Q. I was wondering whether you could help and point me in
the right direction. I had been using a great liquid fertilizer which I was
able to obtain from the 99 cents store in Henderson. They have discontinued the
product and I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
I have succulent plants and cacti on my patio and the liquid fertilizer
really seemed to help. Could you suggest where I might obtain the liquid
fertilizer or suggest some other product for my plants?
the right direction. I had been using a great liquid fertilizer which I was
able to obtain from the 99 cents store in Henderson. They have discontinued the
product and I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
I have succulent plants and cacti on my patio and the liquid fertilizer
really seemed to help. Could you suggest where I might obtain the liquid
fertilizer or suggest some other product for my plants?
A. I know you probably got a pretty good deal with that
fertilizer and that may not happen again for a while but there are some good
liquid fertilizers out there. Sounds like you are into the bargain bins when
you buy things so you may not like my suggestions.
fertilizer and that may not happen again for a while but there are some good
liquid fertilizers out there. Sounds like you are into the bargain bins when
you buy things so you may not like my suggestions.
Good
fertilizers are nearly never inexpensive. One of the best ones you could use
would be to make your own compost tea using high quality compost. I can’t
compare all the products out there available in Las Vegas but one that I know
about is called Happy Frog compost. Be careful when using it because it has had
fungus gnats in it still working the compost so don’t use it inside the house.
It is fine for making tea or using outside (our desert heat will kill the
gnats).
fertilizers are nearly never inexpensive. One of the best ones you could use
would be to make your own compost tea using high quality compost. I can’t
compare all the products out there available in Las Vegas but one that I know
about is called Happy Frog compost. Be careful when using it because it has had
fungus gnats in it still working the compost so don’t use it inside the house.
It is fine for making tea or using outside (our desert heat will kill the
gnats).
 |
| Happy Frog products are good quality organic products to use. There are others but this is one. |
You take
about two handfuls of this compost and put it in about a gallon of warm water
and let it soak overnight. No longer than this because you want the water to
have air in it or the process will go anaerobic and kill all the microorganisms.
Or bubble air through it to keep the microorganisms alive.
The
soaking will leach out a lot of the nutrients and microorganisms (goodies).
Happy Frog still has a lot of microorganisms in it. Many do not. Use this
gallon of water to water your flowering cacti.
soaking will leach out a lot of the nutrients and microorganisms (goodies).
Happy Frog still has a lot of microorganisms in it. Many do not. Use this
gallon of water to water your flowering cacti.
If you
want a mineral fertilizer then any fertilizer made for tomatoes or roses will
do well. Just use very small quantities. Products to look at include Peters,
Miracid, Miracle Gro, Jobes, and others.
want a mineral fertilizer then any fertilizer made for tomatoes or roses will
do well. Just use very small quantities. Products to look at include Peters,
Miracid, Miracle Gro, Jobes, and others.
 |
| Peters makes excellent fertilizers but they are expensive. In many cases, you get what you pay for in fertilizers |
Most
importantly for cacti, make sure you amend the soil when you plant them with
organic material such as compost or some manure based amendment. Cacti do much
better in an amended soil than pure sand or our unamended native soils. If the
soil was not amended, lift them during the warm months and replant using soil
that drains freely and incorporating compost into it.
importantly for cacti, make sure you amend the soil when you plant them with
organic material such as compost or some manure based amendment. Cacti do much
better in an amended soil than pure sand or our unamended native soils. If the
soil was not amended, lift them during the warm months and replant using soil
that drains freely and incorporating compost into it.