Fertilizer and temperature
Jane McGary via pbs (Sun, 05 Mar 2023 17:11:29 PST)

I usually apply soluble fertilizer to plants in my unheated bulb house
now. However, we are having an unusually cold late winter: near freezing
every night, and in the 40s F daytime. Many plants are in active growth,
if a bit later than usual. Should I apply fertilizer now, or wait until
the daytime temperatures are a bit higher? I don't use pelleted
fertilizer on the container plants but have some for the garden which is
designed to release slowly at cool temperatures, unlike Osmocote-type
slow-release fertilizers which need higher soil temperatures than is
typical in the Pacific Northwest.
The continuing cold is also probably impeding the seed harvest for this
year. I'm told that cold temperatures retard the development of pollen
tubes leading to the ovaries. However, I don't like the idea of bringing
flowering plants into indoor temperature just to encourage seed set,
because I think it would make them go into premature dormancy, which
might limit their vigor in the future. I've always preferred to grow my
container plants as hard as they will tolerate, so that they appear in
character (more like they do in nature). Many of the bulbs I grow come
from mountainous or steppe areas where night temperature is sharply
lower than daytime.
Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, usa
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