21,402 Garden Web Discussions | Roses

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moon1234(5)

I know this thread is ages old, but I really need to correct some of the misinformation in here about the EZ-FLO.

The dilution theory is correct when you forget that the EZ-FLO is designed to have MORE fertilizer in the tank that can be held in suspension in the water.

Normally only a small amount of fertilizer will fully dissolve in water. As an example, potassium nitrate will normally only allow around 5lbs of fertilizer to dissolve in water before no more will dissolve. Any additional fertilizer will remain un-dissolved. As fertilizer solution is drawn out of the tank and new water enters the fertilizer will continue to dissolve up to the maximum capacity that can be suspended in water. Mixing with water is then done by adjusting the speed selector in the cap of the EZ-FLO system.

Dilution does not occur until all available fertilizer has been dissolved in water. Even then fertilizer tends to be heavier than water and will gradually sink to the bottom of the tank. This is why the water supply and fertilizer tubes are at the bottom of the tank.

The actual dilution of solution does not occur very much until the end of the tank. Most people are not used to dumping large amounts of fertilizer in a small tank. I feed around 1/2 acre of squash, pumpkins, watermelon and muskmelon using the 3 gallon version. I routinely dump 25lbs of 10-0-10 Calcium Nitrate and 10-15lbs of 13.75-0-45 Potassium Nitrate in the injector depending on the stage of growth.

This is pushed out thru around 2400ft of drip tube that is placed subsurface next to the plants in the rows. I have had fantastic results and I routinely use 2/3 less fertilizer than if I had conventionally incorporated and side dressed. Cost is only marginally lower due to the need to buy greenhouse grade water soluble fertilizer. Champion and Peters are two good brands. Check your local hort supply store. 50lbs of Potassium Nitrate can most likely be had for $17-$20. Peters 20-20-20 all purpose in 25lb bags can usually be had for around $30. Compare that to 5lbs of MG at the local big box for $10.

This year was the wettest year in my neck of Wisconsin for over 10 years. Most of the corn looks very sick due to nitrogen leaching past the roots. My melons however did very well. Since only small amounts of Nitrogen were leeched during any one particular rain I avoided ground water contamination AND I was able to keep supplying my veggies with nutrients very close to the rates they needed for optimum production.

I know of no other cheap system that works as well as the EZ-FLO for the price. Set on the fast selection my fertilizer tank is empty after around 6.5 days or around 12,000 gallons of water. I use a bypass with a valve so I can control how much concentrate goes out. This is an optional purchase which was a must for me.

I would love to use organics but the cost makes no sense. Even the liquid fishy crap would require typically 5 times the amount of material as the chemical stuff. If the cost was only marginally more then I would use it. Organic veggies without having 400 head of cattle just is not commercially viable for the smaller grower. Maybe someday.

    Bookmark   August 7, 2010 at 3:50AM
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bobarian68

i recently purchased the ez flo 3/4 gallon, and intend to use it on a drip line for 1 line of trees/shrubs.There are approximately 20 trees.The line goes on via a timer for 1hour each night.Ive got the drips set between 5 and 10 gallons per tree for the hour.I have miracle gro water soluble fertilizer….My question is, how much should i put in the ez flo container?

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 10:45PM
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bunnicula03(z6b NJ)

"I was lucky enough to get a few from Two Sisters before they closed. So sad."

You can still order from Two Sisters, even though they've officially closed. They still have quite a few roses left. Just send an email.

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 4:35PM
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anntn6b(z6b TN)

I have always envied central Californians their proximity to Reagans and their convenience at shopping a middle man who has brought together a huge collection of interesting roses.

If we lose them, it will hurt the producers who have had a known number of sales. That's bad. Yes, I can still go to the original producers, but I want the producers to have as healthy a business as possible.

Without knowing what percentage of their business is walk in vs. mail and ship bare roots, it's impossible to guess where they might go. There are parts of the country where land prices aren't as dear; but how many such places have so many rose fanatics ready to buy roses?

No easy answers.

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 5:33PM
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Leah45(6a)

Thanks Christopher. I love roses, but still have limited experience growing them. I was steeling myself to rip the cane out and I'm relieved to have a second opinion.

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 1:37PM
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jacqueline9CA

Yes, that is Brother Cadfael. As you grow in experience growing roses, you will see that depending on the age of the bush, the weather, the soil, water, food, etc., they can and will surprise you. The older the rose (that is, the type of rose, not the specific bush) the more variable they can be, in my experience.

I have old tea roses which can vary in color, size of bloom, shape of bloom (!), etc., all depending on the season & weather. I love that they do that. Here is a picture of my rose which varies the most in color - it is the old tea rose 'Anna Olivier'. Normally its blooms are buff with a sort of brick color splotch on the reverse of the petals, but as you can see from this picture, the blooms can also be pale yellow or pale pink. The buds are normally a pale pink, but the ones in this picture are much darker.

If you look at any rose on HMF which has lots of pictures, you will usually see this sort of variability, even in some modern roses. Since the Austin roses were bred with some old types originally, perhaps it is not surprising to see some variability.

Jackie

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 3:33PM
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canadianplant

I may have slightly better luck then you. I am going to mulch it, and on top of that we have very reliable snow fall.

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 10:53AM
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michaelg(7a NC Mts)

There is some information at HelpMeFind. One of the commenters was growing it in zone 5. Many favorable comments.

Here is a link that might be useful: HMF

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 12:08PM
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dublinbay z6 (KS)

Do remember that this is not a public forum--GW can set whatever parameters it wishes because it "owns" it.

