My opinion on that opinion (for that's what it is) is that it's whatever the grower feels is best for her/his plants. Some plant masters feed, some don't, and there's everything between those two happening. Some obsess, some Osmocote, some aren't too concerned, some feed every time they water.

This sort of thing is like soil - there is no one answer, but I think it's easy to overfeed cactus and succulent plants, and overfeeding can cause bloated growth.

The 1/4 ratio is what I follow when I do feed my plants (and I do so only when the plant's in active growth) - 1/4 of Miracle-Gro. Some folks use Osmocote in their soil - I don't do this because I don't want the plant fed each time I water it, and I don't use liquid fertilizer, either, each time I water. In short, I'll water three times for every time I use water-soluble fertilizer.

I know a number of professional growers (if by this the statement means 'nursery owners') who feed every time they water - this will mean a plant that goes to market faster. If they mean 'experienced C&S person' by that, though, I also know folks who grow plants much, much better than I do who don't ever fertilize.

TY Again, Jeff,
I love your diplomacy yet directness at that,
nicely put,

And how do you get away from the clorinated water?
A person who raises fish told me if you let c. water stand for 3 days it de-clorinates itself, is this possible? Anyone, heard of this?

For now I'm catching rain water in a barrel. The water is screened before entering the gargage can that is covered at all times unless I'm feeling jugs. Is there any problem with water coming off the roof? I'm going to melt snow too, if I can keep it up,
Micki

Oh yes, I forget to add my two sens' worth on that, Micki.

I used to catch rain water in the winter and use it in the spring and summer - there was a laundry nearby which would let me get its 15 and 25 gallon containers for soap - I converted these to rain barrels, so I'm a great fan of rain water. If you're keeping it long-term keep it out of the sun and put a capful of bleach in the barrel.

As to the chlorinated water, whatever water I use has been sitting in a watering can for several days, so it's undergone chlorine burn-off. I don't know to what degree that happens, but it does.

You should let the rain run off of the roof for a half hour or so before you start collecting it - that's what I did with the rainwater from gutters.

Hi Micki,

Could you pls. say the source of that quote.

I grow indoors only (so no rainwater for me).

My watering jugs get filled weekly & sit on the sideboard 'til I use them. They've been sitting at least 30-4 days before I use them, I don't concern myself w/ things like chlorine, the water temp is always fine from sitting out.

I use the water that comes out of the faucet, Rainwater. Now that I am trucking water in. I probably should let it off gass. It has been treated, I think, ..I imagine. I am one who barely ever fertilizes but depends in the minerals in the soil. I just began fertilizing with a week no nitrogen fertilizer, my aloes. I might give the cactus a treatment come spring but not now.

I'm back finally, soory for delay,
First, one at a time,
I figured someone would request the reference, it's a PDF file that jumps up as soon as you do a search on feeding cacti and succulents. This will take you right there if you copy and paste it into web browser, as I've said no name are given.

http://www.gardencentersofcolorado.org/pdfs/care_sheets/Cacti_Succulent_Care.pdf

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S FROM THE GARDEN CENTER OF COLORADO

I'll be responding today and thank you.

Oh to Jeff,
I cannot easily do what you suggest because of my hook up, but I might be able to try to let it rain half an hour before catching. It has to do with the rudimentary way I have everything connected. The gutter is permanently connected to the garbage can led and strainer. To get water I take off the lid. I could possibly just take the lid off when it starts to rain. I did notice my last batch was dirty looking.

Perhaps you could take a pic of how you collected in buckets?? I have an ample supply. I guess in winter there's no worry of misquitos so could I just leave the buckets out in the weather?

I haven't read all responses yet, just got through Karens.

