Fertilizer for container trees

[Bananaizme]

    Hi group

 Ive been looking for a granule 7-5-4 fertilizer to use for my potted trees and have came up empty handed. I did find a citrus / avocado mix made by peaceful valley farms all derived from natural components . The formulation is 8-5-4- with a 3% calcium . My question is , would the calcium over time effect for instance my mangos ? Appreciate any feedback on this matter.

 William

[PM239]

I have about 200 plants in pots, and just learning as I go, I guess...
What is it about the 7-5-4 ratio that you like?

[Cookie Monster]

It depends on the source of the calcium. Calcium sulfate (gypsum) will not raise pH, but calcium carbonate (lime) will. I suspect that part of the calcium in your mix is from triple superphosphate, which might degrade to calcium carbonate?

Mangoes do need calcium, so it is a good idea to provide them with calcium. But you have to be sure to keep the pH neutral or below.

Fortunately, pH is extremely easy to correct with sulfur. It's not a bad idea to sprinkle a few sulfur pellets on your potted mangoes once every year, especially if you're irrigating with city or well water, which would contain calcium carbonate.

    Hi group

 Ive been looking for a granule 7-5-4 fertilizer to use for my potted trees and have came up empty handed. I did find a citrus / avocado mix made by peaceful valley farms all derived from natural components . The formulation is 8-5-4- with a 3% calcium . My question is , would the calcium over time effect for instance my mangos ? Appreciate any feedback on this matter.

 William

[bsbullie]

I have about 200 plants in pots, and just learning as I go, I guess...
What is it about the 7-5-4 ratio that you like?

For your potted trees, I would use an application lighter than recommended for in ground trees of Excalibur's 8-3-9.

[AndyNZ]

Hi William,

N-P-K & calcium is not the only thing you have to feed to your pot plants.
I'm using an ORGANIC (you grow food, do you ?) full spectrum (hydroponic) fertiliser for all my pot plants.
I'm using it since many years and can really recommend it.
It is very economical. You need only very little. 0.5 l last years for me.
General Hydroponics Bio Sevia Grow & General Hydroponics Bio Sevia Bloom.
This shop http://www.servovendi.com/uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=bio+sevia has a good price and ships world wide.
For the extra calcium, I would add fine grounded volcanic rock such as ROK SOLID. It contains over 60 minerals and trace elements.
http://www.agrissentials.com/fertiliser-products/solid-products/rok-solid (they list only some of them, the product package list all)

Andy

[FruitFreak]

Jeff recommended osmocote plus 15-9-12 slow release from Everris and I can say it's the best fertilizer I've ever seen or used.  Thorough minor package and saves a lot of time.  its obvious by the packaging and polymer granules there is a lot of tech behind the product.  The light color makes it easy to distinguish the breakdown.  Plants like it too.

[PM239]

I have about 200 plants in pots, and just learning as I go, I guess...
What is it about the 7-5-4 ratio that you like?

For your potted trees, I would use an application lighter than recommended for in ground trees of Excalibur's 8-3-9.

Ok, I will grab some, I have 10-10-10 and 6-2-12 (from Going Bananas) right now.

[Bananaizme]

    I do have quite a bit of the osmocote plus fertilizer ,  I also foliar feed at least once a month. All of the plants are very healthy , dark green leaves. Maybe I'm just overthinking this and making it to complicated . I took another look at the citrus / avocado mix but it was not specific about what the calcium was derived from. Rob , this 8-3-9 fertilizer , is this something that can be shipped ? I would want a 50 lb bag .

 William

[Cookie Monster]

8-3-9 is meant for in-ground trees and is a quick-release formulation for florida soils. You would be best sticking to osmocote / slow-release for container trees. For one, the slow-release has almost zero chance of burn, and secondly you only need to apply once or twice a year.

    I do have quite a bit of the osmocote plus fertilizer ,  I also foliar feed at least once a month. All of the plants are very healthy , dark green leaves. Maybe I'm just overthinking this and making it to complicated . I took another look at the citrus / avocado mix but it was not specific about what the calcium was derived from. Rob , this 8-3-9 fertilizer , is this something that can be shipped ? I would want a 50 lb bag .

