YOUR FERTILIZATION PROGRAM
by Jack Wright
This was a presentation at the Carolina District Workshop on February 1,
1998 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
KNOW YOUR SOIL
There are 16 elements essential to all plant growth. Without any one of them,
plant growth will not occur, even if the other elements are present in their
required amounts.
The first three (3) elements are derived primarily from the atmosphere
and water, and they are:
The remaining 13 elements are absorbed by the plant roots from the
surrounding soil. they must either be available in the soil in their
natural form, or they must be supplied by application to the soil.
They are broken down into three (3) categories as follows:
Most Essential to Plant Growth
4. Nitrogen
5. Phosphorous
6. Potash
Essential to Plant Growth, In Slightly Lesser Amounts
7. Calcium
8. Magnesium
9. Sulfur
Essential to Plant Growth in Very Small Amounts
10. Boron
11. Chlorine
12. Copper
13. Iron
14. Manganese
15. Molybdenum
16. Zinc
NATURAL FERTILIZERS
|
Fertilizer |
N* |
P* |
K* |
Minerals & Trace Elements |
Comments |
|
Alfalfa Meal |
3 |
1 |
2 |
Rich in minerals and trace elements. Contains triconatol, a growth
stimulant valuable to roses. |
Analysis varies with crop quality, but alfalfa is a great soil builder and
increases the micro-organisms in the soil. 200 cups per 50 lb bag (4 oz/cup) |
|
Bat Guano |
3 |
8 |
1 |
Supplies 24 trace elements |
One of the best all-around organics. |
|
Blood Meal |
12 |
13 |
0.7 |
|
Source of readily available nitrogen. |
|
Bone Meal |
2 |
12 |
0 |
Analysis may vary. |
Excellent source of phosphorous; lasts 6 to 12 months; raises pH. |
|
Cottonseed Meal |
7 |
2 |
2 |
|
Excellent where low pH is not a problem. 133 cups per 50 lb bag (6 oz/cup) |
|
Fish Emulsion |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Apply to the soil and also as a foliar spray. |
|
Fish Meal |
10 |
2 |
2 |
|
Excellent year round fertilizer; apply anytime roses need a boost. 133
cups per 50 lb bag (6 oz/cup) |
|
Greensand |
0 |
1 |
7 |
18% iron oxide; and 30 other trace elements. |
Slowly available; loosens soils. |
|
Kelp Meal |
1 |
0 |
8 |
33% trace minerals; includes more than 50 minerals. |
Great stuff, but expensive. |
|
Leather Tankage |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
2% nitrogen immediately available; remainder releases slowly -- does not
burn or leach. |
|
Rock Phosphate |
0 |
16 |
0 |
27% calcium |
Lasts for years; apply with compost for better availability. |
|
Seaweed (Liquide) |
1 |
0 |
4 |
Excellent source of trace minerals; high in amino acids. |
A great foliar feed. Improves leaf and blossom color. |
BASIC FERTILIZING PROGRAM
|
1. |
Spring |
Per Plant |
|
|
Lime |
1 cup |
|
|
Rose Food Fertilizer 12-17-10 |
1/2 cup |
|
|
or All Purpose 10-10-10 |
1/2 cup |
|
|
or Osmocote 12-17-10 |
1/4 cup |
|
|
Alfalfa Meal or Mills Magic |
1 cup |
|
|
Epsom Salts |
2 tablespoons |
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
After First Bloom - New Plants ONLY - Same as Above |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
Second Week of August - Same as Spring, except OMIT Lime. |
|
RECOMMENDED LEVEL FOR ROSES
|
SAND |
65-90% |
|
|
SILT |
0-25% |
|
|
ORGANIC |
5-15% |
|
|
CLAY |
0-10% |
|
|
SOIL CLASS |
SANDY LOAM |
|
|
PH |
6.50 TO 6.80 |
|
|
N (Nitrogen) |
100 (POUNDS PER ACRE) |
|
|
P (Phosphorous) |
200 |
|
|
K (Potash) |
500 |
|
|
Mg (Magnesium) |
500 |
|
|
CA (Calcium) |
5000 |
|
|
S (Sulfur) |
150 |
|
|
Cu (Copper) |
12 |
|
|
Fe (Iron) |
60 |
|
|
Zn (Zinc) |
10 |
|
|
Mn (Manganese) |
80 |
|
SOURCES FOR SOIL TEST
1. Your State Agricultural Extension Service
2. Mr. Al Young
Soil Analysis Laboratory
P.O. Box 20177
Montgomery, AL 36120
(334)277-1333 or 244-0322