I've used alfalfa cubes, alfalfa manure or composted alfalfa on top in the winter and it's worked great. It might be too hot that way for the summer though and definitely not good in the planting hole. I did try to make a few teas but they stunk too bad as everybody has noticed!

Linda I got my alfalfa from the feed store. Southern States. They were out of the pellets, but had the cubes, so I got them .I think if you put it in the tea it breaks down better and critters, like my chickens and Cats can't mess with them as much. From what I understand that is.

I got my alfalfa pellets at the Grange and mixed it in the water and actually I let it stew for about a week and it got worse and worse smelling . You gotta figure anything that smells that bad has goty to be really good for your roses right.

You can probably toss im pretty much whatever you want and just make a great stinky stew for your flowers.

I am actually inspired to try it again this year after hearing everybody talking about it it's. Its a cheap way to get some good nutrients into your soil

Kritine do you mix the tea with water again after you make it. Or do you just give it to them at I guess full strength?

I filled a garbage can about half full with water and then just started throwing things in there and stirred it around with the broom handle. I let it sit for about a week and as I pulled out from the barrel I just added a little bit more water each time.

Now my sister doesn't do any of that and her roses are phenomenal I do it all and really can't see any big difference between her roses and mine.

Thanks, well I'm giving it a try and will report back!

Edited to say I'm not sure what post this one on. But we were talking about markers that lasted and all of my alflex tag pen tags I made last year are still very readable. Once a year writing over is better than every week. I hope whoever it was that wanted me to let them know about it reads this!

The stuff is a miracle in my experience, Alana. I used alfalfa hay and let it ferment and get bubbly. The I diluted it quite a bit because mine was super concentrated. I also stick some of the hay in my planting holes and it really seemed to help new plantings establish.

I've also mulched with alfalfa hay.

I do that too, Cathy! : ) I'm into the alfalfa now that I discovered it. I did accidentally spill some of it on myself last year. That was bad!

Thanks guys!

I thought I would haved to dilute and I know your suppose to water it in, so diluting is watering it in, lol the alfalfa has is pretty expensive isn't it? Thasts is why I go for the pellets and such.

Try to avoid pellets that are made with molasses.

It was like $7 a bale. Maybe a bit more. I still have about half left.

Yes, I did know that Jeri, but thank you! Is great to put on here, in case someone else doesn't know it.

Just to know, why is the molasses bad?

I did not know. Haha and I would have bought it at the shop. Thanks ,Jeri !

Alana you had cubes . Could you take a pic of it so I know. I was about to buy rabbit pellets size too.

Vaporvac help me about the hay. Thanks vaporvac for emailing me last month .

Jin

Because the extra salt will cause build up in the soil I think.

Jin you can buy alfalfa pellets that's fine. That's what I was going to get but they were out , so I got cubes.

Rabbet feed and horse feed have additives. Alfalfa pellets, cubes, or whatever usually don't in my experience.

For example, I can't get it at the local feed store all they sell is horse feed , so when I have dr. In Florence, I get alfalfa from the Southern States feed store over there. No where around here carries Alfalfa meal, that I've seen.

Alana, you may want to see if there is Tractor Supply Company in your area. That's where we buy alfalfa pellets without any additives. The brand is Standlee Premium Western Forage Alfalfa Pellets.

I used alfalfa tea for clematis and then discovered it does wonders for roses as well. Now I'm using it for just about everything in my garden, 2-3 times a year, first early in spring when the plants are coming out of dormancy, then later in spring when most buds start forming or just about before it. Sometimes I repeat it in summer for reblooming types, both clematis and roses. Not just that it encourages growth and flowering, but I also noticed quite a few new basal breaks. It's really wonderful and if it smells while brewing, the smell is gone once used on your roses.

The basic recipe I use is 2-4 cups alfalfa pellets in 5 gallon water (we use buckets), mix it in, cover tightly, let it stand for 2-3 days, again stir it with any handy woodstick, then cover tightly again and leave it for additional 2-3 days. I find it "brews" best if the buckets are left in a sunny or part-sun area. The color should change from green to light brownish. Afterwards, stir it again and then we use 1 gallon per each shrub. I don't think it's good to add any more water at this point because it weakens the "brewed tea."

