miracid for ficus or scheff?

artisanoo · Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:58 pm

hi, this might be a stupid question so I apologize in advance if so....

but I have some miracid fertilizer left over from a gardenia that is no longer with us...

would that be ok to use in a schefflera or ficus? or do they not like acidic soil. I haven't done it, since I figured I should just get normal balanced fert for them, but now that I have no other use for this miracid, I thought I would ask....

arboricola · Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:18 pm

I would stay with what you're using and save the miracid for the azaleas. I have heard that juniper, oak, and some pines benefit from an acid soil, but you'll have to check the Ph range for each species.

Phil...

artisanoo · Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:33 pm

arboricola wrote:I would stay with what you're using and save the miracid for the azaleas. I have heard that juniper, oak, and some pines benefit from an acid soil, but you'll have to check the Ph range for each species.

Phil...

cool, thats what I thought - in that case I need to go buy some fertilizer - ran out..

any recomendations?

arboricola · Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:45 pm

I use Schultz 10-15-10 when the trees are active and switch to a 7-7-7 when they take a break.

Phil...

artisanoo · Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:10 pm

arboricola wrote:I use Schultz 10-15-10 when the trees are active and switch to a 7-7-7 when they take a break.

Phil...

is that something I can find at home depot? (I have to go there to get a new light fixture anyhow)

arboricola · Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:14 pm

You should be able to find it in any garden dept. of most stores...

Phil...

artisanoo · Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:42 pm

arboricola wrote:You should be able to find it in any garden dept. of most stores...

Phil...

cool thanks, ill check it out.

alexinoklahoma · Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:21 pm

And read the fine print on ferts - many do not have the 'extra' nutrients above and beyond the NPK stuff some species require. OK to use now and then (the cheap stuff usually is devoid of what I speak of) but its a good idea to give a 'full-spectrum' fert more often than not if the soil is 'sterile by design' (like perlite/gravel mix *only* or such). I like kinda mixing it up now and then with fish emulsion(s) and other brands to ensure a variety of minerals and whatnots upon the roots. Price is not any guarantee of what is within the fert, IME.

Alex

artisanoo · Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:56 am

alexinoklahoma wrote:And read the fine print on ferts - many do not have the 'extra' nutrients above and beyond the NPK stuff some species require. OK to use now and then (the cheap stuff usually is devoid of what I speak of) but its a good idea to give a 'full-spectrum' fert more often than not if the soil is 'sterile by design' (like perlite/gravel mix *only* or such). I like kinda mixing it up now and then with fish emulsion(s) and other brands to ensure a variety of minerals and whatnots upon the roots. Price is not any guarantee of what is within the fert, IME.

Alex

thanks, ill keep that in mind