fertilizing question

I haven't a clue what type to use, or even what strength. I have over 50 plants I'll give you a rundown on what I basically have and let me know if I need to get a few fertilizers or if 1 will do the job on all of them.
wandering jew, pothos (golden & marble queen), bridal veil, HL philodendron, chinese evergreen, angelwing begonia, yucca, goldfish plant, marginata, a few dieffenbachia's (sp), schefflera, croton, snakeplant, ivy, and a few similars. Then there are the av's and some succucelents and cacti. I was figuring I am going to need different fert. for the succulents/cacti group, and the av group, and then the general houseplant group. Is this correct? If you could help with strength and brand I would appreciate it. I do have some miracle gro plant spikes, but I was told not to use these as the deliver a concentrated dose in one area and doesn't reach other parts of the plant.
The whole reason for me wanting to fertilize is because some of my plants aren't producing as healthy growth as I would like. Meaning, some leaves are coming out soooooo small, that I know it needs a boost. Not repotting or watering, some nutrition. I also notice that the plants I potted up with shultz need more assistance than the ones potted with miracle grow soil.
Thanks a bunch
HOlly

This message was edited Wednesday, Jul 11th 9:41 AM

I have lots of the same plants, plus tropicals and I use Schultz all purpose 20-30-20 Plant Food Plus(in half) and all seem to be fine. I was told by a very wise woman 'its better to use too little than too much'. It seems to work for mine. I did try the different succulent fertilizer/food and in my opinion it was too much a hassle so i just use the above. Good Luck:)

Hi Holly,

I had drafted a response to this earlier today, but accidentally clicked out of it when work came along to my desk (am online at office only). Will try it again --

Simplicity is a helpful thing & within that, the simpler the better. You appear sometimes prone to complicate things unnecessarily.

As the above poster suggests, I was going to suggest that if you use a good all-around fert., like 20-20-20, you could use it on your WHOLE collection -- that is to say ALL the plants.

If you must specialize a regular 20-20-20 is good for the houseplants (or bloom boosting food too, including for the AVs.)

That said (I'm not new at plants) I do use special AV food for AVs, special C&S food called "Cactus Juice" for the C&S, but it's hard to find, expensive & only comes in small bottles) & am new to orchids & use a special stuff on orchids too.

Pls. remember (maybe it's just how you typed your list), that Sansevierias (Snake Plants) are succulents, not houseplants. Succulents as a rule could use less fert. than other plants. In the wild they tend to grow in soil w/ little or no nutrition, so if you feed them too often, they're likely to become overly lush. You might try fert. the C&S only once every 3 months (if you must). The key thing abt C&S food is for it to have a lower nitrogen number (the 1st number one sees in an X-Y-Z type listing), as too much nitrogen over-encourages leaf growth. (Ffej, I explained that OK, didn't I?)

Unduly small leaves CAN sometimes be indicative of not enough light. You really might work more on your culture habits than forcing by fertilizer (tho' doing them both would be great).

As an aside, saw your photo album recently, if still needing ID, the unk 1 & 2 are of an Echeveria (etiolated), that is to say getting leggy, 'cause it's lookin' for much more light. Ideally, Echeverias generally grow in tight rosette forms, not w/ the center growth stretching out tall like yours is. (As to the other unk, just a guess, but try searching for Cotyledon to see if you can match yours to any pix. Cotyledon is related to Crassula & often (I believe) get similar care. If you find it to be that, we can always talk further or look up more as to care instructions.) HTH

Also, once you mix up fertilizer, only use that bottle for the same fertilizer the next time, lest different fertilizer's chemicals get mixed up. If you do not live alone (as I do) pls. carefully label all your bottles & teach your kids (if any) not to touch them. Many liquid fertilizers (which I sometimes prefer as they're easier to dispense) will result in a colored water when mixed -- easily distinguished from plain water. My 20-20-20 mixes up blue/ my AV food mizes up purple, as examples.

I wouldn't worry abt brands at all. As to dosage always, ALWAYS follow the package instructions; to be safest make it slightly more dilute than the package recommends. Better safe than sorry.

Sorry to be soooo long - but you asked many questions. Post back if I missed anything & GREAT GROWING (& while I'm w/ you, thx for the other site you founded).

Pirate Karen

There is more unnecessary angst about fertilizer than any other aspect of plant care. I spent years exploring the chemistry and biology of plant nutrition in an effort to find the perfect concoction for each of my plants. Here is what I learned:

1. There is a different fertilizer formulation marketed for just about every plant species in nature. (I'm being facetious!)

2. 99.9% of all plant problems are NOT nutrient related.