 William

[Bananaizme]

    Jeff

 Is the osmocote ok to use on potted lychees ?  Up to this time I have only used a Dr Earth product on them for fear of burning them.

 William

[Cookie Monster]

I've used osmocote on dozens of lychees, even brand new lychee air layers plucked directly from the tree, and I've never seen an issue with burn. The key is that the release of nutrients is slow enough that it won't burn.

If you don't have a fertigation system, osmocote is the next best thing.

[Bananaizme]

    Jeff

 Thats reassuring about the osmocote for the lychees. I do have quite a bit of this product so will begin fertilizing when the spring weather rolls around. My Edward mango has a lot of new growth at the tips . Not sure if this is flower buds or vegatative growth just yet.It started pushing about a month ago. What would you suggest I do about fertilizing this particular tree ?

 William

[Doglips]

Calcium and magnesium work together.  Neither one works very well without the presence of the other.  So it can depend on the soil you are starting with.
So if you have a calcium deficiency, the solution may not be more calcium.

[edzone9]

Jeff recommended osmocote plus 15-9-12 slow release from Everris and I can say it's the best fertilizer I've ever seen or used.  Thorough minor package and saves a lot of time.  its obvious by the packaging and polymer granules there is a lot of tech behind the product.  The light color makes it easy to distinguish the breakdown.  Plants like it too.

I can vouch for that ! I've seen Marleys trees before & after the new fertilizer and the change was Amazing !

[Mark in Texas]

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

[Cookie Monster]

Looks like a nice mix. Yah, we have Harrells here.

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

[FruitFreak]

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

Hi Mark - Isn't this blend a little light on K?  Some of the tropical fruit tree nurseries around here use Harrells products.

[roblack]

I've  been using osmocote for 2 decades+ on all kinds of plants (potted and in-ground) and have never had any noticeable problems related to it. Everything seems to love it.

[Mark in Texas]

Looks like a nice mix. Yah, we have Harrells here.

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

Special mix sold by Estes. You can get any mix you want.  I helped plant 12,000 grapevines up the road.  Owner brought in a pallet of 50# bags of the same NPK.  We dropped a small handful around each young "benchgraft" at the time of planting.  Did the same thing to my vineyard.  I have 8 yr. old vines that have 6" trunks.  Were pencil size.  All my potted plants get this stuff which is the bluish/green/white pellets you see in some soil mixes.  Won't burn, in fact I just toss some here and there and don't worry about the amount.

[Mark in Texas]

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

Hi Mark - Isn't this blend a little light on K?  Some of the tropical fruit tree nurseries around here use Harrells products.

Maybe.  Learn to read your plants.  I'm a nitrogen freak and have the fruit production to prove it.  For instance, leaf tissue analysis of citrus reflects they prefer and accumulate a 5-1-3 NPK.  Mango is said to hate high N and prefer high K foods.  Glad my mangos can't read. 







Check out the pH of my key lime juice.

[cmichael258]

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

Hi Mark - Isn't this blend a little light on K?  Some of the tropical fruit tree nurseries around here use Harrells products.

Maybe.  Learn to read your plants.  I'm a nitrogen freak and have the fruit production to prove it.  For instance, leaf tissue analysis of citrus reflects they prefer and accumulate a 5-1-3 NPK.  Mango is said to hate high N and prefer high K foods.  Glad my mangos can't read. 







Check out the pH of my key lime juice.

Funny how so many folks (excluding forum members) would think the green lime in the middle is the key lime due to green
food coloring in the pies.

[FruitFreak]

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

Hi Mark - Isn't this blend a little light on K?  Some of the tropical fruit tree nurseries around here use Harrells products.

Maybe.  Learn to read your plants.  I'm a nitrogen freak and have the fruit production to prove it.  For instance, leaf tissue analysis of citrus reflects they prefer and accumulate a 5-1-3 NPK.  Mango is said to hate high N and prefer high K foods.  Glad my mangos can't read. 







