I trying to get a handle on fertilizing my trees. I’ve been watching a bunch of videos and came upon one that said, if I use a 5-5-5 fertilizer, and if I apply it twice as heavy I would be applying a 10-10-10. It kind of make sense, but something sounds a little weird about it. Are I just wasting fertilizer or harming the trees?
Yes, applying twice as much 5-5-5 will provide the same N-P-K as 10-10-10. However, with out very free draining bonsai soil you may wash a fair bit away. My suggestion is to apply it twice as often to provide more consistent nutrients.
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So directions say once a week or every other week. I would apply twice a week or every week. This would help in feeding heavily without worrying about root burn. Organic fertilizer.
I am moving to fertilizer injection (along with acid to lower the pH) with every watering. Planning on a mix of organic and inorganic due to relative cost.
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How dose that work, do you have more info on it?
Rod - You use a Dosatron or similar injector. There have been at least three discussion threads about using one to lower the pH of the water. It is actually the same concept to inject fertilizer into the water. It is very common in commercial nurseries. - Marty
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I personally would avoid over feeding.
Once a week would be an absolute max for me.
We actually don’t like balanced ferts in bonsai 5-5-5 or 10-10-10 is a lot of potassium which I believe Mirai is discovering most trees and shrubs don’t like that much potassium.
5-10-2 would be a more desirable type of NPK rate, also something with high calcium..
Balanced ferts are a thing of the past
All nitrogen comes in a salt package, potassium is also a salt.
Long term over use of this type of fert could prove detrimental to your trees. And could lead to a build up of excess salts in your soil system which can cause an issue once the summer heat hits.
Just my thoughts
I am not an expert but rather a beginner who jumped heavily into the Apical and Eden models of tree health, and am learning as I go.
My recommendation would be Eden Fusion Veg & Eden Alpha Blend used together to give you a balanced nutrition at a relatively low cost. $60 usd
More time consuming to apply as it must be mixed in water that is ph adjusted to 6.4 and hand watered in.
Just my thoughts, please disregard if offended.
Calcium & Phosphate are more important then we tend to realize.
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