2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

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

18. 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.

19. 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?).

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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)

23. 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)

24. 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

25. Supplements & Others
Superthrive
Hydroponic supplements

26. 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