Fertilizer For AV's?

Just thought I would start a new "Thread" here instead of hijacking someone else's ... which I tend to do and get off track!

I would like to get a poll of sorts to find out what y'all feed your AV's. Is it important to use something labeled specifically for African Violet's, or can you use any fertilizer for blooming plants, such as Orchid Food? Any food with a high middle number? And, what about those little plant food spikes for flowering plants? I bought some liquid Miracle-Gro AV Plant Food (7-7-7) and was wondering if this is tye best one, or does anyone have any suggestionss on another brand? During the summer when I feed my few Orchids out on the deck, I have fed other flowering plants with the Orchid stuff without any harm. I've used it for Impatiens, Begonia's and a couple of other flowering types, but don't know if it would be the correct thing to use on AV's. I'm learning so much from everyone here at DG and appreciate any advice you can give as to proper feeding.

Lin

A plant food without Urea is important for Av's
Middle high is not good. Even Rob from Violet Barn says they have never used it and does not recommend.
Most Recommended is even numbers.
Miniatures/Semi's low numbers
Less fertilizer is always best. I use 1/8 reccomended amount.
Fertilizer does not evaporate with water. So bottom water, tray,s filled for wick use less, water plants threw pot from top with water sometimes good idea wick water use less and clean out trays every week or two.

This message was edited Jan 24, 2007 7:31 PM

Allison, you are such a sweet gal with so much wonderful information. I Thank You again for all your knowledge! Some of my AV's are wicked, and then the pot is sitting inside a decorative container. My plan is to re-pot everything using the wicks. That makes it a lot easier for me. When I water, I put the water into the decorative container, but just a little and I use warm water, always emptying it out after a few minutes because I'm afraid it would take up too much and get soggy. I don't ever use the dosage amount listed on the container. I have always gone by the old adage "Less is More"! So, do you think it's okay to stick with the Miracle-Gro 7-7-7 that I bought? Uh Oh ... I just read the back of the bottle and it says: 0.4 % ammoniacal nitrogen and 6.6 % urea nitrogen - Total Nitrogen 7%. So, I think I will take this back to the store for a refund. What do you use for feeding your AV's and other Gessies? I am really curious as to what everyone else uses to feed their plants. The photo's everyone posts of their Lovely Av's just make me want to try my best to do it right!

Thanks again,

Lin

I think you made the right choice. urea nitro. can burn the thread-like roots of the avs.

I know that many -- Rob and Optimara as well as others -- say to use a balanced formula and I did for about two years. Last year, however I began using Nutriculture by Plant Marvel. The chemical make up is12-31-14. It also has magnesium, sulphur, boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdemum and zinc. (trace elements) I use it at the rate of 1/8 tsp per gallon of water and to that I add 1 drop of Super Thrive. Super Thrive was suggested in Growing to Show. I wick everything. About every third or forth watering I use plain water.

Nann, I've never heard of Nutriculture or Plant Marvel ... will google to find a source for it. I have heard people on here talk about Super Thrive, but I've never seen it locally either .... maybe I need to look more closely.

Your plants look really Healthy and Beautiful, so you must be doing something right!

Thanks!

Lin

You're welcome. It's good to get information but the key is doing what works for you.

I agree Nann, it's so nice to get all this great information and ideas and suggestions from people. We can take it all in, do the research and try what we think is best for us and our growing conditions!

I recently purchased Optimara's AV food online. The analysis is 14-12-14 and it says to use 1/2 tsp per gallon of water. I haven't had it long enough to know what the results might be as far as blooms, but the leaf colors are quite good at this point. I gave up trying to find AV food here in town that didn't have urea, and figured Optimara would know the best food to use. While I was waiting to get something, I used Schultz orchid food with an analysis of 19-31-17. Didn't realize there would be such a big difference, but it seems everything survived.

Optimara is the fertilizer that I used for the first two years I began to collect avs. It is a good fertilizer. In the beginning I used too much and damaged many if not all of my plants. I lightened my soil, began wicking, and reduced the recommended amount of fertilizer. My plants are doing better. I switched fertilizer (just to try it) last October. Violet Gallery is now using Nuitriculture and recommended it very highly. I like the results I have seen growing under my conditions. I especially like the color my variegated leaves maintain.

Thank you all so much for the info.

I have no variegated plants, but have a couple on my "Wish List" .... I can't wait for the weather to warm up in the North, so shipping can begin!

I was just reading some tips from Lyndon Lyons Greenhouse. Their definition of balanced fertilizer is 15-30-15. I thought that was very interesting. Rob says 20-20-20 is balanced. Sooooooo, which is it? Again, I think it comes down to what works for you, depending upon the conditions you grow in.

