Lakir Key Faqir

[mikhurram]

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,