Sometimes I stir into each bucket about 1/2 cup Epsom salt (I know, I know...) and 1/2 cup fish & seaweed fertilizer, but not in advance, only right before it's ready for using on roses and clemmies.

I'm using a 32 gallon trash can. Thanks for the other tips though vesfl. I think that's the same brand I'm using. Nope Triple Crown cubes. It's what they had. That might have been the name of what I was going to order from Amazon, before I had to go to Florence and just got it from there. Thank again!

I noticed that I made a typo and wrote tablespoons instead of cups for alfalfa pellets. I've edited this error but just for any case to mention it if you had read my comment before I corrected for it. Please let us know if the cubes dissolve well for you, Alana.

I had already seen the correction thank you! And I will. I think I can help it by crumbling it with my hand some too? I think I remember reading somewhere.

If you ask at the feed store I bet they will order the alfalfa meal for you!

I havent thought to ask, I have gotten my local one to order other stuff for me, so next time I need some I will ask! Thanks!

Well, I been learning a lot and I know most if you already know but there is addresses and stuff . I almost bought rabbit pellets Bec it was small. Anyways here is a link.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://m.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Roses-and-Alfalfa-A-Love-Story-Forage-crop-2919976.php&ved=2ahUKEwiq4-ufzKfZAhWETd8KHaQ7CAcQFjAFegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw1KfwlTvu46Vm79kwI78H6l

Jin

I don't understand handling basal breaks yet. Guess, that is through trial and error.

Jin

What do you mean Jin?

The man who lived in this house before us he used to do the same thing he would go to the coast and gather kelp and seaweed a bring it all back . He mixed it all in with the soil and there are areas in our yard that have phenomenal soil.

Might try that next time we have a trip to the beach, lol!

I know people thought we were crazy! lol cleaning the beach!

I wouldn't doubt it! Lol they will be alr ight though, haha

I sometimes throw a handful of pellets on the roses and other plants too on my way out to feed our rabbits. Then I water it with the hose..instant tea when the pellets melt..that's super lazy lol. Plants seem to like it. Our chickens won't eat an alfalfa pellet for anything! However, they will go and eat styrofoam or osmocote. Gross!

Shoot my chickens eat the rabbit food, so have no doubt they will eat a alfalfa pellets. I know because if any falls on the ground they go after it like it's a treat. They are silly and mess with everything, so I think this tea will work well for me. Mine will also eat Styrofoam and I thought they ate the 10 10 10 I put out but wasn't sure, you just confirmed it for me , lol

Ours dont like rabbit food but if they can, they will get under the rabbit bins (its now caged in) where we do the vermicomposting and dig through the bunny poo and eat the worms.

Styrofoam to them is chicken crack! I don't know whats up with them liking styrofoam so much. They like the kind that comes apart in little white balls..they tried to eat perlite until they figured out it wasn't styrofoam then they didn't want it anymore. I think the only thing they like better is white bread. Also not good for them but better than styrofoam lol. I used to wonder if they thought the styrofoam was their calcium bits but no they always have that available and just eat it on occasion.

If I give my roses/other plants anything granular, I just bury it around the plants in the evening when the chickens are in the coop and can't see me lol.

Next time I go to the beach I'm getting some seaweed. Although here, its probably contaminated with pollution or worse lol. During tourist season the news are always reporting these FL beaches have high human fecal contamination levels. I'm definitely not swimming there.

Gagalzone , that is great way to clean the beach and recycle the seaweeds. I live not far from a few beaches. I should try that. Do you wash the seaweed to get rid of saltwater or you just throw it in the sand as it is.

Alana, the link I put up yells about it about snapping and dividend. That I am not sure about basal breaks. I am just going to let the roses grow it something to do with inferior blooms.

I am sorry, I was on forum for very short time yesterday. I crash in bed around 7 ish pm for the night. My kids are wondering what's up with me . I beat them before their bedtime at 11 pm. Doing their homework, playing X box, on phone and what not...lol

Jin

Yeah, our beaches are bad . I totally agree with you , Jasmine , 100 per cent about the pollution..Urg!

