Growing Tender Bulbs in Cold Climates--Tow
Rodger Whitlock (Mon, 14 Apr 2003 06:59:50 PDT)
On 11 Apr 03 at 12:18, Arnold wrote:
...[I] feed most bulbs with a 50% african violet plant food.
What is the analysis of that fertilizer? Does it contain significant
trace elements? What is the recommended rate of application?
Myself, for potted bulbs I most often use "soluble tomato food" with
an analysis of 7-28-28. The recommended rate for this fertilizer is
5 grams per liter of water (1/2 teaspoon per quart).
However, I apply it to potted bulbs at about 1/4 this strength. I
figure that the rate for a potted plant should be considerably lower
than for a plant in the open ground to avoid fertilizer burn.
Sometimes I use Phostrogen (10-10-27) at a rate of 1 g of powder per
liter of water (about 1 teaspoon to an ordinary 2-gallon/10-liter
bucket). Some bulb growers here have great success adding just a
pinch of Phostrogen to the watering can each time they fill it.
Both of these have trace elements in them.
--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate
on beautiful Vancouver Island