Oh, t/4 Jeff due to convenience perhaps I'll just use tap water and let it sit a few days. Let me read what Karen said again too.
THX

Al,
I've learned so much from you and trust your judgement. I will also look into getting my hands on foliage pro as you mentioned in the other string. Thx to all who answered, Micki

Upon looking up Foliage Pro 9-3-6, I found a few of our members also on the House Plant forum and a very good discussion on this fert. you suggested, and a couple alternatives.
Here's the article:
" RE: Argggggh. . .How many fertilizers do I need??? clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on Fri, May 21, 10 at 0:34

Fertilizers are good indefinitely, even if they get wet, but it'd difficult to get the solution strength correct if they DO get wet.
ALL plants use nutrients in VERY close to the same ratio. The ratio in which they use nutrients is also reflected in the ratio of nutrients contained in their living tissues (no surprise there). For every 10 parts of N plants use, they use about 1.5 parts of P and 6-7 parts of K. I could walk you through the factoring we need to do because the P and K % on fertilizer packaging are not the actual %s of P and K, they are reported as PO5 and K2O. The actual P is .43 of what's reported and the K is .83 of what's reported.

Anyway, when the math is done, it comes out that fertilizers with a 3:1:2 ratio (24-8-16 MG/Peters, 12-4-8 MG, 9-3-6 Foliage-Pro are all examples) supply nutrients in almost exactly the ratio in which plants use them. This is a considerable advantage because it allows you to fertilize at the lowest levels possible and still not have nutritional deficiencies. This low level of salts in the soil facilitates water uptake, as well as the nutrients dissolved in water.

1:1:1 ratio fertilizers like 20-20-20 supply too little K in relation to N, and 6X more P than the plant can use, in relation to N. This unnecessarily raises the level of salts in the soil and is wasteful/more costly because so much extra P and K need to be supplied to get enough N to the plant.

You might have to go to the net to get it, but Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 is about the best all-purpose houseplant fertilizer out there. It has ALL the essential elements in the correct ratio to each other. It doesn't get any better.

I know we should never say never, so I'll say 'ever' ..... I cannot imagine a scenario where any of us could 'ever' benefit from using a fertilizer for plants in containers with the middle # (P) higher than either the 1st or 3rd #s (N or K). The extra P is a total waste, the plants can't use it, and it causes several issues related to pH and inhibiting uptake of other nutrients (N, Fe, and Mn in particular, but others, too).

Al"

Finally, are you using a quarter of the strength each time. I also have so many varities and bordering on more plants than I can care for (per light quality) (of course my succulents get the best of it), so having a ready mix would be dandy.
Micki

Al: A HUGE thank you for sticking around here and helping us folks! I am always learning something new with your help.
:-0)))))))

Micki: There is truth behind what Al said about chlorine. At least in my water, neither that or the fluoride dissipates so therefore I can't use it no matter how long it sits on a shelf for any of my carnivorous plants.
Just a drink here or there and they die right of. The only thing I can use is rain water or distilled water.
I say this because I know you like these plants too:-)

By the way, I am a Foliage Pro user at the using it just as Al does and my plants are thriving because of it. I was a bit lazy about fertilizing my succulents, but that has all changed now.

I forgot, do you live in a place where things freeze?

Mike

Thx Mike for pointing out:
"There is truth behind what Al said about chlorine. At least in my water, neither that or the fluoride dissipates so therefore I can't use it no matter how long it sits on a shelf for any of my carnivorous plants. "

Al's mesages are so detailed I missed this the first time through.

Freeze oh yes.
We get very cold winters. Our first snow this weekend.
Micki
I'll be working on my mix and obtaining foliage pro. Do you have a link for foliage pro?

If you are thinking about sticking to rain water, I would prepare now to save some of it to get you through the winter:-)

I use three 30 gallon buckets you can get anywhere and fill these with water.The barrel outside is obviously going to freeze and then it's all over.

Once you get a warmer day in the winter when the outside barrel thaws or a nice rain storm, you can collect the water again for the future until spring comes. This has worked well for me.

I syphon the water out of the barrel outside into the ones in the basement with the garden hose. It can be a pain at times, but well worth the effort. It's cool, because I also have immediate access to fresh rain water for my plants under lights right next to the barrels.

Mike