Tropicals & Tender Perennials: A maze of Noids, 4 by orchidman1

orchidman1 wrote:
Go to Wal Mart or Lowes and you will see the term "bloombuster" on small cans/cartons of fertilizer. It will have a series of numbers on it like 10-54-10 where the middle number is way larger than the other two. This means that this fertilizer will better produce blooms on your plant rather than a fertilizer like 10-10-10 which I generally use.
Fertilizer containers usually have a set of numbers that represent the levels of major nutrients contained in the fertilizer. These numbers indicate the level of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) in the fertilizer.
Nitrogen (N) is the first number and is basic for good plant growth.
Phosphorus (P) represents the middle number. This encourages root growth, bloom and fruiting.
Potassium (K) is the third number on the bag and helps plants to resist disease.
Growers want Phosphorus for their plants in early spring to aid in plant bloom and fruiting.

I've heard a lot of arguing over this with a lot of people opting for the use of a middle ground fertilizer like 10-10-10 year round. It has equal parts of all three NPK. My Extension Agent advises to up the Phosphorus to encourage bloom rather than encourage general growth early in the season. I feel that she is right in this assumption,.

General 10-10-10 March-Oct. Nothing Nov-Feb. In late Feb, use a bloom buster like 10-54-10 or any other grade with the highest nutrient being the middle one--Phosphorus. I fertilize once per month by hand or in my water supply.
bob (I know you have seen some of these pictures but they brighten my day and many people seem to enjoy)