Any fertilizer will work but you want on with low N. If your figures are N-P-K, the N is far too high and will encourage too much body growth too quickly,

Ok...so then a very diluted miracle gro would work also if it's low in N?

Two good ones are Miracle Gro 12-4-8 and Foliage Pro 9-3-6 liquid.

Diluting the fertilizer rather defeats the purpose of applying it. The needed minerals are very low in a diluted form. Buy a more suitable fertilizer.

I haven't bought any fertilizer yet...because I don't know what to buy. There's a LOT of conflicting info about fertilizing succulents, fertalize, dont fertalize, dilute it to half strength, dilute it to 1/4 strength, only use manure tea, only use one with even numbers, only use a succulent fertalizer, fertalize once a week, or once a month or once a year....i could go on.....shoot i even found a site that said to fertalize them with urine! So i was hoping for suggestions on here....im pretty sure my plants would like some fertalizer but I'm scared lol

Perhaps if you tell us what kinds of plants you're growing & if indoors or out. These things make a difference in fertilizing if at all.

Some of us grow succulents using little fertilizer if any, some succulents really don't need it.

s g

I respectfully disagree with your statement: ..."Diluting the fertilizer rather defeats the purpose of applying it. The needed minerals are very low in a diluted form. Buy a more suitable fertilizer"...

Unfortunately, many ppl overfertilize. Overfeeding will cause more problems than underfeeding. Weakly - weekly is often recommended...(Even for us, eating few smaller portions during the day is much better than having a humongous meal...) Yes, suitable fertilizer is needed - but not for reasons you suggested.

Rina, the point I was trying to make was that diliuting the fertilizer to decrease the quantity of N in the mix means the other nutrients of P and K are in much smaller quantities as a result. If you used a more balanced mix in the first place, you could apply the fertilizer in the recommended dosage.

Personally, I do not fertilize as a matter of course as I water throught the year. I repot year or biannually with most plants and incorporate a slow release fertilizer granule in my mix. For larger plants, I sprinkle the slow release granules around the base of the plant so whenever I water, some of it will be carried into the soil. I don't waste my money on 'specialist' fertilizers but look for one intended for flowering plants. These tend to have lower N and higher K ratios.

s g

Sorry if I understood it differently than it was meant :)

I do not fertilize succulents either, but understand how ferts work. And definitely agree with 'specialized ferts' - most are just a money source for manufacturers; and while they 'force' the plants to do what they are 'designed' to do, it is not best way to grow plants...

Kevin summarized it very well.

Foliage Pro (9-3-6) by Dyna Gro is used extensively by those in the know for any containerized plant - houseplants, bonsai, citrus, cacti and succulents, indoor herbs, orchids, etc., etc., etc. I use it at half strength weekly or biweekly for most containers; at half strength once a month (give or take) from April through September for all my cacti and succs. I water very sparingly in winter and don't fertilize at all.

Those that believe plants that appreciate low levels of N require a fertilizer with a low % of N (this, @ SG) are missing the fact that your fertilizer's NPK %s don't control how much N your plants get, the grower does. It is as easy to over-supply N with 1:1:1 ratio fertilizers like 14-14-14 or 7-7-7 as it is with 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers like 24-8-16, 12-4-8, and 9-3-6. The main difference between the two ratios (RATIO is different than NPK %s) is that the 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers supply other macro nutrients in a relationship that is appropriate for the amount of N used. 1:1:1 ratio fertilizers like 7-7-7 supply more K and MUCH more P than the plant can/will use as a function of N. So, using low N fertilizers finds the grower over-supplying P and K, no matter HOW much N is supplied. 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers like 9-3-6 et al, supply appropriate amounts of P and K, based on the volume of N supplied. It's much better to use a fertilizer that supplies a favorable RATIO of NPK, no matter what % of N it contains. You simply control the amount of N your plants get by the frequency of the applications and/or the concentration of the fertilizer solution.

Al

Awesome thanks everyone for the info....one more question....i have seen miracle gro perlite that says its enriched with MG plant food.....opinions on that? Thanks :)

MG perlite comes with barely any fertilizer at all. Does not really help or hurt anything.

I wouldn't buy it if more $ - not worth it for small amount of ferts.