What fertilizer(s) do you use for your bonsai???

[kvan64]

Hi all,
I don't seem to be able to find enough information about this topic in any of the bonsai reading materials I've come across. Any one knows off some good resources?

Also please share your experience here.
Thanks heaps in advance.

[teejay]

I suppose it depends what you're growing.

I'm a beginner at this but I'm currently settled on organic pellets coupled with seasol sprayed on the foliage and soil each fortnight for exotics I'm not feeding up for girth. Leaves have stayed small and the internodes are short so far, with no signs of hunger at all. If I'm trying to fatten them up and I'm not concerned with small bits I'm using much stronger liquid feed at shorter intervals.

On natives I'm tending to use different things on different trees, osmacote, charlie carp, phostrogen etc... It all depends on the species and how they react.

[Deemon]

I use compact from bonsai south for all except natives fortnightly and nitrosol for natives.

full strength.

Osomcote in the potting mix at repot.

Simple.

[Pup]

I use and have done so for 20+ years at fornightly intervals. Phostrogen for my exotics.
Miraclegro for Azaleas and Camellias, for my Natives. The miraclegro has only been used for the last 10 years. I found no reason to change.

I do though every 6 months add some complete trace elements. As constant watering of Bonsai leaches them out.
Water soluble so that you can water each plant. Not the one that is scattered over the soil.
Hope this helps in some way.
If you read the break down of the Macro and Micro elements it should help you work out what you need for your plants. Phosphorus, which is dangerous for natives, is in amounts safe, in both of these fertilser's.

Pup

[kvan64]

Where do you buy phostrogen Pup? I stopped by Bunnings today and they got nothing low in Nitrogen. No phostrogen nor compact. No specific fert for bonsai.

[Jamie]

slow release pellets, miracle gro and seasol.

miarcle gro weekly at half strength(sometimes a bit stronger ) seasol every 2 weeks or so, and the pellets when they are needed

i havent had a problem with this regime

[kvan64]

slow release pellets, miracle gro and seasol.

miarcle gro weekly at half strength(sometimes a bit stronger ) seasol every 2 weeks or so, and the pellets when they are needed

i havent had a problem with this regime

I think you forgot to add ...vegemite by the way, what type of slow release pellets do you use Jamie? The ones I saw from Bunnings have high N content.

[Jamie]

lol. cant forget the vegemite.

umm couldnt tell ya the brand, the one i use was the one that they put in front of the cashiers so you buy more stuff as your leaving lol.
will check the npk for ya tomorrow

[magb]

what is the best fertilizer to use on a wisteria

[dragon]

everyone
i use dianamic lifter soaked in water for a couple of days and strain it when water gone brown
as it is liquid form it dont burn the plants and the bloody dogs wont eat them also i use slow relise
in winter and also seasol i am testing all different types to see which one gets better results
cheers dean

[Scott Roxburgh]

I use a form of fertilizer cakes:

1 part Cottonseed or soy bean meal; and
1 part Meat meal (I used to use Blood and Bone but have since changed, but it can be hard to find);

I spoon this into disposable tea bags and put it out as required (as much as I can fit onto the soil surface mostly)

I mix up according to the instructions and use charlie carp and seasol every two weeks. When I think I haven't done it in a while I use Miracle Gro/Nitrosol (once a month-ish). I also put a fair bit of Osmocote on the soil surface (thanks Grant) and sometimes in my soil mix (pure inorganic).

I find that using a lot of fertiliser works really well for me, with my trees, in my area and in my mix.

[craigw60]

Thats it Scott, feed and prune
Craigw

[Scott Roxburgh]

Thats it Scott, feed and prune
Craigw

...and wire!

[samlauncher]

Hey can any body tell me where the artificial fertilizer available…

[Petra]

Define artificial, All chemical fertilisers are artificial. Found in supermarkets,discount stores and nurseries.
Organic fertilisers are chook poo,Sheep,cow,horse, blood& bone, etc, etc.