Check out the pH of my key lime juice.

Yep, I've been getting a better feel for doing just that.  Obviously different soils/mixes require different NPK too.  Man I love your porn pics.

[Cookie Monster]

If you give your mangoes N, just make sure to give them plenty of calcium.

[Bananaizme]

I've used osmocote on dozens of lychees, even brand new lychee air layers plucked directly from the tree, and I've never seen an issue with burn. The key is that the release of nutrients is slow enough that it won't burn.

If you don't have a fertigation system, osmocote is the next best thing.

  Jeff

Is it ok to fertilize my potted lychees with osmocote even though they are blooming ?

 William

[Mark in Texas]

I've used osmocote on dozens of lychees, even brand new lychee air layers plucked directly from the tree, and I've never seen an issue with burn. The key is that the release of nutrients is slow enough that it won't burn.

If you don't have a fertigation system, osmocote is the next best thing.

  Jeff

Is it ok to fertilize my potted lychees with osmocote even though they are blooming ?

 William

Curious, why would you think any fruiting tree would not require nutrition during blooming?  Plants or trees need a constant supply of nutritional salts and water.  Having said that just got this in since I can't find my trusty Polyon.   A NPK ratio you're looking for and a complete micros package. 15-9-12 NPK.  8# pack is a pretty good value.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GTDGMHC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Bananaizme]

    Mark

I'm just concerned that by fertilizing, it will cause the trees to drop their flowers and go into a vegetative growth state . That's all that I'm asking, is this something that I need to be concerned about ?

 William

[Mark in Texas]

    Mark

I'm just concerned that by fertilizing, it will cause the trees to drop their flowers and go into a vegetative growth state . That's all that I'm asking, is this something that I need to be concerned about ?

 William

I understand.  No it shouldn't cause it to go into vegetative state.  I generally use a slow release food, just applied a 12 mo. 18-4-9 pills called Polyon which is always feeding my trees.  Last year's grafted Sweet Tart is holding 50 fruitlets.  Here's one flowering spike taken this morning. Same with the others.  They're setting fruit.  Something never mentioned, make sure your food has Boron.  I supply additional boron in the form of Solubor, albeit very trace.

[Bananaizme]

  I do use the osmocote that you showed in your picture. I'll have to look and see if it has boron. I do also spray a foliar trace minerals cocktail at least once a month so I'm sure that the boron will be covered.

 William

[CA Hockey]

Off topic - but Mark what type of lime is that?

-K

Polyon 12 mo. slow release with the secondarys like Ca and Mg AND micros.  Good mix of nitrate to ammonical N too.   Used it on thousands of newly planted field and potted/in the ground tropical greenhouse fruit trees.  Makes 'em grow like weeds.  Similiar to Osmocote but unlike Os it releases its nutrients with higher temps, not just moisture. You Florida guys probably have a Harrell distributor near you.

Hi Mark - Isn't this blend a little light on K?  Some of the tropical fruit tree nurseries around here use Harrells products.

Maybe.  Learn to read your plants.  I'm a nitrogen freak and have the fruit production to prove it.  For instance, leaf tissue analysis of citrus reflects they prefer and accumulate a 5-1-3 NPK.  Mango is said to hate high N and prefer high K foods.  Glad my mangos can't read. 







Check out the pH of my key lime juice.

[Mark in Texas]

Off topic - but Mark what type of lime is that?

-K

Label states dolomite, a lime which also contains Mg.

[andrewq]

    Mark

I'm just concerned that by fertilizing, it will cause the trees to drop their flowers and go into a vegetative growth state . That's all that I'm asking, is this something that I need to be concerned about ?

 William

I understand.  No it shouldn't cause it to go into vegetative state.  I generally use a slow release food, just applied a 12 mo. 18-4-9 pills called Polyon which is always feeding my trees.  Last year's grafted Sweet Tart is holding 50 fruitlets.  Here's one flowering spike taken this morning. Same with the others.  They're setting fruit.  Something never mentioned, make sure your food has Boron.  I supply additional boron in the form of Solubor, albeit very trace.

mark, is that a photo of mango or lychee blooms?