3. Whether you do or don't fertilize and what formulation you use rarely makes any difference at all.

4. Despite all of this, plant owners still love to fertilize.

As a result of No.4 above, I have written an article on fertilizing houseplants that I wrote to separate the facts from the marketing fiction and to help people avoid some of the pitfalls of overfertilizing. I am happy to send this article to anyone who requests it.

Will Creed
Horticultural Help
wcreed@erols.com

Holly, I use Miracle Grow when I'm doing everybody, and Schultz Orchid when I am doing insides. I fert insides only with Orchid stuff, cause I only have one orchid, and lots of left over water.

I don't mess around with fert much, just when I'm bored and can't find anything else I would 'rather' do. I have to watch this as one stupid cat loves to drink out of my 'general plant water'. They have fresh water, what is the lure with MINE?

I think good soil is the best answer and there are a lot of ammendments that go toward this. Earthworm castings, bonemeal, epsom salts... they all have their place. Never forget that fertilizers mean chemical gardening.

Each of the numbers and their placements answer to a different need. [N]itrogen is first, [P]hosphorus is second, [K]Potassium is third. Nitrogen is needed for good stem & leafy foliage or certain times of year when foliage is putting on, phosphorus is good for root systems and just before bud formation, potassium is necessary for flower production and general sturdiness. Results of the above is the only reason that you might need different ferts.

I think that PG Karen forgets that asking questions is how everyone learns, and that sometimes she can be overbearing.

Good luck with your experiments and keep on asking...

Cena

Hi again,

Of course I remember that questions are the way we all learn; wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sorry if it came out otherwise & sounded overbearing. I certainly did not intend for it to be. Apologies all around, I'll try to be more sensitive to that in the future.

PG Karen

Hi, thanks so much for the replies. First off let me say, I in no way found Karen's post overbearing or insensitive when I first saw it. I asked questions and I got the answers I was looking for and I appreciate that. I am learning in a lot of ways and I appreciate "ALL" of the answers that I get. If I didn't want replies in any way shape or form, I wouldn't post. And if I felt in any way that someone offended me I would let them know, I felt that way. So there is no need to be sorry Karen. But anyhow I didn't see it the way you did Cena :)
I will be going and getting what ever fertilizer seems right. I most likely will go with miracle grow, why cause thats the one advertised the most. But I won't truly know until I get to the store. SOme of my plants are in the wrong lighting conditions and I will take the steps necessary to do so. ANother of my plants (golden pothos) is in serious need of repotting, he is the only one that I have left alone since being bought. I know they love the tightness of the pot, but his soil is in desperate need of refreshing. When it comes to fert. I am sure I will make a mistake or two but I am learning so I am hoping the plants forgive me my mistakes and grow from them...lol But we shall see what happens when I start.
Once again thanks for all of the info I truly do appreciate it. And I love the fact that you are willing to take the time to reply to a message.
HOlly

Funny that fertilizer can be almost controversial, isn't it? But, Will, I think, isn't being TOO facetious. Back at the nursery, we spoke of what we called the "fertilizer secret.." That in spite of the marketing and what we called our Wall of Fertilizers (one for citrus, one for fruit trees, one for tomatoes, one for african violets, and so forth), basically all our Outdoor gardeners needed was three: the balanced (like a triple twelve or triple ten), the acid (for most shade lovers), and the bloom (with little or no nitrogen).
That's an oversimplification, but a garage full of bags whose analysis numbers vary by so little is a waste of space!
It's all marketing from my point of view. Cena's point about earthworm castings, bonemeal and the like speaks to the need not only for NPK, but secondary and micronutrients.
Inside, I'm pretty sparing with fertilizer, but I know the soil mix I make is sterile and sometimes I switch around knowing each brand will have a different combination of secondaries and micros. I also flush the pots periodically. (Just visualized setting them in the commode to flush water through them... h'mmm....lol.)
So I'd advise, if you have houseplant Miracle Grow, try using it half strength. I have of late used a real mild one called Eleanor's VF-11, and it has given me good results, even with a Phalaenopsis which just finished about 3 months of bloom.
Whatever ya do Holly, relax and enjoy yer plants. :)perL

I agree with you Cena. You are wise and you say things in a very encouraging manner.

About fertilizer, I feed my plants when they are growing well--spring, summer, fall, but do not do it in the winter months. I have had good luck with sprinkling a *little* dynacote (sp???)-- the blue extended release pellets -- on top of the soil. They continue to feed for 6 months. But don't mix into the soil (root burn) and only use a half teaspoon or so.

For my sansevierias and other succulents I use a standard cactus and succulent "juice." Sansevierias and other succulents don't do as well with standard formulas--tend to grow splindly with these.

My opinion: when plants have correct light, potting, well draining soil and are growing well, fertilizer helps them out. If the other conditions are not satisfied, however, fertilizer does no good and can actually harm.

Hope that helps!