I have two Brugs now thanks to a friend that gave me a belated birthday present. I just love it when people don't ask and get me exactly something I'd love. :) Anyway, I'd like some suggestions of what you like to use to fertilize. I have a few fertilizers but nothing I'm crazy about.. Trying to find what I like best for each plant. Currently I have:
MG for roses
MG all purpose
Ironite Plus
I'd love any input you have.
Becky
What is your favorite fertilizer for your Brug?
Becky,
I have been growing brugs for about 15 years and have tried many different fertilizers. I have tried Peter's Bloom, Regular Miracle Grow, etc. But the one that I like the best now is one that more closely matches the nurtitional needs of brugmansia. It is the new formula of Miracle Grow All Purpose. The numbers on the old MG formula was 15-30-15, now the numbers are 24-8-16.
I started using it a couple of years ago when they first came out with it and I saw a huge difference in my brugs. One cultivar, 'Whiskers' was notorious for having foliage that was hard to get to green up. But using the new MG I was able to get it to green up its leaves real good.
Also, a couple of times during the year I give them all a spray of Epsom Salts and Borax to help head off any minor nutrient deficiencies. Use 1 Tablespoon of Epsom Salts per gallon of water, 1 teaspoon of Borax (20 Mule Team in the laundry section) per gallon of water. The epsom salts can be watered in, but it is best to spray the borax on the leaves. I just mix both at the same time and spray. I would also suggest spraying your brugs with Kelp as a foliar feed, they really like it and kelp helps plants tolerate stress.
Hopes this helps you and good luck with your brugs,
Becky, I foregot to include this link to the website about the new MG, here it is.
http://www.miraclegro.com/index.cfm/event/ProductGuide.waterSoluble
David
This message was edited May 6, 2007 10:50 PM
I have the shake and feed miracle gro. the numbers are 10-10-10. I will look for the other one you are talking about. Thanks, davidwv!
I agree with David, the new Miracle grow is a much improved product, and the brugs really respond to it. My other favorite for brugs is a locally made fertilizer - Hibiscus fertilzer 18-8-28. I've actually found that it is a great fertilizer for most tropicals. It is available at www.yardgeek.com
Rj
I also use the new miracle grow when I do mass feedings. I use the hose end method to feed everyone at the same time. However, miracle grow still lacks the trace elements that encourage vigorous health. Many nutrient deficiencies found in growing brugs can be traced back to soley using products like miracle grow, because you assume it has everything plants need. To solve this problem I use DYNA-GROW 7-9-5 with trace elements. Since i have so many brugs I will use the Dyna-Grow selectively on my "special" brugs on a regular basis (using a watering can) and on my others when they are going into flush and I see small buds forming.
This message was edited May 8, 2007 10:20 AM
I know what you mean about having alot of brugs..I have what I call the brug forrest. It is looking showy right now as the white,cream and pink are all out..my Gold haven't bloomed yet. There are too many names now ..so I just call them white, cream, pink and gold!
I'll have to check the Dyna Grow out. I do sprinkle alfalfa pellets that have seaweed, fish emulsion, molasses, cotton seed already enfused, still sometimes that is too slow of uptake for brugs.
Okay..I'm going to write the Dyna grow in my journal so I don't forget. thanks
Rj
How about the superthrive? I have heard good things about it and recently bought a 4 oz bottle at Walmart. It is full of trace elements. It smells like the multivitamin mix used in hospitals to add to IV's. The superthrive web site has some great prices on larger ones too and a little goes a LONG way. I was lucky to have glass dropper bottles to put it into for the small waterings. (bought a box of them on e-bay last year... they come in handy for lots of things!)
http://www.superthrive.com/freetrial.html
Tammie
I use superthrive and fish emulsion too. Superthrive is primarily vitamin B with hormones. It works great but it does not have trace minerals in it.
This message was edited May 8, 2007 5:52 PM
Would using MG, superthrive and fish or seaweed emulsion be overkill?
Rj, where do you get the alfalfa pellets from? I have not gotten brave enough to make the tea because of the smell, but I'd like to try watering it in or alfalfa meal.
Shortstuff each of those things brings something different to the table. Everyone has to remember that what works for one person may NOT work for somebody else. There are many factors involved in the brugs being able to assimilate whatever nutrients that are provided. Things that are factored into the equation are climate (zone), hardness of water, what type of soil is being used, PH factors..etc.....I could go on and on. A thread like this is good information for people to learn what has worked for others and try to find the "magic mix" or combinations of mixes that work for them, but keep in mind there is no ONE thing that will make brugs grow and bloom.
Keep in mind also that when you add lots of "products" to your soil you could end up with salt and mineral build up (mineral deposits) in the soil which isn't good for the plants. It's a good idea once a month or so to water heavily with plain water flushing out deposits that may have built up in the soil during the heavy feeding periods.
This message was edited May 8, 2007 5:20 PM
Yes..this is so true what xeriscape says. Zones, soils, location in the garden, in pots? Brugs in pots become all roots in 1 year here or less, which will change they dynamics of what is needed (besides re-potting or planting it in the ground like it should)
Like you, I too recognized the strong vitamin B smell of superthrive- and now use a large bottle of vitamin B that is far and away much cheaper. Honestly, I don't notice the missing hormones, but like you say..it's what works where for whom.
