How soon is too soon?

[bonscythe]

Hi all, just got a quick question about how soon I can begin fertilizing after a root chop/repot?
The plants in question are an Allocasuarina torulosa I was given from tubestock a month or two ago (possibly a future shohin?) and the other is a Chinese Elm I got from a nursery not too long ago. The elm is slightly more established than the casuarina but both are still young.
Should I go half-strength after a week or two?
Any help appreciated,
Cheers

[anttal63]

seaweed solution first month. quarter strength weekly. then asses.

[kcpoole]

Seasol for the first month, then revert to normal regime

[Bretts]

It is usually stated that it should be about 6 weeks before you add fertiliser otherwise it will burn the roots. I started to ignore this advice as it did not make sense to me that anything that is going on down there would make the roots susceptible to burn from fertiliser.
Yet recent advice makes much more sense which is that if the roots have readily available nutrients then they won't go looking for it. Using something like osmacote though will cause the roots to look for the nutrients and increase growth. I am now giving freshly repotted trees at least 6 weeks before fertilising.

[MelaQuin]

The guideline is to fertilise newly potted trees no sooner than 6 weeks after repotting. You can use Seasol or another seaweed product every fortnight [or Super Thrive] if you want but most potting soils have some nutrient added and this will keep the trees going. But the roots need to reestablish before you hit them with a fertiliser, even half strength Charlie Carp so no damage is caused. While some trees could withstand an early feed, it is not worth risking the one or two that can't and that risk is dissipated by waiting the requisite weeks.

It is also recommended that you don't fertilise trees until AFTER the major flush of spring growth because that will produce large leaves and gross growth. Waiting until the shoots harden will give you shorter internodes and finer growth. If you fertilise flowering trees during flowering you will shorten the flowering life.

[Bretts]

Have you ever experienced root burn from fertiliser on a freshly potted tree Lee I haven't?

[bonscythe]

Okie doke, thanks everyone.
Will have to go invest in some seasol as all I seem to be able to find is aquasol and osmocote!
Also, does anyone know of a particular brand of fert. that has really low N with higher P and K levels?
Been looking in the shops and can't seem to find one anywhere!
Thanks again

[Bretts]

One of the bloom booster powder ferts by manutec is what you will be looking for.

[bonscythe]

Just checked out the Manutec site (thanks Bretts! ) and found they have a mono-potassium phosphate soluble, (0-23-28 NPK)
Would this be ok for bonsai or a bit over the top for their needs?
The bloom booster has lower levels but has some nitrogen in there also (6-14-17).
Cheers guys