How often should I be looking to use a 1/4 dose of Super Bloom? I had planned to use
it every other dose switching off with a balanced fert, but I don't want to overload the Phosphorous.

I am using 5-1-1 with Osmocote and Lime @ 1 tbsp/gal.

Also, I need a recommendation for a new balanced WSF. Or should I just keep using Tomato Food?

Thanks much! I will post pictures soon, all of the help from this forum has really
helped my container peppers out!
-Phil

I disolve powdered Dolomite lime in 5% White vinegar.Doesn't matter what amount of lime you add.The acid/vinegar will disolve whatever amount it can.

I just put an inch of lime in a cottage cheese container and fill it with vinegar and stir.
I add more vinegar as I use it.
I add about a couple oz. to a gal. or 2 of mixed ferts.

Dolomite lime has magnesium in it so I think it gives the plants both mag. and calcium.

Calcium helps stop blossum drop and especially C.Chinense need the extra calcium.

Just dolomite lime or bonemeal in the soil depends on PH and takes a while to be plant usable.
Calcium acetate can be used as a folior spray or in the soil.

I think I want to use a fertilizer that smells better than fish emulsion, I live in an apartment with close neighbors walking by constantly.
I have a little sprayer for a foliar mix, I may just put Super Bloom in it and use it at a very small dose daily, 1/7th to 1/10th dose.
I want to spray water daily for spider mites anyway.

What about a non-smelly WSF to use on the regular? Any suggestions besides Miracle Gro that carry any weight and are not overly expensive?

Thankee!

Josh

Is there any reason to spend money on a more expensive WSF than Miracle Gro?
Or should I just pick up more MG Tomato?

Thanks
Phil

The longer answer: there are ways to manipulate nutrients to influence container plants.
However, many growers withhold nitrogen rather than increase phosphorous to encourage
fruiting/flowering. For example, one might use a nutrient ratio of 2-1-2 instead of 3-1-2
for certain crops once the main vegetative stage has been met.

I'm of the opinion that a consistent stream of nutrients will keep plants healthy -
and healthy plants will produce blooms and fruit when they're ready.

Miracle Grow 24-8-16 is a fine product, in the proper ratio, but it lacks calcium.

Josh

As for calcium I have tap water with a fair amount, I think (see container fert thread for the #s and discussion of that), and lime.

Thanks again for setting me on the right path, Josh.

-Phil

Other than cactus ferts and hydroponic stuff I haven't seen many ferts. with calcium.
There are ferts that are just the micro nutriunts plants need that you are supposed to add to your regular fert.

thanks for the help!

Josh

Do I need to worry about overdoing it if I apply calcium acetate? My peppers are just going into full bloom so now would be the time.

-Phil

Thought you guys might appreciate that little tid-bit, as embarrassing as it is.

-Phil

and i am with Phil here on over doing it with calcium. i forgot to add lime to my soil as i made it. and i fertilize with FP so should i also add this calcium acetate to it as well? or is just vineager and fp good enough?

Josh

Also,through trial and error I found out if I added Epsom salt to the water mixed with the Cal. acetate I get crystals forming of who knows what in the bottom of the container.
The crystals are not water soluable and when strained out and put in the soil,don't eventually get disolved.
They won't re disolve in vinegar either.
So don't mix the homemade Cal./Mag acetate with Mag. Sulfate(epsom salt).

I forgot to tell you about the gas released by the reaction of the vinegar and Lime. LOL
I cover mine with platic wrap...
Don't forget to stir the settled Dolomite lime in the bottom of your container from time to time.
If the vinegar didn't react all the lime it could stirring it starts it to react again.
The lime also packs down in the bottom of the container like clay but when stirred it powders up again.Must have something to do with the reaction.

I agree with Josh,I use Nitrogen all through the season on my plants.
I do use more as far as a ratio of Fish Emultion to Seaweed extract in early season but do add a little more fish seaweed extract at budding.
I probably use about the same amount of fish emultion and add more P and K at budding.
Plants in general will take whatever they need,the extra stuff gets used up by other stuff in the soil or washed out the bottom of the pots when I water.

In-ground, I supplement all season long with Fish Emulsion, which has Calcium, too.
Fish Emulsion is very good stuff.

Josh

I consider it somewhat of a waste since I use the witches brew regularly and don't know how long it takes for DE to effect a plant or the soil...
If it takes a long time your plant could be dead by the time the Dolomite lime gets dispersed into the soil enough to do anything.

I hardly ever mess with checking my soils PH.
Unless the PH is really messed up,there hasn't been a need to fix stuff that isn't broke.

Never had a PH problem that I know about except with Blueberry plants.
I got tired of messing with them and they are history.

I've had problems with ferts before(wood based soil mixes use lots more nitrogen at first) but never with PH as far as I can tell.
Plants in the ground adapt to the soil they are in so I figure I'd really have to screw up to get a really bad PH in my pots with the stuff I use to make my soil.

I just add whatever I felt like adding while mixing up my soil.
Same way I cook.Most times no recipe...

If you are worried about overdoing it just folior spray your plants and scratch in the lime in your soil.
Some will still get into the soil from dripping off the leaves though.
I guess since Cal. acetate is an acid and Dolomite lime is alkaline it couldn't hurt if your soil is already too acid.

I'm not a big fan of Folier feeding.
I only started doing it because it keeps the mite hords in check.
Otherwise I'd never folier spray my plants.
I never did before the mites invaded.
Mites are Forever.
I once sprayed half my plants and only soil fed my other half.
Didn't notice any difference.
A lot of people swear by folier feeding though.

It boils down to whatever works for the way you grow your garden-how much time etc. you want to spend messing with your plants.
I grew about 400 plants,2X a year here , year round and messing with PH etc. wasn't something I wanted to mess with,pot by pot at a time.
Mites killed all my plants last season.
Only growing 150 or so plants in pots this year to see if I can control the mites.

Eric