11
votes
Can I just apply less of a higher fertilizer?
Yes, you can use it, in lesser quantities.
About the second question: the reason why we have not 33-34-33:
These number are the percent of weight of N,P, and K.
For example, N is a gas, so we need ...
- 14.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Output of Septic tank as fertiliser
You're going to be dripping partially treated effluent onto the ground near some fruit trees. The main concern is splash back of pathogenic bacteria onto some edible fruit. Though this risk is less ...
- 23.1k
10
votes
Putting fruit tree branches in compost
Dry leaves should be shredded first as otherwise they might form an impenetrable mat in your compost pile. If you don't have a shredder, it's easiest to just collect a pile of leaves and run the lawn ...
- 23.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Fertilizer with an NPK title i can't understand
Probably using the , for decimal point. Common in some parts of the world, uncommon in others. So still just 3 numbers, but more precise:
6.1 - 4.0 - 5.6
- 23.2k
9
votes
Accepted
Managing Cover Crops
An important thing that many people miss is that if a cover crop produces fruit and seed (beans in your case) it is no longer a cover crop or green manure, but a crop, which depletes the soil rather ...
- 236
9
votes
Accepted
How do I make rock dust?
Rock dust is used in organic gardening where basalt and granite is crushed into a fine powder.
Bricks are made of clay, sand and lime and where
limestone... is often deficient in the majority of ...
- 58.8k
9
votes
Accepted
What are the best garden uses for 5 gallons of used coffee beans?
We get 30 litres of coffee grounds once a month from the local deli. We're on a list of people who take the stuff to stop it going into landfill. It just goes straight into our compost pile.
Newly ...
- 23.1k
9
votes
Accepted
Should I fertilize a cactus showing etiolation?
We say a plant is 'etiolated' when its growth becomes long and lanky, usually thin and weak looking, often yellowish or pale in colour, and with elongated gaps between leaves on stems, although this ...
- 132k
9
votes
Accepted
Is this an acceptable way to use green waste on plants?
What "someone" told you is correct. Basically, you are giving unwanted visitors like slugs, snails, and rodents a free lunch with no benefit to your plants. The only benefit to the plants, ...
- 11.4k
8
votes
Accepted
Tea leaves for fertilizers
On bedded plants, this won't hurt anything, In potted plants, there is a possibility of altering the pH levels, especially if fermented. Also, the decomposition process could sour the potting mix. And ...
- 51.7k
8
votes
Managing Cover Crops
Normally with cover crops you want them to grow as long as possible, where possible is influenced by:
When you plan to plant the actual crop (including some time for breakdown of the cover crop ...
- 23.2k
8
votes
What do nurseries feed their potted trees to make them so healthy?
Bear in mind that many commercial outlets do not actually grow trees in pots, they simply buy them in from a specialist supplier. The actual supplier will raise the saplings under controlled ...
- 132k
8
votes
Buds don't blossom on Chilli plant ( bud drop )
I think you overwater the chilli plant. The leaves are not very healthy.
Chilli likes also dry climate, so try to water a lot less. One or twice a week.
I would also not put so much fertiliser. Once ...
- 14.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Miracle Grow, good or bad?
There is a lot of confusion on the subject of salt and fertilisers - when we hear 'salt' we think of the sort of salt that's used in food and which we wouldn't want on our plants, in the main. However,...
- 132k
8
votes
Is fertilizing a zero-sum endeavor?
You are missing the fact that air is just as vital as an "external input" as light and water. Plants process carbon dioxide from the air directly, and specialist bacteria also convert nitrogen to ...
- 11.4k
7
votes
Managing Cover Crops
Usually, you would wait until the plants are in full flower, and have no ripe seeds, then cut/mow the tops down and turn them under. This will add the most nitrogen to the soil (the green tops are ...
- 51.7k
7
votes
Recommendations for Composting Bin
Sitting on soil allows worms and other critters to enter and exit the bottom of the bin. Also, I would think the drainage would be poor and you could get an anaerobic smelly mess at the bottom.
As ...
- 1,162
7
votes
Accepted
Recommendations for Composting Bin
I've tried 2 bins similar to the picture on the left. They did not work well. They took a very long time to break down the compost. It was difficult to turn the pile because it was so small. They ...
- 9,464
7
votes
What do nurseries feed their potted trees to make them so healthy?
I'm pretty sure they don't give them anything initially, although if the tree does not sell within a few months, I imagine they would give them slow release fertiliser appropriate to the plant - ...
- 3,579
7
votes
Accepted
Does turmeric like potash?
Adding potash to the soil your Tumeric is growing in will not hurt it as long as it doesn't make the soil too alkaline. When potash is added to soil it acts as a source of potassium, and also shifts ...
- 514
7
votes
Accepted
In store-bought fertilizer for camellias, what's the difference between NPK 10-10-10 and say 4-4-4?
It's quite difficult to give a straight, simple answer - fertilizers are formulated differently in terms of how quickly they break down, so liquid formulations will be almost instantaneous, whereas a ...
- 132k
7
votes
Why are mineral fertilizers not allowed in organic farming?
The term 'organic', in this instance, essentially means anything used on the land must contain carbon. Therefore, things like composted manures, composted plant waste, green manures,essentially, waste ...
- 132k
7
votes
Why are mineral fertilizers not allowed in organic farming?
There are several reasons:
Where to put boundary for organic and “traditional?”
What is the difference between a pesticide, an growth regulator, a herbicide and a fertilizer?
Maybe for most of cases ...
- 14.2k
7
votes
Accepted
Should I account for seasons when growing inside only?
Stormy has a nice answer (especially on fertilizer part), but I am going to add some general concepts.
Temperate plants usually needs different seasons to grow naturally. But we don't cultivate them ...
- 14.2k
7
votes
Miracle Grow, good or bad?
Unless you are watering your plants with distilled water it is likely you will get far more salt from your water and/or potting soil than from the fertilizer. You can also get white "crust" from ...
- 3,228
7
votes
Accepted
Is fertilizing a zero-sum endeavor?
Check out the Wikipedia plant nutrition article. Plants take carbon, oxygen and hydrogen from the atmosphere, the remainder from the soil. (There are exceptions - some plants can make use of ...
- 3,822
6
votes
How do I apply spent coffee grounds as a fertilizer?
I've dumped coffee grounds right on my roses and other bushes for years and years -- to no ill effect. I have had to travel at short notice so I have had a lot of veggies go bad on me - which I've ...
- 61
6
votes
Accepted
Can I use greens, such as grass, as a fertilizer for tomatoes?
If you have a household, you can generate enough waste to start some Bokashi bins. You can purchase these from Green Zone Egypt. These create compost in buckets but the process needs to be finished ...
- 23.1k
6
votes
Tea leaves for fertilizers
Without a compost heap, you won't be able to use up all your tea leaves - putting them on the compost is the best way to use them. However, what you can do for acid loving plants is repot them, using ...
- 132k
6
votes
Accepted
What lawn care steps should I take?
I am on the west coast but can tell you what I do. I remove weeds manually (it is more work but I avoid chemicals in the process) by pulling them out. Also, at the beginning of spring, I fertilize ...
- 7,894
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