Im growing in containers, and I do add an organic granular to my soil mix (along with some worm castings and a bit of gypsum) when I transplant. However I have been reading and cant seem to find a good organic bloom booster to add during blooming and fruiting.

Ild prefer to stay away from bottled, store boughten products. If thats what I have to use then I guess thats what Ill have to use. What Ild love to find though is a cheap, natural bloom booster I could apply every other watering or so to help up production during that time and make sure the plants arent short on P.

Diluted coffee is great for nitrogen, Molassess is great for potassium ..... but I have to believe theres an inexpensive phosphorus source that Im overlooking??

I guess I wouldnt be terribly against something like Neptune harvests fish fertilizer (2-4-1) and maybe mix with some molasses to up the K. Im kind of on a free (or virtually free) kick though and while I dont mind purchasing bulk organics like bone or blood meals something about using everyday wastes to feed plants really appeals to me.

Any suggestions?

But, if you want a great all around organic fertilizer then you should try some rabbit manure. It's the best fertilizer I've ever used. You won't believe the results you'll get with it.

Alan

NJA

These plants are grown inside, under HID, in containers. As mentioned I suppliment the soil mix at transplant with granulars and they do great, but after several months from leaching and feeding the soil seems to get lean on the plants and I need a way to suppliment them through fruiting, and indefinately to be honest since the hot peppers are perinneals Ill keep them going as long as they keep producing.

Rabbit manure doesnt seem to fit the bill here unless I was transplanting. Or do you suggest top dressing with it? I guess I could always make a tea too?? Im all ears for any suggestions along these lines.

NJA - How do you suggest to use a bone/charcoal mix? Top dressing Im assuming ... but how much and how often (as a general guidline I realize plants needs vary). Maybe 1 to 2 tablespoons top dressed, once a month?? Most plants are in 3 gallon pots permenantly.

Ive read hot peppers hate nitrogen, and I just had a peach hab that grew through the ceiling and bloomed like a forest when I gave it used coffee grounds but stopped producing fruit completely so I tend to believe this. I wouldnt want to use rabbit manure, even if it is great, with a higher N content like that.

I specifically need something high in P and K... I have sources for N .. coffee being the easiest of all for me.

ideally, the charcoalis a fixator and a slow releaser of nutrients. It saves nutrients from being washed away. Best effect is evident when it is used at a depth of six to eight inches from top soil. My uncle was an avid rose grower. He used to apply only once an year . I did likewise . My rosed used to be very good in color and size.

NJA

You can use rabbit manure at any rate you'd like (since it's a cold fertilizer) and it won't burn your plants. A tea from the stuff should also give good results.

The only problem I had with the rabbit manure was that I only had a small supply of it and when it ran out I couldn't find any more locally. If I could find a good supply of it I wouldn't use anything else.

If you can get it, try it on a few of your plants and see how well they do. I believe you'll like the results.

Alan

HTH

However I have been reading and cant seem to find a good organic bloom booster to add during blooming and fruiting.

Bloom boosters don't work. Plants have fairly low phosphorus requirements in relation to nitrogen and potassium and many use more calcium than phosphorus. That high P promotes more blooms is an industry myth not at all supported by the science.

Here is a link to pepper production and macro nutrients required.

Here is a link to the CEO of Dyna Grow answering my question as to why they make/promote high P "bloom" fertilizers.

There were spots that went for years without any grass, then when I put rabbit manure on them - they grew so lush that it was unreal. Again, this was grass not peppers however if I had any steady supply of rabbit manure - I certainly would try it just from the results I got on the grass.

On that note, I may end up getting a couple of rabbits just so that my daughter can have some pets and I can have a steady supply of rabbit manure!