Fertilizers

What fertilizers do you use? Has anyone tried super thrive or fish emulsion the numbers are 5-1-1?

I use azalea rhodedendron food.. it is for acid loving plants.. I have not tried super thrive or fish emulsions..

Gina *BabyBlue*

Baby Blue,

Thanks for the input .I am new at growing citrus and I want to do it properly.. I have had the privilage to meet Citrus Joe and he has been really getting me on the right track. I love this group of people you are all so helpful. I was just curious on everyones opinions on fertilizers.

Citrus are heavy feeders, and require a lot of nitrogen and potassium, especially when grown as container plants. Due to the high water solubility of both nutrients a significant quantity of the nitrogen and potassium is leached away with each watering. Formulas such as 5-1-1 fish fertilizer have a hard time meeting the required nutrition of a containerized citrus tree. Fish fertilizer, however, would offer some value to the tree when applied as a foliar spray from time to time. Myself, I prefer to use the slow release fertilizers with trace minerals. Slow release fertilizers provide a long lasting level feeding with each watering. In this manner the tree does not go through the constant feast and famine cycle. Of course, there is more than one way to provide a good and beneficial fertilizing program to citrus. As far as SuperThrive, I can find no value in the product.

Orchid & Plant Lady....remember what I told you about kicking over the Super Thrive rock...also to avoid fertlizers with N derived from urea, if you can. On other forums....the Super Thrive debate has raged, off and on, for years!

I was only trolling for info!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember YOU have seen my luck with my Poor Sick meyer............ But you are going to "Cure it".....

Orchid Lady, don't feel bad about your Meyer lemon tree. Every one that I know who first started growing citrus, have killed their share of trees. Long ago when I started growing citrus trees, I lost the first three varieties that I attempted to grow. So see, you have already done much better than I, at least your tree is still alive. Welcome to the forum, we are very excited to have you as a member. I'm sure with your neighbor's help you will become a first class citrus grower. Nice having you as a member.

Orchid Lady,

Lucky you for having a neighbor who knows their way around a citrus tree! Here in Amish country, my local experts specialize in corn, wheat (and other grains) and tabacco! Although I love the local corn crops and make my share of homeade bread, I have no use for the tabacco. I'm having fun with my little trees and seedlings, though!

Barbara

I have used SuperThrive on many types of plants, but I have not seen anything I could point to and say SuperThrive did it. I mainly use Lutz Citrus Tablets along with VF-11. I have used Fish Emulsion to ward off pests.

The ONLY things I use ST and/or fish are my orchids and Plumeria. It "seems" to help with transplant shock. I tried it on my citrus trees and didn't notice a thing. They still complained when transplanted.
Andi