(For legal reasons I do not condone feeding or irresponsibly cultivating Gunnera x cryptica, any fertiliser I may have applied around mine is purely to help the tree fern behind and any unintended Gunnera fertilisation is entirely coincidental 😂)
Love the legal terms and conditions 😂😂. Please can you also start every video by warning the general watching public that if they go outside in the rain there is a risk that they may get wet. Both legal messages equally unuseful 😂😂
@@kevincahalan9994 I'm not called George, but I'll give you and answer lol... Slow release stuff like bonemeal, use when planting... I also apply in late autumn because bonemeal has less nitrogen for hardy perennials but George does have a point with tropical nitrogen hungry plants that are sensitive, waiting till now might be better because you don't sensitive plants to grow preemptively in colder weather. The granules take time to break down so get it applied by the start of the season. There's not much point putting in on mid summer. Liquid food should be used regularly when plants are growing and the strength should be protionate to the rate of growth, hence Gunnera's being able to take more than the palms. I've got a lot of nettles down the road from me. To stop them seeding in my neighbours garden I let cut them back and let them ferment in water (I use my recycling bin). This makes a great liquid feed by harnessing the energy of the weeds and redirecting it to more desireable plants. Just make sure they've had 2 weeks to rot down or make sure there's no seeds so you're not spreading the weeds).
Thanks and sounds like a plan. Every year is different and we're certainly not getting the sun and warmth required for much growth just yet so there's no rush. It's been a funny one this year hasn't it, the mild end to winter got a lot of plants starting to grow but we haven't had that real spring boost just yet!
Thanks and yes, that can be a battle I imagine! It's definitely worth sticking to the more granular / powdery feeds and ideally using them before it rains or properly soaking it in. Some dogs are definitely wired up to go mad for it though so good luck and maybe stick to mulches and more soluble feeds during the season.
Hi and thanks, that really is very kind of you! I'm not sure I quite deserve it but I enjoy growing exciting plants and it's great to know you enjoy seeing them too!
As well as fertilizer, focusing on soil structure is key thing, as you have done. I've setup a communal garden at the end of last year. I'm lucky to have a stable near me so manure/newspaper(for weed suppression, especially as my manure has a lot of nettles) and wood chip (to hide ugly newspapers and add carbon) in autumn has made a huge difference. Bonemeal is great when planting and late winter (roots will grow in the winter when it's not too cold). As you say liquid food is generally a summer thing, and I stick to tomato food mostly because the manure has a lot of nitrogen. The simple rule with liquid food is to apply portionally to the plants speed of growth. You have to be careful with manure as it can have a lot of herbicide, which can stunt growth in some plants, especially leafy things and things related to the pea family. The farm near me has had theirs rotting for a few years so this is not an issue for me, but fresh stuff should be applied in autumn to allow time for this to break down. Saving egg shells, banana skin and tea/coffee for compost massively helps with things like calcium and trace minerals which some soil types and synthetic fertilizers lack.
Hi and thanks for your great points, I completely agree on the value of mulching and delivering liquid food as a boost when the temperature and plant growth is there to use it. You're certainly right on the manure and I'd always recommend getting it from trusted sources - whether local or from suppliers who can guarantee it's organic etc. Well rotted is essential really and I don't generally recommend using fresh stuff as many of the plants we grow are evergreen and not completely dormant over winter unlike completely mulching over a vegetable / summer bedding area etc. Great tips on the calcium and trace minerals too. I didn't go into it in this video but most of the issues I hear about and see with palms especially are often related to deficiencies in terms of minerals / trace elements rather than NPK which is why I recommended the specific fertiliser for them whereas improving the soil with mulches and prioritising a spring / summer boost works best for the majority of leafy plants.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden It's amazing how much there is to learn about these topics when you drill into them. I've only been gardening more seriously in the last 6 months but learnt a lot (all my other knowledge is mostly from uncles from childhood who were keen gardeners so I'm sort of rediscovering some old knowledge). I actually don't have a tropical garden (Being based up in the north east on a windy site where most of the land I'm used is really communal/council means it would be unwise if I was move away to leave a load of high maintenance plants in situ) but follow you and Kris because it's good to understand things from different perspectives (and partly some garden envy). On the other side I also follow Charles Dowding and Jesse from No Till and it's great being able to distile such a broad spectrum of knowledge via UA-cam whenin the past many would have only been exposed to more mainstream/conventional wisdom.
Hi and I completely agree yes. I'm also somebody who's come back round to it and 'relearning' a lot in addition to coming across new sources on here and across the internet. Kris is also inspirational and I value his real life experiences and experimentation with a lot of exotics. My Dad is also getting into veg growing after a life of not really having much to do with gardening and he's getting into the whole no dig and modern / alternative knowledge rather than the traditional dig, organise and kill practices of the past! Happy to share what I can but equally I'm more than open to what other people can teach me too as I'm far from an expert in many areas. All the best with your spring gardening plans!
That’s kind of you to give them a little caffeine boost while they’re eating l! Haha no, I didn’t know it was a deterrent. I’m still a bit on the fence about the benefits of coffee grounds for plants but if it keeps the mice and rats away that’s a big positive.
Great timing George it's difficult time of the year for alot of people as far as feeding plants go. Henrietta is 1 that's crazy ,soon be time to get a spade in her hand to help out the old boy lol! 😂
Great video George and brilliant tips as always! I'm a firm believer in building the soil. I am going to be using chicken manure pellets and blood, fish and bone soon and a nice too dressing of compost followed by some woodchips.
