Fertilizer FAQs
- Should I fertilize my juniper bonsai during its dormant period?
- My bonsai is not looking so good. It was dropping its leaves so I fertilized it this weekend. Will this help?
- I have fish and seaweed fertilizer. It reads 3-2-2 on the label. I was told that I could mist it on plants as a foliar feeding but I cannot remember the proportion of fertilizer to water.
- Is foliar feeding better than applying fertilizer into the soil?
- Can I apply a foliar feed even when the soil is dry?
Fertilizer FAQs
Q. Should I fertilize my juniper bonsai during its dormant period?
Never fertilize a dormant tree.Temperate bonsai should be fertilized only when they are showing new growth, neither before nor after.
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Q. My bonsai is not looking so good. It was dropping its leaves so I fertilized it this weekend. Will this help?
Never fertilize a stressed plant. If a plant has undergone any type of stress its first response is to stabilize itself in relation to the stress. If a stressed plant is fertilized, the nitrogen in the fertilizer will stimulate new growth, whether or not the strength of the tree can support this new growth. Fertilizing is a great way to push stressed plants into the great beyond.
Once the tree has stabilized itself, it will begin growing again. When you see signs of new growth, such as bright green new leaves, you can begin fertilizing regularly.
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Q. I have fish and seaweed fertilizer. It reads 3-2-2 on the label. I was told that I could mist it on plants as a foliar feeding but I cannot remember the proportion of fertilizer to water.
Foliar feeding ratio. When we foliar feed we use 1 teaspoon per quart of water and mist it on the leaves until it starts dripping from the foliage.
We also only fertilize the tree when it is actively growing new foliage or shoots.
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Q. Is foliar feeding better than applying fertilizer into the soil?
Foliar vs soil feeding. I would follow it up with a regular feeding the soil. Fertilizing the soil is the natural way for a plant to take in nutrients however it does take a few days longer for the effects to show than with foliar feeding.
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Q. Can I apply a foliar feed even when the soil is dry?
Best times to foliar feed. It is probably best to err on the side of caution and foliar feed when the soil is a little moist, although we have had no problems doing it at other times.
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