Need gas mask.....really

9 years ago

First, I admit that I am far into my life at age 66, have finally retired from a 45 year nursing career, and finally have time for my love a plants and gardening. I've lived in Alabama ( ROLL TIDE) Georgia, & Texas , I can't grow my Dogwoods or azaleasin the DFW area. Once an older gardening genius told me to fertilize , especially my Boston ferns, but really all of my container plants with FISH EMULSION. Ok, I do it and gag the entire time. I wear double rubber gloves, but I swear I smell the stuff for the entire week after I use it. My containers are beautiful, but certainly someone knows something that will be just as good and not make me smell like worse than a dead fish! Thanks in advance. Margeetx ( here is one small corner of the deck)

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margeetx
Original Author

9 years ago

Hi everyone.....thanks to all for the comments....this past Saturday, I mixed the fish emulsion up and watered all the container plants and several particular plants that I have growing in my beds.... mostly ferns. Anyway, I then took the time to do a thorough spray off of the entire deck, and then I got my shower using some really expensive Chanel #5 bath gel. That I had never used ( what was I saving it for ?????). Note: did NOT use the Chanel on the deck!!!!! Anyway, either washing the deck helped, or I just smelled so lovely, that I was not nearly as bothered with the God-awful odor!!!! It is about the small things...really.

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Comments (9)

Vulture61
9 years ago
It looks great!. You gotta love sweet potatoe vines and begonias. They always look good.

Omar
PKponder TX Z7B
9 years ago
I am the worst at forgetting to fertilize so I can't really advise. Your plants are just gorgeous though.
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susanzone5 (NY)
9 years ago
My container plants are gorgeous. I water the flowering plants with Miracle Gro Bloom Booster and the green plants like coleus and caladium with plain Miracle Gro, twice a week.

These have no smell and produce beautiful pots of plants. If I used fish emulsion, the bears would be up on my deck immediately!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I just try to imagine I'm out on the jetty at Pt. Aransas ... :-)

For me the odor of fish emulsion lasts just that day and is far better smelling than alfalfa tea, another stinky concoction that plants love. When I used to use the 'tea' I could hear Bob slamming the windows down ... LOL

Obviously your plants are loving it! They look GREAT!

Congratulations on your retirement!
bossyvossy
9 years ago
I use fish emulsion irregularly. The effect on plants is stupendous AWA immediate but I've cut down on FE b/c it attracts possums, et al in my area. After a while, I got used to the smell of FE, just as I got used to smell of paper mills in Tuscaloosa (Roll Tide).

Medinas Hasta Grow might be a good alternative for you vs offending FE.

i really think fertilizing is an advanced stage of gardening. In my early years I was too busy planting anything and everything. Now that gardens are full and maturing, I have time to fertilize and apply various and sundry potions. The positive effect is undeniable.
Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
9 years ago
I'll second bossyvossy's suggestion. Hasta Gro provides 6-12-6 for your container plants, doesn't smell like cannery row and can be applied as a soil drench any time during the growing season. I still use fish emulsion when a compost pile needs a boost of nitrogen. The odor drives our cats crazy for several hours.

You aren't the only transplant who misses dogwoods and azaleas (Hotty Toddy).
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years ago
I used to live on an island in Thailand where they fermented fish sauce. I can not smell fish fertilizer. those nerve ending were burnt out when I was a babe..... maybe in survival mode. I can't smell slightly rotting meat either , but flowers , I can smell.
beachplant
9 years ago
the smell doesn't bother me but then again I am known to haul home loads of seaweed from the beach and spread out in the garden. Anything is better than the smell of pseudomonas in the morning!