I get the alfalfa pellets from Southwest Fertilzer it's called earth essentials.
http://yardgeek.com/index.cfm
Direct link to the alfalfa
http://yardgeek.com/fertilizer_view_prod.cfm?SKU=513.
I also get the hibiscus formula there which is an excellent product. Since your in florida, you might grow Papayas...and I have discovered that the formula 18-8-28 must be the perfect blend, because it made my papayas go wild. I had so many papayas last year I just let them fall of the trees..now there are dozens of little papayas growing all over my garden..
Rj
Thanks RJ!
Can someone explain the numbers on fertilizers?
I know that one is for the root system, then the foliage, and then flower.
So when David posts - 24-8-16 Would this mean 24 is for the flower, 8 for foliage and 16 for roots?
Thanks!
Teresa,
This is what the numbers on fertilizers stand for:
24 = N = Nitrogen - Leaves
8 = P = Phosphate - Flowers
16 = K = Potash - Roots
These are the major nutrients that plants need, but they also need very small amounts of other nutrients (called minor nutrients) like zinc, copper, boron, iron, manganese, etc. So make sure that your fertilizer, no matter which one you use, has these minor nutrients included. The new Miracle Grow formula has these minor nutrients.
I also use kelp, fish fertilizer, epsom salts and borax on my brugs. But Like Gary said there are so many variables for each one of us, finding that perfect mix of products will be different for everybody.
I like the granular Color Burst that comes in 5 LB bags from HD. It is 15-30-15 and time released. I use it on all my flowering plants and it has doen well for me over the last few years. Of course, I do use occasional Spray-N-Grow foliar micronutrient spray--not a fertilizer, but it is great stuff!
Excuse my stupidity, but wouldn't 15-30-15 be better for inducing the flowering for brugs?
Yep--but, as the nitrogen and potash levels are also relatively high, I find it a all-around good fertilizer for flowering plants. Also, phosphorous is good for strong roots--not just blooms. Supplementing with Spray-N-Grow for micronutrients also makes for very strong, green plants. I am sure my climate helps, being in central Florida, but my brugs grow quite huge and strong with my regimen. The brugs on my old property grew over 10 feet tall and flowered like crazy. I moved back in December and had to cut them all way back to move them but they are already bounding back like mad. The cuttings I rooted from the ones that were just to big to move are already about 3 feet tall.As for SuperThrive, I use it on the cuttings, and, the young rooted cuttings get it mixed with Miracle-Gro until they are well rooted and I see the roots coming out the bottom of the pot, at which time I move them to granular.
I have been using the 15-55-15 and it works very well. I don't use it on the little ones full strength.
Teresa and Brad,
It would seem to be common sense that using a fertilizer with a higher middle number would be best to induce the flowering in brugmansia, but actually this is not the case with brugmansia. Below is an excerpt from an article; The Correct Fertilization Of Brugmansia, written for one of the brug societies by, Dr. Hans-Georg Preissel from Germany. In this excerpt you will notice that the ratios of N-P-K he recommends is very close to the new MG of 24-8-16.
"Generally, one can recommend fertilizing Brugmansia in the following manner: A water-soluble, mineral and nitrogen-rich fertilizer (complete with micro nutrients) is particularly suitable. Such a fertilizer should contain approximately
12-20 % nitrogen,
3-6 % phosphorous and
8-12 % potassium.
During the summer main growth period the plants should be fertilized twice a week. A solution of 4-6 g of water-soluble or 4-6 mL liquid fertilizer per liter of water per plant should be applied each time.
These relatively high nutrient applications should be reduced however, if
· a rather weakly growing variety is to be fertilized
· young plants are being cultivated
· it is winter"
I have been growing brugs for apx. 15 years and I have to say that the new MG is very good. And it will produce the flowers on brugs. Here is a pic of my Pink Beauty the first year that I used it.
This message was edited May 9, 2007 1:59 PM
OMG! I dream of having something so beautiful in my yard! Amazing. I am definitely going to check the numbers more closely on my fertilizers. I do have some Calcium Nitrate I add a pinch of to the water ... it is readily availble N for the plants but does not stay in the soil... it washed out rather easily.
Tammie
Remember though,
Like Xeriscape said...it's what works for where you are. During the summer here, I have to discontinue fertilization as the brugs are just trying to survive the heat. The Fertilization schedule that most people do during the "summer" takes place here FEB-MAY. Some heat tolerant brugs will continue blooming during the summer like Dr. Seuss and Aztec, but for the most part ours will stop bloooming until around september with the exception of sporadic flushes.
I'm definately in agreement with the new MG though,
Thank you for that information, David.
I use alfalfa pellets at the rate of 1 cup for every gallen of water & I use rain water when I can get enough of it. (unless I forget to get if when it rains). After about 7 days in the sun it will be ready to use, use the top liquid & save the mush to put around the plants & when it rains they get more food. Your neighbers will NOT be to happy with the smell but you will have big flowers.
Jerry.