I recently purchased a ph tester that also came with a fertilizer meter. and according to my meter I have been starving my brugs.aparently they are the hungriest plant I have ever dealt with.I was just hoping for some feedback on how much you guys think brugs need to be fed. i should add my plants are responding well to the amount of fertilizer I am giving them.which is alot once a week.
how much to feed
I fertilize mine 2 to 3 times a week. I have a sprinkler system in my shadehouse that has a fertilizer unit on it and when ever I water with it I fill it up with fertilizer, don't really know how much I am giving them with it. I don't like to use the sprinkler so much so I water with the hose and when I can I use the hose end sprayer and fill it up all the way with fertilizer. I also add fertilizer to the water everytime I spray them so they are fed thru their leaves. But the best results come when I water by hand with fertlizer mixed in, I use 2 tbsp to a gallon. When I fertilize my brugs in the ground I use 1 to 5 gallons of prepared mix, depending on the size of the tree. I use bloom booster most of the time and 20-20-20 at the beginning of the season. I also add epsom salt to the plants that have real light green or yellow colored leaves.
You can tell that they need more fertlizer when the leaves start lightening up, and that is when I try to fertilize by hand.
This is what I do, not saying it is the right way, but it works for me here in South Florida.
Connie
Once a week with foliar , [ with micro nutrients ]
15-15-15 or 16-16-16 [ whatever is on sale ] - sprinkler on ground when I don't see any left .
Epson salt in Jan [ during rains ] Again in July and when on sale .
Preen in Feb to keep weeds down .
Snail bait after watering [ At least once a week ][ Epson salt also kills snails slugs ]
D E [ diatomaceous earth ] in april [ just finished yesterday ] with duster for mites , snails ,aphids, whiteflies , ants , spiders , pill bugs - it also kills spiders , caterpillars , bees , lady bugs - doesn't hurt pets .
This is for my Dahlias but is true for brugs also
Fertilizers
Nitrogen is needed for the heavy bush growth of dahlias and for large flowers. If too much nitrogen is applied, weak growth, late blooming, and poor keeping quality of the tubers results.
Phosphorus is essential to all plant functions and is a very important fertilizer. It hastens blooming, stiffens stems, increases root development, and balances any excessive nitrogen applied.
Potash increases root development and the general vigor of the plant.
A good fertilizer practice would be to apply 5 or 6 pounds of a 0-20-20 fertilizer per 100 square feet or a handful under and around the hole where each tuber is to be planted. Mix the fertilizer so that it does not come in direct contact with the tubers.
If nitrogen is needed, you can apply it later as the buds form. Scatter it lightly about a foot away from the plant. Ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate would be a good fertilizer to supply nitrogen.
http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/fs/fs95/fs95.html
I bought an unknown Brug. last fall which the nursery had already cut back so that this one was essentially a stick w/leaves up the whole stick. I potted it and protected it this winter in the garage. Don't know how to fertilize it or anything. By this spring it had "Yd" and put out one flush of 7 flowers and on another Y there was one bloom. This all happened after we had transplanted it to the ground. A neighbor saw the white blooms and came to the door and asked my husband if she could have a cutting. I stalled and said that maybe later in the year I could let her have one because I didn't know if or how to cut a cutting and from which part. Need lots of advice: fertilizing, giving cuttings, etc etc. Everything! Thanks in advance for your help.
Ann
Cuttings should be taken after the Y . They flower sooner . As far as giving away cuttings , orther than being nice its a good idea because if yours dies - you have a sourse to replace it .
I use Peter's 20 20 20 at first.. even though it's kinda strong, I think it's an all around safe fertilizer to cover all the areas of need.
Last year, I used Miracle Grow alternating with Bloom Booster for the annuals. I use 2 heaping tbs to 2 gals of water, twice a week when the plants are obviously growing fast.. when they slow down, so do I. Just be sure you don't fertilize a dry plant, water first if the soil is dry.
Ann, as far as cuttings go... it's totally up to you. If you have already had blooms and have enough growth above the Y.. You may have enough for a cutting... if you don't have enough to spare now.. it won't take long, and you'll be looking for people to take cuttings!
Congratulations on your early spring blooms!