Feeding Regimes This talk will go through what nutrients our trees need in order to thrive, how they are applied and what we can use to provide them. There is also a section giving guidance on what to give our trees and when.

Feed Elements Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Macro Nutrients Micro Nutrients There are actually 6 Macro Nutrients (large amounts required) although it is usual to consider the three main ones (Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium) on their own

Nitrogen (N) Organic Source Promotes Lack Excess Decaying Organic Matter Promotes Stem Growth Leaf Growth Lack Weak Growth Yellow Leaves Excess Long Growths – large internodes Large Leaves Outline where Nitrogen comes from, what it does in the plant and what is the effect of too little and too much

Phosphorus (P) Organic Source Promotes Lack Excess Protein and Bones Root Growth Bud Growth Winter Protection Back Budding Lack Weak Growth (Despite green leaves) Low frost & disease resistance Excess Poor foliage growth and colour Outline where Phosphorus comes from, what it does in the plant and what is the effect of too little and too much

Potassium (K) Inorganic Source Promotes Lack Excess Flower & Fruit Growth Disease Protection Hardens Growth for Winter Protection Lack Brown / Yellow edges to leaves Leaves drying off Poor / little flowers Excess Affects uptake of Cu & Mg – All 3 must be in balance Outline where Potassium comes from, what it does in the plant and what is the effect of too little and too much

Macro Nutrients Calcium (Ca) – Lime Magnesium (Mg) Sulphur (S) Promotes root growth Weak growth / yellow shoots / low disease resistance Magnesium (Mg) Important for development of Chlorophyll Older leaves turn yellow with green veins Sulphur (S) Can be ignored in feeds as a plentiful supply in rainfall These are the three other Macro Nutrients after N, P & K

Micro Nutrients Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Zinc (Zn) Boron (B) Controls metabolism Irregular brown spots on older leaves Zinc (Zn) Important for Photosynthesis Boron (B) Formation of cell walls Shoots yellow and die Micro nutrients are required but in much less amount than the six macro nutrients

Micro Nutrients Copper (Cu) Molybdenum (Mo) Protein Synthesis White tips to leaves Molybdenum (Mo) Controls Nitrogen metabolism Yellowing and malformation of young leaves Cobalt (Co) Controls Nitrogen fixing bacteria in certain species

Feed Types Immediate Uptake Long Term Uptake Soluble Powder Liquid Slow Release granules Pellets There are two main types of feed – those giving an immediate boost and those giving lower doses over a sustained period

Application Methods Watering on soil – included in water Watering on soil – placed on soil Foliar Feed Hydroponics How the nutrients are applied

Advantages / Disadvantages Soluble Feeds Dosage can be controlled Can be washed out quickly by heavy rain / watering Slow Release Feeds Dosage variable Steady application over time Can be unsightly / smelly With slow release feeds the rate of release is affected by temperature and moisture levels.

General Rules Young trees in development / growing on require more nutrients than older established trees Commercial General Purpose feeds should be used at half strength General purpose feeds are usually applied to larger areas and their concentration in bonsai pots can have the effect of increasing their strength so a lower dosage is advisable.

Young Trees Start feeding when buds break Use High Nitrogen feed to encourage growth Stop feeding mid Summer In late Summer / early Autumn use 0:10:10 (0:9:17 or equivalent) Stop feeding when leaves change colour Here you are looking to add growth to the tree to thicken or extend branches so plentiful fresh green growth is desirable A 0:10:10 (or equivalent) feed is used in late Summer or early Autumn to give the trees a boost of Potassium and Phosphorus to aid with the hardening off of new growth and disease protection over the winter months. We do not want a spurt of new growth.

Trees in Training Start feeding when buds break Use Balanced feed Stop feeding mid Summer In late Summer / early Autumn use 0:10:10 (0:9:17 or equivalent) Stop feeding when leaves change Here some growth is desirable to allow you to develop thicker branches and carry out refinement of your branch structure A 0:10:10 (or equivalent) feed is used in late Summer or early Autumn to give the trees a boost of Potassium and Phosphorus to aid with the hardening off of new growth and disease protection over the winter months. We do not want a spurt of new growth.

Established Trees Start feeding when buds break Use Low Nitrogen followed by Balanced feed Stop feeding mid Summer In late Summer / early Autumn use 0:10:10 (0:9:17 or equivalent) Stop feeding when leaves change Here some growth is desirable to allow you to carry out refinement of your branch structure but the main need is just to keep the tree happy with minimal growth A 0:10:10 (or equivalent) feed is used in late Summer or early Autumn to give the trees a boost of Potassium and Phosphorus to aid with the hardening off of new growth and disease protection over the winter months. We do not want a spurt of new growth.

Flowering Trees Stop feeding whilst in flower and whilst fruit sets Restart feeding when fruit has set or flowers finished

Evergreens Start feeding September with reduced strength balanced feed Stop feeding mid Summer In late Summer / early Autumn use 0:10:10 (0:9:17 or equivalent) Reduce feeding in Autumn and stop over winter The same rules apply as deciduous trees but obviously there is no leaf fall.

Don’t Feed Deciduous Trees before bud break During Winter – trees cannot absorb feed Sick Trees – trees are unable to absorb feed (use Superthrive) After Repotting – wait 6 to 8 weeks to avoid root burn (use Superthrive) With sick trees their ability to take up nutrients is reduced so you are wasting feed (do you want a five course meal when you are ill?).

Commercial Feeds – Immediate Yates Bio Gold 4:2:2 Bio Gold Liquid 10:4:6 Dynamic Lifter Concentrated Fish 9:2:6 Natures Way Fish 4.5:0.42:1.02 Lush All Purpose 10:3:6 Thrive Soluble All Purpose 27:5.5:9 Thrive Soluble Flower & Fruit 15:5:26 Lush Tomato 8:3:10 Dynamic Lifter Concentrated 10:4:6 The following slides list a variety of readily available feeds and their NPK values. Although these are commercial feeds there is nothing to stop you from making your own from sources such as cow or poultry manure, seaweed and ash.

Commercial Feeds - Immediate Phostrogen Liq Tomato Feed 6:5:9 Plant Food 14:10:27 Nulife Weight Plus Potassium 0:9:17 Blooming Good Vertifert Liquid Fish 8:3:6 Synerlogic Liquid Blood & Bone 8:3:6

Commercial Feeds – Slow Release Tui Tomato food 4:6:9 Super Phosphate 0:9:0 Sulphate of Potash 0:0:42 Rose Fertiliser 4:5:9 Potato Food 7:6:7 Avalea, Camellia & Rhodo 5:6:2 Blood & Bone Citrus & Fruit Tree 7:5:4 General 7:5:7 Nitrophoska Blue 12.5:4:6 (12:5:14)

Commercial Feeds – Slow Release Osmacote Nutricote (Indoor) 15:4.5:9 Nutricote (Garden & Shrub) 16:3.8:8 Yates Thrive Granular Complete 5:5.8:4.5 Blood & Bone Debco Green Jacket Pot Mate (also has water crystals)

Commercial Feeds – Slow Release Phostrogen Slow Release Citrus 20:10:20 Slow Release Granules 18:6:12 Slow Release Tablets 8:11:23 Gro-Plus 15:10:15 Gro-Plus Rose 15:4:12.5

Supplements & Others Superthrive Hydroponic supplements

Summary If it’s growing, it needs feeding Overfeeding can harm as well as starving Feed the tree appropriately for it’s stage of development