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Want to clear something up about fertilizers
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Posted by alex818 z9 CA (My Page) on Wed, Nov 4, 09 at 16:01
| From what I've read, people seem to be having good results using fertilizers like Tomato Tone (new formula is 3-4-6), and Garden Tone (new formula 3-4-4). Some even report having luck using fish and seaweed emulsion (about 4-1-1 or 5-1-1). I couldnt find any tomato tone so I purchased EB Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food (4-5-3).
NMSU Chili Pepper Institute recommends using a balanced fertilizer (5-10-10 or 10-10-10) and notes to go easy on the Nitrogen so I would assume the 5-10-10 would be more appropriate. See link:
http://aces.nmsu.edu/chilepepperinstitute/documents/growing-tips.pdf
Im curious as to whether NMSU's recommendation is in regards to using synthetic fertilizers such as Miracle Grow or should that also cover Organic fertilizers as well. I spoke to a lady over at a plant nursery and she said that organic ferts tend to be "Slow Release" that feed continuously so a lower concentration is required versus synthetic ferts that get flushed out quicker with regular watering.
I'm a little concerned that even though the plants may thrive with the organic ferts I listed, they may not be producing to their full potential. According to a research article on the NMSU site, its noted that "imbalance, especially deficient potassium, reduces seed quality and yield." Here's a link to that article:
http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/horticulture/CTF5.pdf
Any thoughts? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Want to clear something up about fertilizers
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| Retention time/leaching in the soil depends on several factors. Granular vs liquid fertilizer, rain fall, plant size at application time for liquids, amount of organic matter in the soil etc. I use granular lawn and garden 10:10:10 fertilizer, and ammend the soil with wood chip compost that has been "cooked" with high nitrogen lawn fertilizer to speed composting of the wood. If you have high organic content in the soil the microbes will compete with the plant roots to take up inorganic/mineral fertilizers, and then slow release them as their populations turn over. |
RE: Want to clear something up about fertilizers
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I've been using a soil mix heavy with wood products.
From the start I'm feeding the soil mix with nitriogen.
I use Fish Emultion and seaweed extract for the growth stage everytime I water in about 1/10 th or 1/8th of a full dose.
I average watering every 3 days.
Pubescense love it and most of my other plants do pretty good though some don't like it at all unless they get an extra shot of fish every so often.
For budding I use Alska morbloom instead of the seaweed.
I slightly cut down on the fish-gotta feed the soil too. Basicaly I'm saying a lot depends on your growing materials as to what ferts work best for you.
After buying way too much Fish emultion and the labor involved in using the wood based soil mix I'm thinking of using it only for my Pubes.
Adding more peat to it for my other peppers.
I've already started playing with finding the happy medium in a soil mix that might be better for everything and not be so labor intensive or expensive to either mix or maintain.
It also must last a couple years in bigger containers.
I grow year round and don't have any time when my plants aren't either growing like springtime or putting out pods.
Re potting is a hassle for 400-500 5gal. and up pots.Most are 15 gal. now.
I've been trying 14-14-14 osmacote in my soil when I mix it up to see if it'll feed the soil enough so the plants will get what they need from the fish and seaweed...
That will only be a 1 season fix though. |
RE: Want to clear something up about fertilizers
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| Yes, that is my understanding. The organics have lower numbers but are slower release. The Miracle-Gro type synthetics have higher #'s but pass thru the soil more quickly. A tortoise vs. hare situation, but they'll both get you to the same destination with the #'s not being comparable. |
RE: Want to clear something up about fertilizers
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RE: Want to clear something up about fertilizers
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I like organics because it's real hard to overdose your plants with it.
With my nitrogen eating soil it would be hard to not mess up your plants once in a while with buildup.
It would probably happen at the worst time too.Make your pods and buds drop or something. |
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