It is very, very unfortunate that due to our cultural practices our ability of free flight thinking is blocked. We are SLAVES produced by centuries of traditions and Cast system. From early child hood we are taught that authority is always right and un challengeable, the face of authority keeps changing Father, Elder brother, Teacher, Boss and pseudo specialists and this indoctrination produces perfect slaves/Lakir Key Faqir.
Same is true in Gardening; we now know that putting Thikari on the hole of a pot does not improve the drainage but still we do it, we know loose soil is better aerated and still we compact it as much as we can.
I can go on and on but the subject is confined to fertilization of bulbs and I will make it specific to Amaryllis because since the time I got infected to Hippeastrum love I have contacted every reliable source on the subject.
Hadeco Amaryllis Africa are one of the biggest producers of Amaryllis bulbs here is what they have to say.
charles@hadeco.co.za
10/27/08
To: 'Brig.Gen. M. Arif Khan'
Dear Arif
Apologies for the delay in my reply.
A Hippeastrum has differing requirements according to the time of year/ stage of its activity as well as in particular soil type. This is probably why there are many opinions on the NPK ratio. However, for most use 2:1:2 is very good for general application. 100g per sq m, two or three applications per season.
We don't use Mag. Sulfate. At times we use Calcium Magnesium Nitrate (Calmag).
With kind regards
Charles
In her book on Hippeastrum culture, Veronica Read recommends a fertilizer lower in nitrogen than the other two main fertilizer ingredients, and recommends commencing feeding once the bulb has finished blooming
Veronica Read recommends 14:10:27 in her book 'Hippeastrum: The Gardners Amaryllis".
The growth cycle of Hippeastrum Starts after blooming and continues until it keeps producing new leaves. Very few cultivars if not disturbed go dormant in Lahore.
Arif
Lakir Key Faqir
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mikhurram
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Re: Lakir Key Faqir
Sir,
I tend to use Tomato fertliser for my bulbs, Dahlia, fruits trees and flowering vines having formulation 5:5:10 plus trace elements including seaweed extract as that of a Rose Food fertlizer. So much so that it can even be applied in peppers & cucumbers and aubergines. I agree with your statement that Amaryllis need an application especially when their flower fade and I apply the Tomato fertlizer foliar spray when the blooms come to an end. I believe even a general purpose fertliser can be applied when flowers cycle comes to an end?
Perhaps the reason why Veronica Read is recommending a fertilizer having lower nitrogen content is that often if the nitrogen content is too high in soil then bulbs start producing more leaves at the expense of flowers and makes them more vulnerable to pests. Sir then why is she recommending 14:10:27 formulation in which nitrogen content is higher?
I see the merits of a higher potassium ratio as Potassium apart from facilitating the formation of leaves & fruit also strengthens the plant cells making them more resistant against disease, pests as well less prone to extreme variations in climate zone particularly here in our cities (where temperature drops to 0'C in December/January and shoot upto 50'C in June).
regards,
I tend to use Tomato fertliser for my bulbs, Dahlia, fruits trees and flowering vines having formulation 5:5:10 plus trace elements including seaweed extract as that of a Rose Food fertlizer. So much so that it can even be applied in peppers & cucumbers and aubergines. I agree with your statement that Amaryllis need an application especially when their flower fade and I apply the Tomato fertlizer foliar spray when the blooms come to an end. I believe even a general purpose fertliser can be applied when flowers cycle comes to an end?
Perhaps the reason why Veronica Read is recommending a fertilizer having lower nitrogen content is that often if the nitrogen content is too high in soil then bulbs start producing more leaves at the expense of flowers and makes them more vulnerable to pests. Sir then why is she recommending 14:10:27 formulation in which nitrogen content is higher?
I see the merits of a higher potassium ratio as Potassium apart from facilitating the formation of leaves & fruit also strengthens the plant cells making them more resistant against disease, pests as well less prone to extreme variations in climate zone particularly here in our cities (where temperature drops to 0'C in December/January and shoot upto 50'C in June).
regards,