two nurseries here in IL that have this system. You have to realize, plants in gh's are under glass 24/7, light all day, unlike our homes which don't get half the sun a gh does.
Also, fertilizer increases salt builds-up, so imagine what fert does if you used everytime you watered? Some plants don't need much to begin with, especially slow-growing plants. (Cactus and succulents) In winter, if you add fert, especially in sunless areas, all you'll have is a spindly plant, trying to survive. They grow tall, but look awful.
I'm sure there are other reasons fertilizing w/each drink causes problems.
If you fert once a month, but want to fert more, divide dossage. Say your fert package says, 1 teas per month. If you want to fert more, use 1/2 teas every two wks, or 1/4 teas every week. That would work.
Elsier, I don't how many plants you have, but when you start getting in the 100's, 200's, and 300's, you'll be happy fertililizing once a month. LOL. Especially if you use different types of fert for different plants. Toni

I'm sure there are more than 2 operations in IL that use fertigation (fertilize by injection into their irrigation water) practices.

Also, fertilizer increases salt builds-up, so imagine what fert does if you used everytime you watered?

This is true only if you do not know what you're doing and over-fertilize AND you're using an inappropriate soil.

I'm sure there are other reasons fertilizing w/each drink causes problems.

A list of the ones you're sure of would be very enlightening.

Elsie: It's very healthy for plants to use a fast soil and fertilize at each watering or weekly - much healthier than growing in a slow soil and fertilizing monthly. To learn more, you can read through the thread I'll link you to below.

Here is a link that might be useful: More info about fertilizing practices

Al, I'm sure you're right when you say there are more than two operations in IL that use sprinklers, etc. I named these two because I shop at both gh's, have seen the sprinklers in action, and discussed these systems with the owners. As far as I know there could be hundreds of nurseries in IL that use sprinklers.

The problem with fertilizing w/every watering is, 1. some people tend to overwater as you know, so overwatering plus too much fertilizer WILL cause problems. 2. Elsie said every watering..she didn't specify if every watering included winter. Since she's in KY, if she fertiized during winter months, her plants would grow spindly. 3. I've recently read, too much fertilizer distresses plants, and in many cases, because plants aren't in the best of health, may attracts insects. The third statement isn't my opinion, but written by people who have done research. I believe one article is on Wikipedia if you're interested. Because you tend to critize everything I suggest, you probably won't check. I'm sorry you don't like me, Al. I've never said or done anything to you to cause friction between us, but God bless you anyway, Toni

I think the best schedule to follow for most plants is set by the sun. In spring, as days get longer and brighter, even indoor plants notice it and start growing more. So that's your cue to feed more to support new growth.

Of course, there are many exceptions, particularly among flowering plants that need nutrients tailored to their bloom and rest cycles. But in general, following the sun by feeding more in spring and summer and less and fall and winter works well. How much is "more" and how much is "less" is something you figure out by watching your plants and noticing what they like!

Here is a link that might be useful: my website

God bless you too, Toni, but please don't put words in my mouth. I never said I don't like you. I think you're a good person. What I don't like is when someone continually offers advice that cannot stand under even casual scrutiny. In this case, you implied that frequent fertilizing automatically causes salt build up fertilizer increases salt builds-up, so imagine what fert does if you used everytime you watered? and the last part of the statement implies that something catastrophic will happen if you fertilize at every watering. I'm sure there are other reasons fertilizing w/each drink causes problems. reinforces that you believe this to be true. It simply isn't, unless you don't understand how fertilizer works, you over-fertilize, AND you grow in a poor soil. To suggest it's not possible and it's unhealthy to fertilize at each watering w/o knowing the particulars of fertilizer solution strength and soil composition is like stealing an opportunity to learn a very healthy way of growing from the OP.

Typically, in your arguments to put what you said in a better light after an alternate opinion is offered, illustrating the error(s), you introduce other variables that were never a part of the conversation. No one was talking about over-watering some people tend to overwater as you know, so overwatering plus too much fertilizer WILL cause problems, we KNOW over-watering causes problems. We are not talking about winter watering or fertilizing - though you assuredly CAN fertilize at each watering during the winter if you know how to approach it. We ALL already know that over-fertilizing stresses plants, so the only way THAT can be used in argument is if you erroneously assume that fertilizing at each watering equates to over-fertilizing, which is only true if you MAKE it true with a heavy hand on the fertilizer measuring spoon.

