About The Long Island Gardener Expertise Do you know the wrong fertilizer will keep your plants from blooming?
Do you know that too much Nitrogen can kill your grass, even if it does not burn the roots? Do you know that Roses need a LOT of Nitrogen to bloom -- and why is that?
There's some complex chemistry in those plant foods. The secrets behind N-P-K are the key to the ultimate lawn, the the biggest flowers, the most fruits and vegetables. And if you don't get it right, you could be sorry.
I'll show you what you did wrong, and how to fix it.
Experience Homeowner with gardens indoors and outdoors, lawns back and forth. I wrote my first gardening column for our college newspaper, teaching roomates about the right way to feed those windowsills gardens. Today I look for challenges. Organic Fertilizers are the key to proper feeding of all our plants. Can you make your own fertilizer? Some people think so -- but there are side effects. I have been there, done that for 54 years and there is nothing like the voice of experience when it comes to Horticulture and Fertilizers.
Publications Numerous and sundry but only in college did I write about plants.
Education/Credentials B.A., Botany and Mass Communications.
Question I've used Citrus Tone on my dwarf lemon tree when it is outdoors during the summer months. However, the odor is too strong to use indoors during the cooler months. Can someone recommend a fertilizer that can be used indoors without a lingering order.
Answer I would stop fertilizing for Winter. Although Espoma's 'Citrus Tone' is an EXCELLENT product, it is that very quality that makes it possible to back off on its use for a few months a year. Top dressing it will continue to contribute organic matter to the pot contents. A dose of beneficial Fungi wouldn't hurt and might boost use of the minerals you've been so diligent about incorporating in the culture -- and you can get that from another Espoma product, 'Bio-tone Starter Plus 4-3-3' (although I cannot vouch for its fragrance). A treatment of Harpin Protein ('Messenger') will guard against any ill effects of low humidity, environmental stress, temperature fluctuations, Sun, etc., especially if you spray it on the leaves (again, I am not sure about what the nose knows here). Non-toxic Salt-free fertilizer is a great idea, but for the whole plant, you can expand your horizons. Hard but not impossible to improve on perfection!