[Mark in Texas]

mark, is that a photo of mango or lychee blooms?

Sweet Tart mango blossoms.

[FlMikey]

Overall is this Osmocote Plus a good option?  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GTDGMHC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  I reviewed the label (http://www.plantersplace.com/products/osmocote_outdoor_indoor) and I think it looks pretty good, but I'm also pretty new to growing.

I can't find Harrell's Polyon that sells directly to retail.
I
I found a shop that sells Scotts Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 for about $60 on a 50 # bag.  I don't need 50 # (only have 5 trees right now) and $60 seems like a lot if it's not necessary. 

If that Oscmocote Plus is a good option for container growing, then I'll go with that.

[Bananaizme]

Overall is this Osmocote Plus a good option?   I reviewed the label  and I think it looks pretty good, but I'm also pretty new to growing.

I can't find Harrell's Polyon that sells directly to retail.

I found a shop that sells Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 for about $60 on a 50 # bag.  I don't need 50 # (only have 5 trees right now) and $60 seems like a lot if it's not necessary. 

If that Oscmocote Plus is a good option for container growing, then I'll go with that.
[/quote]

 FlMikey

 I started using it , although I got the 8 pound bags from walmart. I was hesitant to use it on my lychees, but based on the advice given on this board a sprinkled about a tablespoon to each of my 7 gallon lychees and their doing wonderful.Lots of little fruit on them.I actually used it on all of my potted and in ground trees and am having great results.

 William

[FlMikey]

Thanks William.  The 8 lb bag makes much more sense and  would last me years if only using a tablespoon or two in each container.

[Mark in Texas]

Bought this a while back.  Yes, it's the best bang for your buck.  15-9-12, has a broad micro package.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GTDGMHC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Bananaizme]

  Cookie Monster actually convinced me that it was ok on lychees. I'm glad that I listened to him 

 William

[palmcity]

googled a less expensive price in store pickup $19.87   8 lb.   Price may vary in different areas.

https://www.walmart.com/product/39914816/sellers

$19.87 + Free pickup today at Port St. Lucie Walmart Neighborhood Market

[Bananaizme]

    I happened to get lucky last fall as they were making ready for Christmas. They clearenced their fertilizer and I was lucky enough to find it.  I bought up what they had . I thought that the 50lbs for $60 seems like a good deal to me. Also I got some of their 14-14-14 for my vegetable beds and I'm really happy with the results of this one too .

 William

[FlMikey]

The $60 for the 50 lb bag was from BWI - they have great prices.  I'm picking up some Fafard 3 soil from them next week - about $14 for 2.8 cubic feet.

[andrewq]

  Cookie Monster actually convinced me that it was ok on lychees. I'm glad that I listened to him 

 William

William, how much osmocote plus do you use in your container lychees? any burn with them?

[Bananaizme]

  Andrew

 I used the measure spoon that came with it. I just put one scoop per pot . I did not work it in to the soil , just on top and watered in . It has worked really well so far.

William

[strkpr00]

Just to put a fly in the ointment, orchid growers are using the Dynamite Red time release in So. Fl. they say it has a slower release for the heat and humidity over the summer.

[Gary]

Does anyone here know if Osmocote affect the soil or any of the micro organism in the soil? I try to be organic as possible, but some times I do use chemicals if it does not degrade or pollute my soil life.

[NewGen]

  Andrew

 I used the measure spoon that came with it. I just put one scoop per pot . I did not work it in to the soil , just on top and watered in . It has worked really well so far.

William

I also use Osmocote, but I like to work it into the soil, because if I don't, the water just pushes the granules towards the side of the pot. Maybe I need to add more mulch to help keep those granules in place.

[Bananaizme]

  Trung I'm sure that you could very lightly scratch it into the soil as long as  the roots are not right at the top of the soil  to be damaged.  The soil I use is very sandy so it needs to be fertilized regularly , this is why I like the osmocote because the plants get some food every time I water.

William