I totally agree Nann, some folks have great luck with one product and other's swear by something else. I do like to find something that works and stick with it. I'm always afraid of changing something .... as they say .... "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".....

Once I find what's right for my plants, I will stick with it. I have a bad habit of not being a good "mommy" and not feeding much at all. But, I know if I want healthy plants and nice blooms, I need to get a routine going and stick to it.

Just one other thing about fertilizer--salt build up. When you continually feed (fertilize every time you water or wick water with fertilizer in the water), salts build up in the soil causing things like brittle leaves, small centers, or crystal deposits on the small center leaves (this looks like little yellow to gold colores specks). Leaching or allowing water to run through the soil is a good practice. Some say every month others says every two months. I think it depends on the amount of fertilizer used and how often. I'm sure there is plenty of information in the stickey threads.

I just read about it again this morning and leach thee plants that had a slight curling down of leaves.

I was wondering if I should feed every time I water, I always dilute plant food when using it, I never trust what the package says! I have had mineral build up in house plants before, even when not feeding on a regular basis, and I do leach the pots/plants when that happens, or if the build up seems really bad, I repot in a new/clean pot.

I think when I decide what brand/type of fertilizer, I will begin slowly, diluted amounts and not every time I water, but maybe every two weeks to see what happens.

Sounds good

Lot's of growers like to change every so often their different ferilizers too.
When I am growing babies , or leaves down , I enjoy using Optimaras Plant food. The numbers are even but I find the high nirtogen helps the babies to grow healthy foliage !
I also have enjoyed using Optimara's African violet food.
I also have enjoyed using Dyna-Gro I used their bloom boooster once saw no extra blooms and did not help with lush healthy foliage.
I can go back and find links to all of them and they use to be in sticky.
When I buy Dyna-Gro I buy straight from them it cost less.
I always have enjoyed using Peter's African violet food. Middle number is higher.
I've used other Peter's food for lawn and other plants in hand sprayer with hose.
I have had excellent results with Eleanor's VF-11 . We have used it for everything, from lawns oustide to indoor plants .
This morning I noticed one of my Eyelash Begonia plants I've owned this plant and grown in 12 inch pot, snmaller pots in the ground has buds ! Thank you VF-11 :)) Andother cutting I just okk from outside Begonia first week of Nov, 2006has a couple blooms ! It was a two leaf cutting now a several leaf plant with flowers soon to go into the ground.
I also had my neighbor take a leaf of Begonia Irene Nuss which was trans-planted from year to yard first week of Nov, 2006 it is also a nice plant now and will go into Garden bed when warmer.
With VF-11 was the first time I ever had luck progating Strep's by leaf ! I got an Elephant ear pup with one leaf it was mush I cut it off. It was placed in a 3 inch pot. I took picture begin of Decmber 2006. It is now in TWO 4 inch pots one is getting it's 4 th leaf one is getting it's 5 th.
Leaves grew babies healthy, babies healthy, and adult plants healthy with lush healthy foliage blooming plants. My Av's always happy.
Now when I use soil with plant food in it, like Bare 3 in-one has food and bug killer I do not use any other fertilizer for months recommended.
Plants have always done great !
I bought a learge bottle of Super Thrive few years ago and had nothing but trouble I would never use it again.
All plant foods above have Micro Nutrients in them.
It does not mater what you feed your plants how many different this and that all plants are only going to use the 16 plant foods African violets use. Of course the major ones are nitrogen for foliage, phosphorus forflowering , and potassium for genral health of plants. All plant food metnioned abouve have all of these and the Micronutrients used.It is a fact the African violet plant ( or any other palnt) has never been known to use a vitamin , when added to potting mixture . In any of its metabolic porcess for plant growth or flower production.
It's good to wait a week or two before feeding your new plants, or plants that have been trans-planted, under stress or dry.
Don't forget what's underneath is important soil-less mixture and proper pot size !
Light is most important if you don't have light your plants can not properly use these nutrients.
Proper water techniques are important
Clean plants light won't get threw dirty foliage as good nor threw dirty screens and windows.
Your plants enviroment , air circulation, humdity, tempertures have a lot to do with flowering and healthy plants.
over crowding your plants not good don't let them touch have room to work on them.
Crowding plants together creats many problems , lack of sunlight, reduction of air movement, crowding makes excellent condtions for disease and inset problems to develop.
For your plants to be happy and healthy they need everything or the food you feed them will not be used properly or they may not be able to absorb them at all.
Happy Growing.