AusBonsai

I'm looking for a balanced NPK preferably water-soluble fertiliser to use on my developing trees, and want to know what the patrons of AusBonsai use, and where they get their supplies from.

I can supplement with seasol/seaweed extract, and I live in Sydney's north-west, a 10 minutes drive from Ray Nesci, for reference.

this list is endless... you do nit need "bonsai" specific ferts mate.

I just use powerfeed, aquasol and charlie carp. Use one this time, another next time and so on. This way t hey get a mix of nutrients a trace elements. Use at normal strength. Bonsai are no different to normal plants as far as feeding goes really.

Josh

I'm looking for a balanced NPK

Note that 'balanced' when used for fertiliser does not mean equal. A balanced fertiliser just has some of each major nutrient ie N, P and K. 10:3:4.5 is a balanced fertiliser, so is 5:3:2 but 20:0:0 is not balanced.

Thanks everyone, and shibui, equal is the word I was looking for then. Which do you tend to use?

I'm not sure we can get an equal fert here.
Like Josh I use a range of different ones on the assumption that if one is deficient in anything the others will provide it. - Powerfeed alternate with Miracle Gro soluble or Thrive soluble alternate with worm juice when I have it. I also use any of the ferts for flowers and fruit on flowering species (Thrive flowers and fruit, tomato, citrus, azalea fert - these are all nearly the same so any will do) during late summer and autumn. Note that flowering species also includes callistemon, melaleuca, leptospermum and many other natives.

It is important to recognise that your bonsai cannot read. They don't care what the label on the packet says they are only interested in the NUTRIENTS in the fertiliser. All fertilisers have nutrients so rather than worrying which is better and not making a decision just start feeding them with anything.

I spent some time perusing the fertilizer aisle at the big green shed trying to find something like what you're looking for. The closest thing I found was Osmocote All Purpose, it's a mix of pellets and dynamic lifter (I think).

This question seems to come up a lot from newbies, I was wondering the same thing when I started. Never really having a green thumb makes bonsai a new experience.

Have a read of the fertilizer section of the wiki and let us know if that helps:
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... ser_basics

Neutrog "Sudden Impact for Roses" Pellets applied every 6 weeks.
Liquid fert fortnightly - Charlie Carp alternating with Powerfeed

Same as above but applied 1/2 as often thru winter, aon all trees.
Simple as and works for me

Ken

Truth wrote: and I live in Sydney's north-west, a 10 minutes drive from Ray Nesci, for reference.

Mate, if you are 10 minutes from Ray, just go and ask him. You have the bonsai internets knowledge 10 minutes from your doorstep. You're a lucky man.

You can never go wrong with Osmocote slow release fertilizer as this is what Ray recommended to me 20 years ago and still recommends today. Then add other products on top depending on what works for you.

DO NOT use any other slow release fertilizer other than the brand Osmocote. Some of them will dump all their fertilizer during the first few waterings, and this will kill or severely injur the tree. Clinton Nesci knows many people who have lost priceless stock because of these inferior fertilizers. Brunnings is one such disastrous fertilizer that should be recalled.

Take whatever advice you want from this forum, but remember the MOST important thing. For the first use, use it at the MINIMUM strength to test first, so you don't kill the tree by accident or damage the roots.

And don't fertilize right after a repot or if the tree is looking quite ill.

kcpoole wrote:Neutrog "Sudden Impact for Roses" Pellets applied every 6 weeks.
Liquid fert fortnightly - Charlie Carp alternating with Powerfeed

Same as above but applied 1/2 as often thru winter, aon all trees.
Simple as and works for me

Ken

Cheers KC. you make it sound so simple.

Pretty well all the advice you will ever need is in the previous information rich contributions but also learn to assess visually what is happening with each plant and don't assume they will all accept a blanket 'standard' nutrient regime the same way.

fossil finder wrote:Pretty well all the advice you will ever need is in the previous information rich contributions but also learn to assess visually what is happening with each plant and don't assume they will all accept a blanket 'standard' nutrient regime the same way.

Yes you do need to be carefulbut ALL my trees get exactly the same feed. I don't have time to feed each differenly. I have a 110 ltr tank which I mix my fert in. This is connected to he pump and I just water my trees as normal with the watering wand. The only trees i dont fert like this are the newly repotted trees. I have natives, figs, deciduous, evergreens, they all get the same. If I buy a new tree or collect a tree that I dont know the previous fertelising then I feed them last and water it down a little for the first two waterings.

Josh

How about fertilising trees in the ground? I have a planter box full of composted cow manure, mushroom compost, fine soil and organic potting mix. I assume any trees going in (will be Japanese Maples) will not need as much fertiliser as a tree in an open inorganic pot, as the water/fertiliser will not run out easily and the soil can also provide some of it's own nutrients?

Raymond wrote:

kcpoole wrote:Neutrog "Sudden Impact for Roses" Pellets applied every 6 weeks.
Liquid fert fortnightly - Charlie Carp alternating with Powerfeed

Same as above but applied 1/2 as often thru winter, aon all trees.
Simple as and works for me

Ken

Cheers KC. you make it sound so simple.

Thansk
I try to keep everything as simple as possible. My trees are all in the identical substrate mix and get the same water and ferts as each other.
Maybe if i varied them individually they might perform better, but the difference would be minimal

KISS principal is applied around here in everything I do

Ken

kcpoole wrote:Neutrog "Sudden Impact for Roses" Pellets applied every 6 weeks.

Hey Ken,

do you apply the Neutrog Sudden Impact straight on top of the soil/dressing stones, or do you put it in fertilizer cups?

Also wondering if you put it on non flowering/fruiting trees like pines/conifers and other natives?

Cheers,
Pearcy.