AusBonsai

Hi all,
Been looking around the place for some Phostrogen, which Pup (and others) recommend alot in their native discussion(s) but cannot find any!
When I ask the shop-keepers I get blank looks and a general vague-ness, does anyone know of a suitable replacement feed with a similar composition?
Or even where I could find this elusive Phostrogen?
Thanks everyone!

bonscythe wrote:Hi all,
Been looking around the place for some Phostrogen, which Pup (and others) recommend alot in their native discussion(s) but cannot find any!
When I ask the shop-keepers I get blank looks and a general vague-ness, does anyone know of a suitable replacement feed with a similar composition?
Or even where I could find this elusive Phostrogen?
Thanks everyone!

G,day bonscythe I am having the same trouble at the moment. B#*^!~#gs have stopped selling it I am told.
I found some at a local nursery chain so at the moment I have enough to last me at least 1 year. In the mean time I look for one that has an NPK of 14-4.4-28 +plus the micro elements.

Now whenever I see some I pick it up.
I might try to get on to the distributor in Melbourne, to see what is happening.

Cheers Pup

Edit what I use for my natives is MiracleGro for Azalea's and Camellias. Although I do alternate with Phostrogen.

Ah bugger! I went to get some the other night and couldn't find it. Thought they'd just sold out.

Thanks for the quick replies!

Guess that explains the lack of product over this side of the land, wonder why they're taking it off the market?!
At the moment, I just have an alternating pattern (2 weeks) for Seasol and Aquasol (cheap stuff I bought before I rekindled my bonsai appetite!).
I guess I could always just replace the Aquasol with the Miracle-Gro for Azaleas/Camellias?

Lucky you have a nice stash of the Phostrogen then eh Pup!

I bought a box of phostrogen the other day and I asked if it was off the market and they told me no. But they did say that they were only allowed smaller amounts at a time when ordering??

Sounded to me like the warehouse was rationing out what remained.

Whould that have anything to do with making a bomb from fertiliser?

I doubt that very much Brett. The phosphorus, potassium and trace elements means the "desired chemical" would be very impure. It is pretty much impossible to buy that chemical now unless you have a special license. They have successfully stopped the stupid kids from making that kind of explosive but anybody who knows anything about chemistry.... Its a shame too. I would like to purchase some for my native garden, as it contains no phosphorus.

JayC

JayC ,MiracleGro for azaleas is the one I use for my Natives it has a phosphate of 1.8 which is lower than Phostrogen.

I am about to go tho the shed and get the information if I can on Phostrogen. Will keep you posted.

Cheers Pup

For those of you in Melbourne, it is distributed by Debco.

12 McKirdys Road Tyabb, Victoria,3193

http://www.debco.com.au

Free call 1800 651 265.

It is too late here as we are 3 hours behind, bloody daylight saving.

I am now going to have a look at there web site. Wish me luck. Pup

Have just had a look they are saying it is still available at Mitre 10 and other stores. I was told Bngs had stopped because they considered it to dear. So I will have to check my local store. Cheers Pup

Hi guys I have had no luck other than they say it is stocked by the stores mentioned.

I have found a substitute though, with the same NPK and it is Australian yay.

Yates soluble for fruit and flower. It is cheaper at mitre 10 it was 12-75 per kilo, the same dilution rate as Phostrogen. I will get some when I need it.

As I said I have enough to last me about 12months of Phostrogen. Mean time if any one does try it can they put the results up for us.

Cheers Pup

Hi Pup,
I gave up looking for the Phostrogen after hearing what others had to say on this thread. Went out with a x-mas gift voucher with the idea of finding a lower(-ish) N but high K with minimal P. After searching around with the missus, we found the best soluable in this category they stocked. I did read this post last year but had forgotten the name of the one you mentioned..
After not being able to remember which one you said was the best replacement and getting the shits with my bad memory I stuck with the one we decided was the most appropriate - Yates soluable for Fruit & Flower.
Just realised now that it is the exact one mentioned in this thread..

I used it last week with no dramas yet.
It seems to be colourless too, I don't know how good that is though. Might confuse those who pre-mix ferts
I have been using seasol, Manutec Acid Loving Plant food and now this Yates Fruit/Flower.
Seems to be going great..
Any reason you use MiracleGro over the other brands?
Cheers for the knowledge

Just to make sure I'm getting these things right: no matter whether I use Miracle Gro, Yates or whatever, I should only use them at half the recommended strength? And is that for all (or most) species, natives or not?

Hi Ron,
I started my plants (mostly natives) on around half-strength and moved up to full strength after a few applications without dramas. Depending on the season and other variables (eg - species, health of plant, particulars etc) you should be right to do it that way.
I would say to just go straight to full-strength but I don't want to be responsible for someone else's plants dying..
I hope this has help a bit..

Ron wrote:Just to make sure I'm getting these things right: no matter whether I use Miracle Gro, Yates or whatever, I should only use them at half the recommended strength? And is that for all (or most) species, natives or not?

Ron the recomended strenght is OK I have used it that way for 20 plus years without any problems.

The reason for Miraclegro it is easy to get at the moment.

Cheers Pup

Thanks, folks.

I've been using Miracle Gro (both types) on my normal garden for years now and have plenty of it on hand.

One more question if I may: when you mix a solution (either powders or the liquid ferts) can the mix liquid be kept for a while or does it lose it's qualities pretty quickly?

Ron wrote:Thanks, folks.

I've been using Miracle Gro (both types) on my normal garden for years now and have plenty of it on hand.

One more question if I may: when you mix a solution (either powders or the liquid ferts) can the mix liquid be kept for a while or does it lose it's qualities pretty quickly?

Ron I use miracle gro for Azalea's on my natives alternating with Phostrogen fortnightly. I was just given another kilo of Phostrogen so I will be right for a long time now.
Use what you mix up as it does not last. Sorry

Cheers Pup