Fish Emulsion

May I have some thoughts on using Fish Emulsion and on what plants you use it please.

I use it on Citrus, and bananas. Sometimes EEs and other tropicals. Usually I mix it in with other types of fertilizer (blue Miracle-Gro powder types). Occasionally I use it as a foliar feed too.
I'd probably use it on everything if it wasn't so expensive.

I use it on my plumeria. Good stuff if a bit smelly the first day....

How much fish emulsion do you use on your plumies Hetty? and how often? I have been thinking about buying some because it is very good for staghorn ferns.

I think it's very good on anything (well maybe not on toast LOL).
I only do it once every six weeks but would do it more often if I got around to it.

How much do you use per plumeria plant?

Oh boy - I just sort of sprinkle away... it is a water soluble and I put it in the watering can and just water.... maybe 1/4 of the can per plant.

I suppose you could tell a difference or I am sure you probably wouldn't be using it?

It's the essential stuff all plants benefit from. I am sure I wouldn't have as many blooms if I wasn't using it.

I second Dutchlady...it's good on everything.
When trying something new though, use a little less to see how things respond just as a practice of safe than sorry.

Emulsions have a lot of trace elements that the NPK fertilizers don't have.

LOL, I am so Sorry

Costus Erythrophylus

This message was edited Jul 29, 2009 7:45 PM

LOL, better wait on that glass Rita!

I looked up how much fish emulsion you should use on plants and found rhat on House and Potted plants 1 tsp per qt. of water or 1 Tablespoon for one Gallon of water. Use 1 cup of this mix for every foot of plant height every two weeks. Those instructions come from www.naturelawn.com.fish-emulsion.php Hope this helps. JB

Thanks JBerger

Some people clearly do this a lot more scientifically than me.....

Ha ha, you are like me, just try it... If it works that is how my method will stay!

I use a 5 gallon bucket for watering, put in a scoop or two of "blue powder fertilizer" like Miracle Gro, only I use cheaper stuff, and pour in a little glug of the emulsion. A tablespoon per gallon is about right. Then I just scoop and water. Smells horrible but works well, I think.
I had some Brugmansias and Cannas with sort of pale leaves, and using the emulsion mix greened them right up.

Lately I've been trying to add a time release fertilizer with micronutrients pots, Dynamite makes a few, I get it at Home Depot. Much easier and faster than having to mix up all those buckets of fertilizer. It's like Osmocote but I can't find the Osmocote with micronutrients. I really think they help with some plants, like the Brugs.

Dynamite is superior to Osmocote in my opinion and it's what I use exclusively.
Since I don't grow annuals at all I think Miracle Grow is a waste of money so I just use the timed release (13-13-13), and then add things like horse manure, fish emulsion etc. as I get it.

When you get horse manure, do you just sling it on top of the soil?

The manure I get is already nice and aged, and is pretty powdery and loose, and yes, I just spread a shovelful or two around the base of the plant.

Perfect! My buddy raises cattle so i can get buckets of that stuff i just never have.

I call it brown gold.... ^_^

This may sound weird but do you get the dry "patties" or do you use the fresh stuff?

It's horse manure I get, and it needs to sit (as all types of manure I believe) until it is aged, otherwise it will burn the plants.
I have very little involvement in the process since my very kind neighbor drops me off a wheelbarrow or two every time he goes to get some....

Ok i will give it a try!

Fish emulsion is great stuff. When rooted cuttings or seedlings get a little size on them you can see the difference when you use it. Never have had damage to root burn or other problems using it.
My biggest problem with it, since I live in the woods, is it will attract critters. This spring coons and possums would dig in all of my freshly started plants. Some mornings every pot had the plant dug out. Trapped those buggers but had to stop using it for a while on plants I put outside of the GH.
Epson salt is also good at greening up things.
D

LOL, boy didn't I learn that the hard way!! I left a bottle of it by the faucet one night..and it was chewed up the next morning!

Anyone try to make their own fish emulsion? hee hee
My husband went fishing and I took the leftovers from cleaning the fish and put them in a bucket with a snap on lid (cat litter). Then I let it sit in the sun for a week. Ugh! I guess the gasses must have built up inside, and the lid wasn't as secure as I thought, for when I opened, it, it was brown stinky liquid with maggots swimming in it! UGH! And the smell! I never! LOL

Maybe if you use it early in the morning, most of the smell will be gone by raccoon- time??

I have an aquarium and some of the fish died one time so i just put the fish at the base of some plants. Never really noticed if there was any change in the plant but then again i wasn't really studying it either.

My mother has a friend that uses it and all her plants are just incredible. But the smell is horrible!

I spray it on everything from my houseplants to Plumeria to veggies.. my neighbors just luv me ^_^

Foliar? I may try that

Well I guess I am going to have to go buy some and try it out!

I just fed some of my plants on the deck and ran out, now I must mix it again and I am not sure I want to. It smells so gaggy.....ugh. I just had lunch so I may wait a while before I mix another batch. LOL JB

Yeah the smell is horrible! Esp when the sun starts baking it in..mmmm lol...

LOL!!! I find the Alaska fish emulsion isn't as stinky...mabe I've gotten use to it.

oh, the things we do for a few flowers.... :)

No kidding...green houses, heaters, frost blankets, 4 faucet outlets, shelves full products.

Hmmm.... do I do all that for my children???