The oft mentioned thread re fertilization of containers

9 months ago

last modified: 9 months ago

Watching from 7 minutes and 22 seconds on in this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7TfB0gjCL8

there is a brief discussion of an experiment showing the results of using no fertilizer, slow/continuous release fertilizer and finally a water soluble fertilizer.

For sure it isn't a rigorous use of the scientific method but It did get me thinking as to my fertilizing routine:

I have used this Canadian made fertilizer 'forever' for our container annuals

https://www.gaiagreen.com/product-page/power-bloom-2-8-4

I checked the application instructions and as I had thought, there is no mention of "dissolving" this product in water but mixing it into the soil pre planting and then 'scratching' into the surface of the soil post planting, once a month, through the growing season. So a slow release food.

I noticed this year that I had a few pots that had still not not done the usual growth spurt and here it was late July into August :(.

And so I decided to use the "fast food" of fertilizer i.e.

https://miraclegro.com/en-ca/products/plant-food/miracle-gro-water-soluble-bloom-booster-plant-food/2756310.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqGkq0Z8Z19WV4CawFOkfK-wkuiPw4PIf3RTsoIx5d8427PCDwx

And after two applications of this water soluble food (about 8 days apart) I have been impressed with what I have seen in our containers.

I'd love to know what my gardening friends here do regarding feeding your potted annuals for the season. What product? How often? Etc

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 months ago
I use Osmocote slow release on all my woody containers (JM's, other shrubs, dwarf conifers) once early in the season. Otherwise, ALL my containers indoors and out are fertilized "weekly, weakly" with an application of Dyna Gro's 9-3-6 Foliage Pro liquid fertilizer (now sold under the SuperThrive label).

The Foliage Pro is in the ideal formulation (ratio) for the vast majority of plants at any time in their life cycle and their maintenance dosage is the "weakly" part of the equation.......intended for the product to be used on a regular weekly routine.

This is by far the most popular product used by most regular members of the Container Gardening forum. Just saying 😁
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a) thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
porkchop_mxk3 z5b_MI
9 months ago
Osmocote. I've have no desire to be bothered with fertilizing more often than once, not to mention forgetful. Osmocote works just fine.
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a) thanked porkchop_mxk3 z5b_MI
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rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
Original Author
9 months ago
last modified: 9 months ago
Excellent guys/gals. Thanks for the posts.

'gg' I have put "Foliage Pro liquid" on my to buy list for next season. It might be a bit problematic getting this product in Canada but there is a hydroponics shop very close by. It anyone has it, they will. (So @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9), it appears that this product is/has been phased out of Canada. I do see it on Amazon.CA but at a ridiculous price).

Actually 'gg' I don't see the 9-3-6 product on https://superthrive.com/

(I will still continue with a slow release for my permanently potted perennials, shrubs and JMs)
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HU-618169007
8 months ago
I had a horrific experience using slow-release fertiliser (although admittedly, under different circumstances than outdoor flower growing) which totally put me off them, so I went back to my initial choice: the utterly reliable Maxicrop organic seaweed liquid (NPK 5.1. 5.1, 6.7) I use a 5ml teaspoon per 10litres can, in areas where watering has to be done by hand. If I use a hose, I do a weekly hand-watering (takes almost 2 hours!), where I use Maxicrop at half strength (15ml per 9 litre can). I have to adjust for various plants, plus sometimes add sequestrene...I like the fine control from weekly feeding (and have resisted buying one of those hose additions which delivers a proportional rate of liquid fertiliser because I am not entirely trusting to 'automatic' feeds.
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