Susan,
Hi!!! I have a pot of plantago that Linda gave me a couple of years ago. I don't fertilize heavily, but all my flowerbeds get bonemeal around the last of February or first of March just a general boost. I have used the Osmocote pellets for vegetables in the plantago because it is time released and I like the balance (18-18-18), so that the plant develops a strong root system as well as healthy leaves. My other favorite organic fertilizer is a mix of bonemeal, bloodmeal, alfalfa meal and cottonseed meal. It is a slow starter on plant growth, but some of the stuff in it contributes to healthier plant cell walls (better water retention)as well as good soil health.

Ms. Faith

I always have "Miracle-Grow for acid loving plants" on hand, because I grow blueberries here in Madison. In the spring I mix up a tablespoon of MG-acidic, in 4 gallons of water, and put this on several of our more prominent milkweed plants. Both A. tuberosa and A. incarnata do well with this fertilizer, they take off and grow vigorously. As long as the fertilizer is diluted properly there is no danger of burning or damaging the plant.

Susan, every plant has its particular needs, and every plant in our gardens is native - or the species form/forms are - to some place. So, whenever I fertilize something for the first time, I only use a little bit. As you know, I use chicken manure (also cow manure) but chicken manure has a lot of nitrogen just like chemical fertilizers, so you especially have to be careful with it. If I use a litte fertilizer (well watered in) and there is any browning of the leaves on the edges, I know I've given them too much, mainly too much nitrogen. If there is no effect, I usually use a little more the next time.
Every plant is different, which makes gardening challenging! Sticking your toe in the water works better than diving in! :)
Sherry

Hi Susan! I usually put down some compost, and I sprinkle Espoma's organic fertilizer. I don't do too much, but I think in a garden situation in which I have things planted pretty tightly I should give the plants some nutritional help. Sometimes I'll water them too with fish emulsion.

I do the fertilizer in the spring. Compost goes in the spring too unless I'm setting up new beds and plants. But I try to make sure all my gardens get at least one dressing in the year.

The fish emulsion is just when I feel like it. :)

I'm pretty casual about it.

You'll find that native plants given fertilizer will grow enormous. What I do since I have a mix of native and non-native and use regular fertilizer, is that I may cut back the natives when they get about half size and that will cut back on their size.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I, too, use chicken manure and Espoma, sometimes worm castings if I can find it. But, I've always been reluctant to use too much on my natives. I'll try the "graduated" feedings and see how it goes, MissSherry. If I recall, though, the CM is more "balanced" than the steer or cow manure, and I have always had less burn on anything than I did with the cow manure.

I guess when you think about it, all plants are native somewhere. So rather than hesitate, I'll use it on those plants that I think need a boost. I can't see ever fertilizing my asters!!

B'man - I think I will also cut back some of my "thugs", like the Lantana, and maybe the asters, too, because they get so over the top. Not a native, but for the last 2 years, I have cut a clematis viticelli hybrid that grows on two trellises with my passionvine. I have found that cutting it back after it flowers in the spring, gives me a lot more growth on the passion vine, and it certainly doesn't hurt the clematis at all. The viticellis can take a lot more ruthless pruning than other clematis. Anyway, the point is that drastic pruning can be beneficial when done with the some insight about the plants growing habits, flowering times, etc. I don't think it will injure the Lantana or the Asters. Guess I'll find out.

I like the idea of building the soil by using the chicken manure, too, instead of just using a chemical fertilizer.

Eric, I'm a bit hesitant about using the fertilizer for acid-loving plants on anything but my acid-loving plants, like the azaleas, hydrangeas, Bottlebrush Buckeye, and, of course, my blueberries which I just started growing last year. I use the Espoma for acid-loving plants on these. We have alkaline soil here, but I would never have thought to lower the PH on the milkweeds. Interesting, though.

Susan

When used in our gardens, with our tap water, Miracle-Grow for acid loving plants has little effect on soil pH. Since our tap water has considerable dissolved limestone, this is not too surprising, I guess. When the blueberry shrubs need to have a lower soil pH, I have to use agricultural sulfur to accomplish this. Miracle-Grow that has not been diluted is another matter, it will definitely burn things; last year I spilled a bit on our lawn, and saw a small brown patch, which later greened up.

I have been using the liquid Miracle Grow Organic on my plants. I like that I can use it when I water, and I start out with a very dilute solution, that looks like ice tea, when my plants are small. I use this with all the plants I grow from seed to sell at market. I usually feed about once a week with the dilute solution. Even though it's not cheap, it goes a long way. I have a quart that I started on last summer. And I am feeding a LOT of plants! (Too many, I always get carried away with the seeds!)

Sandy

I've been growing native plants for 8+ years and I've never fertilized anything. I do use leaf mulch "stolen" from the neighbors' curbs in the fall, but that's more for water retention. I've always believed that fertilizer will encourage foilage at the expense of the blossoms. Since I want to provide both nectar and host opportunities, I figure I'll "let nature take it's course." It greatly simplifies my life, not having to think about fertilization, and I've got plants coming out my ears. Just my two cents worth.

Martha