Does the bottom fertilizer need to be placed at the bottom of the pot? How to use the bottom fertilizer correctly?
The editor introduces you to the small experience of what fertilizers can be used for the bottom of the pot for roses and how to choose the bottom fertilizer for changing pots in winter. Let's understand and learn together.
In winter, changing the pot of roses, bottom fertilizer is essential. However, many flower friends do not fully understand how to choose and use the bottom fertilizer. Today, I will focus on introducing the selection and precautions for the use of bottom fertilizer for roses.
What fertilizers can be used for the bottom of the pot for roses?
The bottom fertilizer is very different from the water-soluble fertilizer applied during the growing period. The main function of the bottom fertilizer is to continuously provide nutrients for the plant growth, maintaining the soil fertility. Therefore, the bottom fertilizer should be a fertilizer with a long-lasting effect and preferably a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
Common bottom fertilizers include: fermented organic fertilizers, including sheep manure, chicken manure, earthworm manure, soybean cake fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers or controlled-release fertilizers, horticultural bonemeal fertilizers, etc.
Among them, fermented organic fertilizers have relatively comprehensive nutrients, rich in organic matter and microbial flora, which are very beneficial for maintaining a good soil structure. The fertilizer effect of fermented organic matter is also gentle and does not easily cause seedling burning. Moreover, the fertilizer effect lasts for a relatively long time.
Slow-release fertilizers and controlled-release fertilizers are long-acting chemical fertilizers, whose nutrients are relatively single, usually containing only nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements. Some brands of slow-release fertilizers also add some trace elements. The fertilizer effect varies from breed to breed, generally, domestic fertilizers have an effect of only 1-3 months, and the duration of the fertilizer effect is relatively short. Ogreen slow-release fertilizers have an effect of 6-12 months, depending on the model.
Horticultural bonemeal fertilizer, which is defatted bonemeal, is a natural organic phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. It is generally recommended for plants that bloom a lot, such as roses and bougainvillea.
Among various fermented organic fertilizers, the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in manure fertilizers is relatively balanced, while organic fertilizers from plant residues such as soybean cake fertilizers and kitchen waste have a higher nitrogen content, which is more suitable for seedling stage or green plants.
For the bottom fertilizer of large rose seedlings in pots, I personally recommend using fermented sheep or chicken manure + bonemeal fertilizer. Adding bonemeal is equivalent to supplementing extra phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Sufficient phosphorus and potassium fertilizers allow roses to produce more flower buds in spring and the flowers will also be larger.
If it is a small rose seedling and you want to grow branches first and strengthen the plant, it is recommended that when changing the pot, you can use soybean cake fertilizer as the bottom fertilizer. This provides sufficient nitrogen fertilizer, which can stimulate more new buds and the new branches will also be stronger.
Does the bottom fertilizer have to be placed at the bottom of the pot? And how to use the bottom fertilizer correctly?
Many flower friends have heard that when changing the pot of roses, bottom fertilizer should be placed, so they add a thick layer of fermented organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot. However, this is wrong. Personally, I think the meaning of bottom fertilizer should be the base fertilizer, which is the basic nutrients needed for plant growth. Does it have to be placed at the bottom of the pot? This is not necessarily true.
Since bottom fertilizer is base fertilizer, basic fertilizer, it does not necessarily have to be placed at the bottom of the pot. The bottom fertilizer can be concentrated in the middle and lower parts of the potting soil or mixed evenly with the potting soil.
Does the bottom fertilizer have to be placed at the bottom of the pot? And how to use the bottom fertilizer correctly?
Because the root growth of plants is downward, when using a gallon pot to plant roses, after the roots are full, a large number of roots will be concentrated at the bottom of the pot. Therefore, we also place the fertilizer at the bottom of the pot, so that the roots of the roses can absorb it more easily.
When using a root control pot, the roots of the roses will grow to the surroundings, filling the pot with roots. In this case, our bottom fertilizer can be mixed evenly with the potting soil. This way, the nutrients in the potting soil are balanced and more consistent with the relatively balanced characteristics of the root distribution in the root control pot.
It should be noted that whether the bottom fertilizer is placed at the bottom of the pot or mixed with the potting soil, the amount needs to be controlled.
Generally speaking, the amount of bottom fertilizer should not exceed 1/5 of the potting soil. If the bottom fertilizer is mixed with the potting soil, it can be planted directly without special considerations. If the bottom fertilizer is placed at the bottom of the pot, then it needs to be noted that it should not come into direct contact with the roots of the roses.
Because when using the potting soil, we often mix the bottom fertilizer with a small amount of potting soil and then add it to the bottom of the pot. Although mixed with potting soil, the proportion of fertilizer is high. If the roots come into direct contact, it can easily cause fertilizer damage. After all, the roots of the newly potted roses are damaged and need time to adapt and recover. Therefore, when using bottom fertilizer at the bottom of the pot, a layer of potting soil needs to be added on top of the bottom fertilizer first, and then the rose seedling is planted. This is safer.
When changing pots or applying winter fertilizers, if the amount of organic fertilizers is insufficient, it is recommended to use slow-release fertilizers together for twice the effort.
The sharing above about what fertilizers can be used for the bottom of the pot for roses and whether the bottom fertilizer must be placed at the bottom of the pot and how to use the bottom fertilizer correctly is for your reference.