Not so fast, Jim. I know nurserymen who swear by the capsules ( and none
who swear at them). It takes an average of 4 months to dissolve them - a
whole growing season in the North, and you don't have to remember when to
feed the trees.
The only possible fault with them is that they may produce soft growth too
late in the season; but I haven't had that problem. Certainly you should
not have to worry about this in FL. I have to admit that I cheat a bit by
using liquid fert. early in the season to give my trees a shot in the arm;
but after July 1, no more.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
To:
Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 3:13 PM
Subject: [IBC] Fertilizer Comparison Chart


Jim Gremel wrote:
In a message dated 7/30/2005 8:41:12 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Exception: Timed release fertilizers. A real no-no in pots
if you like to control what your plants get and when they
get it.

*****************
For many years I have heard that timed release fertilizer is a bad choice
for bonsai, but my experience suggests otherwise. I use time release
fertilizer all the time, with excellent results (images of some of my
trees can be seen at www.jimgremel.com/bonsaigallery.html).

To each his (or her) own. _I_ like to know how much fertilizer my trees
get and when they get it over the course of a growing season. You have no
idea whether your timed-release fert pops none, one, or 40 capsules when
you water -- and for most, it's not _water_ that triggers release. It is
temperature. If the spoon-ful you dump into your plants has 40% 85+
degree capsules and 15% 65 degree, then you never have an 85 degree day
for several weeks, you are not getting any fert to your tree.

I don't plan to use it on any of my finished trees. My
gosh-the-these-might-amount-to-something-some-day-but-don't-bet-on-it
trees are lucky to get fertilized at all and if I happen to have some time
release fert around I might remember to give them some -- or not.

I have to think the difference between the two fertilizers was in the
material (or the trigger mechanism) of the capsules, and not the fert.
Trees just don't care how they get NPK, just so they get it.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - People, when Columbus
discovered this country, it was plum full of nuts and berries. And I'm
right here to tell you (that) the berries are just about all gone. --
Uncle Dave Macon, musician

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************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++