Fertilizer Experiment

20 years ago

Hi Folks,

I started a little fertilizer trial on December 28,05.

It was mainly for my personal interests,to make sure I wasn't over or under feeding my Hippis.But,results are showing a bit quicker than I thought so I'm going to share them with you now,instead of waiting for Fall.

I purchased 4 discount bulbs from Target,attempting to match size as closely as possible.They were labeled Red Lion & White Lion -but- they could be almost anything.

#1 weighed 190g,24cm circumference

#2 190g,24.5

#3 228g,25.75cm

#4 220g,25.5cm

Each bulb had 3 viable roots with a majority of dried,dead roots which were removed.

These were potted in 6in clay pots with pure coir as the growing medium. Pots 1 & 2 were given a half tsp of Colorburst time release plant food with an NPK of 15-30-15 mixed in the coir.

#3 & 4 are being fed with Monty's Joy Juice,NPK of 8-16-8,diluted to half strength,4-8-4. The Monty's is mixed with water from our reverse osmosis faucet and applied with each watering. Pots 1&2 receive RO water also.

Here are the results so far,from left to right,1234.

{{gwi:376484}}

As you can see,1&2 are quite a bit further along that 3&4. Since those scapes were formed last growing season,you would think that current fertilization wouldn't matter. Indeed,Hippis will bloom in a closed box or lying on a store shelf. It appears the difference in developement is this.

{{gwi:376485}}

The more heavily fertilized plants are growing roots. And those roots are providing the plants with nutrients so the flower scapes may reach a greater potential. I also expect 1 & 2 to recover their pre-blooming size faster. I will make another report on the experiment as to leaf count and visible growth in mid July Lora

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Comments (4)

rosegrowernb
20 years ago
Hi Lora:
Thanks for your email the other dayBut, I am a lazy gardener when it comes to the fine points
of having my water tested.
I use the fertilizer that is said to work well with a
certain type of plant, there is no mention of nutrients
supplied by the water.So use what is suggested.
So will watch your trial with interest, keep us posted.
The two observations I would make is.
1. That in the absence of leaves, is the fertilizer doing
any good, or is it the water,making the roots turgid.
2. That some varieties are more vigorous that other varieties, all this is based on my years of growing many
roses of different types. and may not apply to Amaryllis
at all. Good for you :>) Jack
Ps I have only grown about 5 varieties of Amaryllis, my
collection is only 6 at present..
lora_in
Original Author
20 years ago
Hi Jack,
I'll email you later about water.
Now,for the first question. The flower scape and spathe valves (the leafy structures that wrap around the buds) are providing the photosynthesis. The bulb is picking up the fert with the damaged roots,more roots are growing resulting in better top growth which means more photosynthesis. A very happy little finding that goes completly against conventional hippe care practices,eh?
Question two-time will tell. I know that personally ,I have been fertilizing freshly planted bulbs for many years.My Grandfather did it so I did it too. I didn't realize that people were staking their hippes cause the bulbs were tipping out of the pot from lack of roots! I thought it was to keep the scapes from breaking! I've grown a -lot- of the large flowering dutch hybrids over the years so it is very likely that most would benefit from this treatment. I will pay much closer attention now that I've made the connection.As a matter of fact,I got papilio in December and potted it with ferts. It gave me a smallish bloom but has produced two offsets. Hummmmmm.....
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rosegrowernb
20 years ago
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm:>)Hi Lora
Well, fertilizing newly planted plants and giving them fertilizer, without top growth certainly goes against
conventional wisdom,BUT, if your Grand Daddy has had
success,and you have had the same happy results, that's
good enuf for me, and I will most certainly do the same
henceforth...
I have staked my Amaryllis just from watching them lean,
and lean,, just a matter of holding the poor feller up
heh heh... Learned something new today,,Thanks a bunch
Jack
soultan
19 years ago
Papillio gave me nice, very short lived flowers this year. I am not too convinced and amazed... But it might do better next year. I will most certainly try to make sure it stays happy in the flower bed outside. Did it do anything good for you this year?