The fact is that the advice you gave was simply wrong. If it didn't matter, I wouldn't point it out, but since it has the potential to eliminate a very viable method of managing healthy plants - it SHOULD be scrutinized and commented on.

There is nothing personal in what I said. I am very consistent across the board in deciding when I think it's appropriate to be critical of a post. I've said before that If it has the potential to cause harm to a person's plants or detract from their growing experience, I'll reply to the misinformation, being as matter-of-fact as possible, and fully prepared to support anything I say with sound science. There were other parts of your post I do not agree with as well, but since they were unimportant (based on how I decide to reply), I didn't mention them.

Al

Al, no matter, you and I do not see eye to eye on 'any and every' plant related issue.
Since today's topic, I have researched several sites regarding overfertilized plants. Wikipedia and Google for starters.
I've also read this topic via various house plant books, including names such as Hyponex that sell fertilizers. You would think, if anything, they'd be inclined to 'push' their product, inducing people to use fertilizers often and/or feed during winter months. On the contray, they advise discontinuing use on most plants, reducing strenght for others, during non-growing, dormant seasons. And plants do rest.

You know as well as I, continuous use of fertilizer increases salt build up. Salt buildup can lead to root damage, causing symptoms such as reduced growth, brown leaf tips, dropping of lower leaves and wilting of plant.
When the concentration of ferilizer in soil is too high, it is difficult for plants to absorb water and they will eventually decline.
Overfertilizing also causes plants to grow quickly; this type of growth makes them vulnerable to insects and disease.
Overfertilizing can also cause plant deficiencies. The object is, Use Fertilizer in Moderation.
We also know, leaching soil resolves salt build-up, but most people do not bother leaching.
I've worked in retail nurseries, and the majority wants easy-to-care-for-plants, that involves the least work. To some, watering is a major chore. I believe this is one reason artificial plants have reached an all time high.
This includes Christmas Trees. Most people no longer want to bother with felled needles or adding water, so they buy man-made look-alikes.

I do not know or understand the chemistry of soils and fertilizers. This I admit. But, considering I have been growing plants a good number of years, with, for the most part, excellent results, I feel I know enough to continue mixing soils, fertilizer, and whatever needs doing, including the use of Superthrive and misting.
I am not saying your way is wrong. If your plants are growing to your satifaction, so be it. That's great, but you have to respect my opinions, my views, even if you don't share them.
When I advise someone, my advice isn't something made up. I give advice from my own experiences, books and articles read, and listening to others' dilemmas, what went wrong in their cases.
So, back to the Subject of this thread. No, I do not think it's a good idea to fertlize, morso, with chemical fertilizers with every drink. Especially in winter.
For the sake of peace, when you disagree with something I've posted, please do not suggest, 'the above or other' poster is wrong. Just say you do not agree with me, then continue with your side and reason. Thank you, Toni

"I do not know or understand the chemistry of soils and fertilizers. This I admit."

We are in agreement on this. I've explained the scientific reasons why fertilizing very frequently at reduced concentrations is much to be preferred to fertilizing monthly/bi-weekly at higher concentrations, but you don't get the concept. It keeps the concentrations of salts LOWER because you continually flush the salts from the soil at each watering, and it makes it MUCH easier for plants to absorb water and nutrients. The only way this method doesn't work extremely well, is if you grow in an inappropriately slow soil. Perhaps there is a clue in this last observation - to look closely at your soil if you have to water in sips. Virtually all commercial operations practice frequent to constant fertigation of their crops because its KNOWN to be the easiest on plants and allows them to absorb nutrients and water easiest.

I do vary the concentrations of fertilizer in the solution, but I have around 100 plants I overwinter indoors. They ALL get a weak dose of fertilizer at every watering There is no salt build-up because I water properly and use an appropriate soil. The plants are all extremely robust.

I'm trying to stay focused on the subject, so I'll avoid addressing/discussing Christmas trees or fallen needles, Superthrive, misting, the symptoms of over-fertilizing, the difficulty in watering, and other unrelated topics. Simply stated: I disagree with your advice based on my own experience and have supported my reasoning with plenty of sound science on this and other forums. There is nothing personal in it, and I'm sorry you always take it that way.

