Fast Growth Method

[Webos]

You probably need a side by side control plant in normal potting mix, being osmocote fed or whatever a "normal" pot plant fig might be usually fed.

I'm interested to see whether or not this shows outstanding gowth and normal health

Adam

[bonsaisensation]

ＰＭ　ｓｅｎｔ．

[kcpoole]

Excellent Expose Graeme thnaks

I Have several Hibiscus of the same variety on my bench grown from cuttings last year, and are quite thin.
They could definitely benefit from the fast growth method and as a have a few, I might keep one as a control in my normal diatomite mix but do the others as per your guide.

As they are only small, do you think would be beneficial into smaller pots first?
I have some 8" orchid pots to use.

I do not have DL, but use Neutrog instead. Do you think it might be a suitable alternative?

Ken

[Bougy Fan]

I use the Rooster Booster as shown Ken - it is made by Neutrog exclusively for Buzzings. It is fairly tame like DL but I found the Sudden Impact for Roses to be much stronger than RB and maybe use it by half ?

[bodhidharma]

On the plus side for the fast growth method, i grew this little P.J when i read this thread in 2009 and fed the heck out of this guy for 2010-2013 before i stuck it in this pot to get some branching. I left lots of sacrifice branching on in the beginning and strong leaders (as you can see by the scarring) and i am happy with the result. I am about to wire and repot and thought i would share with the thread. I will post when it is wired out again. No apologies for the scarring as they grow fast. I was not wholly regimented with the programme but set it up properly and would throw heaps on the top soil when i thought of it. I used organic food (bettergrow) Lots of water, as stated, is the key. In Victoria i have to keep them in a glasshouse for nearly half the year.

I have been able to wire out this tree and get back to the original post (must have to much time on my hands) You can see now how much scarring has been caused by the sacrifice branching and that is normal procedure. Gives the tree character and will heal quickly. As you can see they have already nearly closed up. all in all, a good result so far.

[Graeme]

Awesome result mate, awesome!!! Thank you so much for posting.

Anyone else have similar results, please post your pic's up here.

[Wayne R]

@ Graeme

I'm guessing you have a full inch or inch and a half of RB sitting on the top of that box... correct?

[Graeme]

Yes mate, there's around an inch and a half of RB on top - and now my finger stinks

[kcpoole]

As I had a few Hibiscus cuttings that ai want to grow on, i thought i can do a little comparo with them and see what the outcome is using different methods.

they are only aboiut 1cm at the base and were struck last year and need to be repotted. I was going to put them in the ground, but reconsidered when this thread popped up again. Today put 1 in the ground, 1 in a Orchid pot with just Diatomite / Zeolite mix, and the last one in another orchid pot with Chook poo as graeme described earlier.
Slightly different in that instead of gravel, I use diatomite zeolite mix, the container is an orchid pot instead of Poly Box, and Neutrog Sudden impact instead of D.L. ( because that is what i have already), it is close enough to DL

As I already have a camera, i took some photos to show the potting up and will update as the trees develop.

After poting up they are on my Recovery bench in dappled light until they start to grow and then they will go into full sun

Enjoy
Ken

[Brian]

I am a big advocate of this fast growth method for the past 30 years.

I suggest you repot and leave the chook poo off to enable the roots to establish for 8 weeks or so , then add the manure to the mix. It will lessen root burn from the strong fertiliser.

[kcpoole]

thanks Brian
I have put the cook poo in the bottom of the pot above the gravel layer. Bit hard to add it later
unless you are referring to the top layer only?

can you post your method?

Ken

[Brian]

Ken,

you are doing the method correctly. I use a growing box with a very open mix and lots of fertiliser. I also liquid fertilise every week which is double strength.

The secret to success is ample water. I also let the tree run wild with growth to develop the trunk.

[kcpoole]

Cool thanks Brian

Ken

[Graeme]

Any pic's Brian? Please. I'd love to see some older stuff that was grown using this method. Also very interested to hear you don't put the DL on the top layer straight away, as I was told to do so, hence the reason I have stated that in the original piece I wrote. Any other bits and pieces I am doing wrong?

[Brian]

Chinese elm. Although its in a bonsai pot it has a very open mix and gets the fertiliser treatment.

This has been cut back very severely about a moth ago and you can see the new growth.