I seldom go to beach ever since I heard it on reports about the pollution.

Jin

Plumeria, I did not wash it. I had those huge contractor bags. I just brought it home and put it in my compost pile. I did save some and put it around plants outside my fence. I wanted to put it around all my stuff, but I knew my dogs would roll in it! I read an article by a grower in New England that said they never washed it. The beach was in their backyard. They would gather it and take it straight to the garden. He also stated that salt was not an issue. That testing showed it did not change the soil and his plants never suffered damage. I wondered about the salt...My soil is clay in some areas, but other areas it is dry grey sand like. I have really been working on it, to help retain water. I am also that person, that finds earthworms and move them to other parts of the yard! I take my coffee grounds and sprinkle them everywhere. (also add to my compost pile) I have many oak trees in my yard, so I go rake the leaves and then haul them to spots where the leaves don't fall. I then cover them with straw. They also help retain water as they breakdown. It is boring work, but I love to have anything to do outside!! (I'm sure you can all relate) I wish I had chickens for the poo...Loved it when we lived in the country and had horses!! I had a great pile! Hubby would toss it on when he cleaned the stalls!

I have heard of blending a banana and molasses to pour around roses. Not sure if that is good advice but some people think molasses is good for roses.

If I make alfalfa tea I'm going to make it in a giant Rubbermaid type tub. Seems like it would be hard to scoop it out of a trash can. Maybe some people siphon it out.

I tried burying it, but they scratch so much they find it. They scratch for worms and bugs under my rabbit pens as well. From what I understand you can break the cubes up pretty good with your hands, we will see how it works. I'm not going to really measure, just throw it all together and see how it comes out! I think all the beaches are pretty bad, We still try to enjoy it though. Sharks are bad in some spots as well.

Alana, the pellets I bought, at Tractor Supply, completely dissolved when I sprayed them with water. I have to put them under the pine mulch because my dog Hootie will eat EVERYONE of them!! She is a rot gut! lol

I like this discussion and find it valuable.

Molasses is a needed ingredient in the aerobic tea I stir up. As for alfalfa, I mix with anything good within my range, dilute, pour on. Smell goes away after a day or two. If you spill on your person, I understand showers and baths have been invented, with lots of sweet smells to add in.

Really, just about anything with which I amend my roses makes them thrive. That's all I ask for.

Linda for some reason I never saw your post, must be because we posted close together.

Your right though Linda, it might be hard to get to in my trash can once I get past the halfway point. I'll figure out something,maybe use a bucket to dip and then try to pour it out or something. I'll make do though.

Dara, I’m glad you mentioned the molasses. I have seen recommendations for using unsulphured organic molasses for roses. Of course, I can’t remember what it was supposed to be good for, but something. lol Do you know what it might have been recommended for? I’m going to search the Organic Rose forum. I probably read it there. Lisa

It can work scooping it out and pouring on the soil with a bucket or any other vessel with a wide top opening. I would just advise against using a watering can because the alfalfa residuals can easily clog the spout.

I used a big trash can and it was hard to get it out once you got past the halfway line.

So I would use something a little bit shorter and dip it from there because it's hard enough to get into that trash can without falling in head 1st

Lol yea, that would be me Kristine! Head first :) I'm short.

Seriously I think I have something I can dip it out with though, lol. We'll see!

Gross, the thought of falling in that stinky stuff...ewww..but it does wash off. . I just used a tall kitchen trash can and a mop bucket! Gotta do what ya gotta do! There would be lots of thick stuff left in the bottom and I would just add more water. I think it’s so cool to use natural things!

Me too Gagalzone

And your right, I just added more water because there is s ton of good stuff in the bottom.

I think I may do that as well!

I don't have much alfalfa residuals left at the bottom because I stir the tea well at the end so to make it even more potent when it's ready to be used. I do use 5-gallon buckets for "brewing" which probably makes it easier to reach the bottom and fully stir it before using.

I'm using 5 gal. buckets also. I carry them around in a wagon and just dip a bucket into them. So far, so good. I may try the pellets this year when I finish the hay.