If a person (any person, not just you) does something over and over the same way, how can they argue against something they've never tried? I've grown in slow soils and fertilized monthly at suggested rates like you do. I continued to learn and experiment, gaining knowledge from texts and my own experience/observations. I left slow soils and infrequent applications of higher concentrations of fertilizer in the dust. I've looked at both side of this issue, and I'll never look back - the combination of fast soils and frequent fertilizing at reduced rates is soo much better.

Hundreds of people on these forums have adopted that type of growing and I cannot remember a single complaint except a need to water a little more frequently. I'm going to respectfully submit that the positive experience of hundreds just might trump the limited (if they've never tried it) experience of one.

Al

Thanks for your advice and opinions everyone. I should clarify my original question.

I use dilute fertilizer with each watering. With 300+ plants it seems to be the only way I can keep up. I change brands occasionally as different brands may have different trace elements.

I take plants inside in about October. I spray them well to wash off dust and insects and to leach out salts before bringing inside. Then I stop any fertilizer use from about November 'til January. Then start up again in February or March. They get a good spraying again as they go outside. So I think salts get washed out well twice a year.

Elsie

I planted plastic urns for my front porch (morning sun) with wave petunias. I also bought hanging baskets of the same petunias; they were planted in fiber-lined baskets. The greenhouse said to fertilize with bloom booster (1 heaping tablespoon to 5 gallons water) for 4 times then use plain water for the 5th watering, then resume 4 times, etc. My urns did not have drainholes although I had lots of rocks in the bottom. My hubby took over the watering and fertilizing (which he did every other evening) and soon had all the urns swimming in water! I convinced him to drill drain holes in the bottom of each one and all seemed well. My flowers were stunning! Blooming profusely - thriving! I had people driving by my house stop and admire them. Then one day I noticed a stem on one of the petunias looked wilted even though it had been watered just the night before. Thinking it had gotten broken off, I didn't investigate too closely. Then another one did the same thing, and pretty soon one pot in particular had brown leaves, drooping leaves and looked awful. Upon looking closely, I had a bunch of aphids feasting on the stems. I immediately mixed up liquid Sevin and water (1.5 tablespoons to a gallon of water) and sprayed them thoroughly, even the pots that still looked O.K. Not much happened with the Sevin, so I did it again and the third time I increased the dose. The plants kept looking worse and worse so I called the county extension agent who said to use a weak solution of dish soap and water and spray. I did and noticed a little difference, so I sprayed again. Long story short, these once-spectacular flowers are now ready to be torn out and burned. However, in the mulch bed right under these urns and baskets, I have black eyed susans, azaleas, and impatience. No aphids attacked them. And the hanging baskets are not near as bad as the urns. Could it be that they have been overfertilized to the point they were damaged and suseptable to pests? And maybe the hanging baskets had enough drainage to resist? And the ones planted in the ground could naturally shed the excess fertilizer? My hubby is one who feels if a little will do good, then a lot will do better, and my hunch is that he added more than instructed. He also said at one point he was using the fertilizer every watering, and not doing the 5th one with plain water. I want to get my facts straight before "suggesting" to him that perhaps he erred in his job - he has been such help to me and I don't want to ruin it! Any help would be appreciated ..... Shoegal45

It sounds to me like you have multiple issues, SG. Saturated soil, over-fertilizing (btw - there is virtually NO way to make a case for ever using a high-P formulation on containerized plants), and perhaps both insects and the fungaluglies due to weakened plants. Wetting the foliage when watering the plants in the evening (similar to misting) can also provide the incubation period necessary for the fungal problems to quickly get a foothold.

Since there WERE a LOT of issues that were contributors, and blame to share, it's probably best to forget about whose fault it was, and move along after resolving to prevent it from happening again.

You can fertilize at up to 1/4 strength every time you water if the plants are growing robustly and the soil is very fast (free draining), but if the soil is slow (water retentive), you have to be very careful about both dosage AND frequency. Saturated soils also contribute significantly to the effects of over-fertilizing by impairing both root function AND metabolism, making it difficult for plants to take up water on 3 fronts. Plants actually die of thirst in a sea of plenty.

Al