As for how much to use, if it suggests a table spoon per plant, I'd use less. You can't hurt anything from using less and you can always add more. It's virtually impossible to take out what's already been applied.You're likely to have a lot more rain and hose water going through those pots than many due to the climate and heat. Both of which break down time released fertilizers very quickly and flush inorganic sources of nitrogen through the soil. By having both source types of each nutrient, you'll see fast results as well as provide longer lasting supplies between feedings, and you're less likely to accidentally burn anything. I hope the suggestion helps. Kim

Hope that helps.

Kate

I do grow beautiful hanging plants (non-roses)--and I use the extra high nitrogen fertilizer on them. When I run out and substitute a lower dosage (say, 4 nitrogen), my hanging plants lose their special "healthy" look--so I run out and get the high-nitrogen stuff--and before you know it, my hanging baskets start looking superb again.

I'm extrapolating from that experience to growing roses in pots. If that isn't helpful, just ignore my advise.

Kate

Alfalfa is also cheap and easy to find, just not in the garden sections. Look in the pet sections, particularly those for small animals. If you only need small amounts, look for small bags in the guinea pig/rabbit section of alfalfa hay (my preference) or alfalfa pellets for rabbits, if you can find some without supplemental salts. If you need large amounts, go to a farm/feed store - I buy the 50 pound bales of alfalfa hay meant for horses and scatter them around the base of my roses in the spring.

Cynthia

To Dublinbay, I only see Miracle grow Bloom Buster at local Homedepot and Lowes., would appreciate if you can give the exact name of the fertilizer you use. My annuals, perennials and tomatos' leaves all turn light green no matter how much or how often I fertilized. It could be the sandy soil, the hard water, the rain or me trying too hard. I used to have green thumbs but somehow lost it when I move to Florida :( My plants look terrible.. even KO roses have lime green leaves

As I stated above, I use the timed-release fertilizer called Osmocote which supposedly lasts for 3-4 months (depending on which version you get). For my hanging baskets, I get the version that lists extra high levels of nitrogen--the number on the side panel will be something like 18 or 19 for nitrogen. I don't know that the different versions of Osmocote have different names--I have to read the panel (required by law) that lists the 3 top ingredients (the first one always being the amount of nitrogen) plus other kinds of ingredients in the product. Like I said, for hanging baskets it doesn't seem to last more than about a month, even though the container says it will last for 3-4 months.

It also says on the container that this product will not cause "burn."

I think it is a good product and often also use it on my roses planted in the garden--but usually the version that is more balanced (like 6-6-6 or something like that). I put it on in June and let it take care of things for the next several months that can be unbearably HOT months in my area. (For early spring--for roses planted in the ground--I usually use the organic Plant Tone or one of the other Tones which already contains some alfalfa.)

Hope that helps.

Kate

P.S. I see Osmocote at just about every store that sells plant food. Shouldn't be hard to locate at all. Start with Wal-Mart or Home Depot or Lowes.

I'm planning on trying Christopher's recipe for smoothies this spring & hope the wildlife just passes by without stopping to taste. It makes perfect sense to me because of all the vitamins & minerals in banana/vegetable peels, egg shells. Thanks, aquaeyes!

Maybe one of our chemists can tell us if I really heard this or was too drunk to understand.

:-)

~Christopher

Organic formulations can also burn roots.

Nitrogen is very soluble ans is one of the first nutrients to wash out of a pot.

The problem with alfalfa is that the nutrients in it will be released very slowly over weeks and months. If the plants in pots need fertilizer it is best to use a traditional fertilizer or ozmocote which releases the fertilizer more slowly.

:-)

~Christopher