Adding another fertilizer to use with fish fertilizer ð
I recently bought Alaska Fish Fertilizer and realized that Its quite low in PK. (5-1-1 ratio) I've heard great things from the Flora series from General Hydroponics. Thoughts on adding the FloraBloom? (Pictured below) It's the only fertilizer I've seen so far with the 0-5-4 ratio, as I've got the nitrogen covered. Thoughts?
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#happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #tropicalplants #planttherapy #fertilizer
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If you want to stick with organics, you can try adding a slow-release organic fertilizer, bone meal for phosphorus, or a seaweed extract for potassium. Hydroponic fertilizer, like in your Pic, are typically refined mineral. Which is fine but I thought that I would mention as much since you are using fish emulsion.
It's generally recommended to avoid fertilizing most indoor plants in the fall and winter, as reduced light and temperatures cause plants to become dormant or go into a period of slow growth. Fertilizing with chemical fertilizer (like florabloom) during this inactive period can harm the plant, but you can apply organic fertilizers in smaller amounts to a still-actively growing plants. Look for signs of new growth to determine if a plant still needs feeding, and if so, use less than a full dose. Cheers
It's generally recommended to avoid fertilizing most indoor plants in the fall and winter, as reduced light and temperatures cause plants to become dormant or go into a period of slow growth. Fertilizing with chemical fertilizer (like florabloom) during this inactive period can harm the plant, but you can apply organic fertilizers in smaller amounts to a still-actively growing plants. Look for signs of new growth to determine if a plant still needs feeding, and if so, use less than a full dose. Cheers
The main issue with using organic amendments in coco coir is that the inert nature of coir (extremely nutrient poor) does not provide the necessary microbial life to break down organic matter effectively. It is essentially just lignin.
Anyway, to use organics, you will need to inoculate it with beneficial microbes from compost or compost teas to create a healthy microbial ecosystem around the roots. With inoculants, the regular application of organic fertilizers helps build a healthy growing environment.
A word of caution regarding coir...Coco coir naturally has a high concentration of sodium due to the way coconuts grow and the coir is harvested and processed. They often use salt water to compress the coir into bricks. This becomes an issue because lignin has a negative charge (especially at higher pH levels), which binds sodium. When these are present in high amounts, they can displace other vital nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, making them unavailable for plant uptake. All to say, make sure that you are rinsing it thoroughly if you are getting it in brick form. Buffer it to a pH of about 6 (you can use citric acid). A calcium and magnesium amendment can replace those sodium ions.
Using inorganic fertilizers would definitely increase salt concentration and likely cause more issues over time. If you use inorganics, then make sure that you regularly monitor electrical conductivity (EC) of the drainage water to make sure that there are not ionic issues.
I really think that your best bet is getting a strong microbial ecosystem going with organics.
Anyway, to use organics, you will need to inoculate it with beneficial microbes from compost or compost teas to create a healthy microbial ecosystem around the roots. With inoculants, the regular application of organic fertilizers helps build a healthy growing environment.
A word of caution regarding coir...Coco coir naturally has a high concentration of sodium due to the way coconuts grow and the coir is harvested and processed. They often use salt water to compress the coir into bricks. This becomes an issue because lignin has a negative charge (especially at higher pH levels), which binds sodium. When these are present in high amounts, they can displace other vital nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, making them unavailable for plant uptake. All to say, make sure that you are rinsing it thoroughly if you are getting it in brick form. Buffer it to a pH of about 6 (you can use citric acid). A calcium and magnesium amendment can replace those sodium ions.
Using inorganic fertilizers would definitely increase salt concentration and likely cause more issues over time. If you use inorganics, then make sure that you regularly monitor electrical conductivity (EC) of the drainage water to make sure that there are not ionic issues.
I really think that your best bet is getting a strong microbial ecosystem going with organics.
@phytologyfan The one I bought said it was PH neutral because it had been triple washed, I believe. I do occasionally water my plants with mycorrhizae inoculant! You've been incredibly helpful thank you so much. I'm considering adding soil to my coco coir mix, as the main medium, because with all that I've read about coco coir, it seems it's not uncommon for nutrients to be properly absorbed. I was considering getting a CalgMag but most of the ones I've seen are high nitrogen, which I kinda worried would be too much paired with the fish fertilizer which seems to be higher in nitrogen. Im still fairly new to this all lol.
@TheConservator thank you for the info! And what are the benefits in your experience of rotating ferts?
@PhiloPrince i just think it gives a more diverse set of nutrients and minerals. Adding in organic every few months or a humic acid based type cant hurt
Also to add to what @phytologyfan saud coco slowly raises the ph over time humic based fert will help lower ph. I actually jumped on this coco band wago 2 years ago but after it all im not convinced its the way to go. Im going back to peat base with coco chunk added so that they help balance one another out. And theres not so much need for testing ph and ec and fert rates all that.
@TheConservator yeah I've heard amazing things about Fox farms, only issue is, it's impossible to find in store where I'm from, apart from Amazon where a bag that isn't particularly big is like 60$+ lol. Definitely won't be using miracle grow, when I first started with my plants I bought miracle grow and had a terrible fungus gnat issue that stopped once I stopped using MG. I've heard other people have this issue too. But I've also heard people who use it, who've never had an issue lol.
@PhiloPrince ive noticed amazon pricing isnt what it use to be. Several things i use to buy on amazon are now cheaper at my local nursery!ð even cheaper at lowes or yhe homer. Example azomite trace element amazon 18$ my nursery 11$ lol they think no one price checks anymore is my. Theory lol
@TheConservator I'm Canadian so I don't think we get the 3 cubic ft, largest one I see is 1.5 but it's not bad for 50$ plus it's got mycorrhizae and humic acid in it. Now that I've slowed down in any soil changes I've had to do with my collection, I might just bite the bullet and buy it. I'm still fairly new to all of this, and I'm always trying to find new ways to make sure my plants are as happy and healthy as can be, without overdoing it because I know very well, there is such a thing as 'too much' with plants lol