Over the years, they have tended to discourage conversations that include the topic of banned posters.

On the other hand, I was a bit surprised to see a "gossipy" thread on this forum. Those usually do appear over on the Conversation side.

Not that I personally care much, one way or another, however.

Kate

This post was edited by dublinbay on Fri, Jun 27, 14 at 11:11

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 9:55AM
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anntn6b(z6b TN)

I wonder if the ban on a certain California grower still exists? Long after 'Spike' sold GW (Spike loathed that grower because Spike thought that the grower was trying to publicize his selling roses in his signature line, which he was), any mention of that grower still set off bells and whistles and got zapped, fast.

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 10:57AM
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sammy zone 7 Tulsa

I am surprised at this report. I thought the east coast had been fighting RRD for years, and the surprised was when it crossed the Mississippi.

Sammy

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 6:51AM
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diane_nj 6b/7a

No surprise to me. It has been in NJ (and PA) for a very long time. Ann and Larry Peck came to visit one of our district conventions years ago, and Ann gave a wonderful talk. One of our younger district members helped with some research, but still nothing new to "crack the case".

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 9:27AM
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frenchcuffs13(z8a)

Fantastic! I hope it does well for you and lots of pretty babies. Please keep us posted!

BTW- I did a cross of Sugar moon x Betty Boop. The hip has started to swell and hasn't turned brown. Is this a sign it took? (my 1st try too)

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 1:07AM
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frenchcuffs13(z8a)

PS- am i supposed to leave the foil on all season? I took it off after 3 days ....

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 1:32AM
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First HT Bloom of the SeasonThis is Kordes Perfecta.
Posted by Susanne27(5a Ontario Canada) June 26, 2014
6 Comments
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canadian_rose(zone 3a)

Oh my goodness - that's beautiful!!!! So soft looking. I love the color.
Carol

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 1:15AM
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frenchcuffs13(z8a)

You should be very happy! First bloom and so perfect! Thanks for sharing

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 1:29AM
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seil zone 6b MI

Thanks! I'm hoping that at least one of them will take. It would make Al very happy that he succeeded!

    Bookmark   June 25, 2014 at 6:33PM
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frenchcuffs13(z8a)

Please let us know how it goes. I'm wishing the best of luck for a happy healthy tree.

    Bookmark   June 27, 2014 at 1:04AM
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michaelg(7a NC Mts)

No, it needs to make more shoots from the base, which should come soon if it has enough water and nutrients to grow.

Normal-size climbers like 'Compassion' are best grown on a trellis 12-16' wide so you can fan the canes out.

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 4:03PM
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michaelg(7a NC Mts)

Yeah, it's fine to let the leaves stay unless you are going to stare at them and worry.

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 2:55PM
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lazybonz(7a)

Sounds good, Jim.

I will simply resume worrying about everything else and let the leaves be ;)

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 3:09PM
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ken-n.ga.mts(7a/7b)

Workie, workie, workie. I have a few more in my garden that are dying or flat out dead that I need to get rid of today myself. Looks like a good day for it.

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 10:19AM
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canadian_rose(zone 3a)

I got rid of Vavoom a few years ago too. Just didn't like it. Gardens are too small to keep roses we don't love.
Carol

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 2:13PM
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ken-n.ga.mts(7a/7b)

Sara-Ann, I work back in the mail room. We print 9 papers for different towns here in N.E. GA. I only work Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 1/2 day. Some weeks can really get crazy. My home rose garden is my relaxation. Taking care of the garden at the office is simple.

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 10:41AM
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sara_ann-z6bok

Ken - Your situation is quite different than mine. We are one of the newspapers that have our paper printed elsewhere, pretty common for the smaller ones. I can definitely understand how your rose garden is your relaxation. Even with where I work being a small weekly, back in the old days it could get hectic. Modern technology has changed that by speeding up the process.

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 1:19PM
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michaelg(7a NC Mts)

Vinegar is a herbicide! Oil and soap can burn foliage in hot weather. Please do not use these jackleg kitchen-pantry mixtures that you might see on the internet. In the eastern US, powdery mildew is usually not a severe problem and is easily controlled.

Probably your plants will recover just fine if you are patient and do not "help" them too much. Just water thoroughly every 4-7 days depending on the weather and when the soil surface is dry-ish. Put down a 2" layer of mulch.Don't fertilize until they are growing out happily, and then use less than the label recommends. Best wishes, and come back for advice any time.

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 11:40AM
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Kippy(SoCal zone 10. Sunset Zone 24)

If they have no leaves and it is hot, it would help to give them some shade for the heat of the day, not super pretty but a plastic chair over the plant is an easy way.

There are some home mixes that are probably fine on your roses, but if you find one you want to try, ask here first. Usually some one has already tired it and either knows it works or it doesn't. There are a lot of "organic" mixes posted out there but people often leave out big details on usage and side effects on different plants and how they effect the long term overall health of your garden.

Seems like many of the rose issues we have on my coast could be helped with a spray of water no need for other additives :)

    Bookmark   June 26, 2014 at 11:59AM
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jerijen(Zone 10)

Each bud eye has multiple potential spots for new canes. HT growers usually remove two of three. In a Tea, I wouldn't bother.

    Bookmark   June 25, 2014 at 9:17PM
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Brooks23(Kentucky zone 6)

jerijen, Thanks for that information. I did not know they could have more that one cane at an eye bud.

I am so glad this group is here and I appreciate all those that looked and helped me.
Best to all, Brooks23

    Bookmark   June 25, 2014 at 11:01PM
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