Nice one Peter and thanks. Sounds like a top plan and it really is the way forwards isn't it! When I can afford it I want to get a decent shredder so I can more efficiently chop up bamboo growth and palm leaves to use as a mulch here too.
I'll keep an eye out, that would really minimise the amount I put in my brown bin to basically weeds and the odd dead plant I don't want to shred - everything else could be reused like at Dr Simon Olpin's garden.
Great advice as always. I tend to invest in long term soil improvement, rather that a quick steroid boost to plants. The only exceptions would be Cannas, Musa and Gunnera. The do get feed extra and I tried the X6 fertiliser you mentioned in this and your previous video. This does seems to work well and it highly concentrated, so goes a long way. I may give the slow release palm food a go as a few palm leaves are looking a little yellow coming out of winter.
Thanks and I can't fault you! It's always something I recommend, even in a video looking at bags of fertiliser! I do like the 6x as it seems to disappear in the soil better than pellets and as you say, seems powerful stuff. The palm leaves should naturally green us as the soil gets drier and warmer but an April feed will give them a nice boost as we head into sunnier weather!
@GeorgesJungleGarden I make my own. It's a mix of slow and quick release. I add the dry ammendment in the spring. Then make it into water soluble for the rest of the season. Using less to make a lot. Twice a month
Good stuff, it's always interesting to hear about people's systems and approaches. The longer you garden, the less likely you are to buy shiny and brightly coloured bottles of feed in garden centres and shops!
A great video as ever. As this is only my second year with the plants in the ground rather than pots, I am really want to improve the soil, as I know you have said this many, many times, and it clearly works for you! After that, it will be fish blood and bone, because I got some cheap, then topping up with liquid seaweed. I have always used seaweed and if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Haha yes, probably guilty of repeating that (more than a couple of times!) but it's usually the answer rather than buying another shiny bottle of fertiliser! There's nothing wrong with blood fish & bone mixed with seaweed, I'm a fan of both and I'm sure your plants will reward you with some real growth this summer!
I've found plants in the ground do much better. A lot of people think containers are easier (probably think there will be less weeds), but I've found the opposite. Containers will get hot in the summer and cook the roots and microorganisms along with needing constant watering. The new areas where I've done manure/newsapaper/fallen leaves/woodchip (find somewhere that will provide this in dumpy sacks) last autumn has done wonders. I've got an insane amount of worms in the soil now. Newspaper under woodchip will save you a lot of time weeding. It means come sreping you can just put a bit of clean compose on the woodchip and sow directly on to that. Where I've not been able to do this, and there is a lot of weed pressure, just using thick black plastic is great. It will starve the weeds of light and raise the ground temperature in early spring. This will encourage the worms to accumulate. If you are starting a new area you can grow squashes over this area for a season as these will quickly cover the unsightly plastic plastic. They'll love the warmer moist soil. This is what Charles Dowding does.
You're absolutely right that most plants grow so much better - stronger, faster and with less care, than potted plants. Having come from a garden where most of the plants you can now see were in pots I can tell you that it was so much more effort to look after the pots! Mulching is certainly the way forward to cover bare soil and the newspaper / cardboard is a great tip. I've naturally come to follow a lot of Charles Dowding's practices. I'm not a fan of plastic weed membranes as such and prefer access to the soil but for bed preparation and initially starving the surface weeds something like a thick black DPM can definitely help and in fact I'm currently prepping a new bed by covering the bare soil with upturned large growbag trays to essentially do the same thing. If you can look after the soil, give your plants a great start and save effort in the process then you're onto a winner!
@@GeorgesJungleGardenYes plastic is just a short term solution. Now I've getting dragged into doing my neighbours gardens I'm slowly starting to hate the unfettered use of low quality weed membrane (i.e. the woven stuff that deteriorates and still lets all the dandelions and thistles through 😂). It only needs to be down for a season in bad areas as bed prep for large areas. Like you and many others, I discovered some of Dowding's techniques through my own logical progression (i.e. battle with perennial weeds).
Yep, I'm not a fan of the woven barrier either. I used some for a section of path here and it's not the best stuff and you get lose weaves of it everywhere!
Great vid George, and just at the right time... this is only my first real summer growing these plants ( just bought myself a 8ft Waggie today ) and was woundering when I should start feeding, as the ground is so wet. As it stands now I have palm focus and liquid seaweed. So i am guessing I need pellets as well, although a lot of my boarders have weed barrier on them, so not sure how well that would work. As always mate, you are the go to person for everything you need to know, and that vid has helped as always :)
Wow, an 8ft Waggie, nice one! I'd just hold off until it starts to dry and warm up a little bit but that shouldn't be long (hopefully!). Personally I'd use the liquid feeds you mentioned if mulching isn't an option. For a palm in most normal garden soil you should be just fine! Thanks, happy to help and bring on the sun...
Thank you as always Bernard, it's definitely leafier and greener on here watching some of the video back! Not long though until we can both enjoy some spring growth and warm sun - definitely both welcome after this long, dull winter here!
Hi George, Thanks for another great video with food for thought! Do you mind me asking you a couple of questions? Lasciocarpa - it flowered right through the summer till now. Will the pups die after the main stem dies or do I have to cultivate the pups now? Second question: I have a strelitzia only a couple of years old but it is sending roots out the bottom of the pot. I heard they like to be pot bound, but would it hurt to put it in a slightly bigger pot to contain all the roots? Thanks for any advice, regards Rich 🙂
Thanks Rich, happy to help! No problem. With lasiocarpa - firstly, well done for getting one to flower as they're quite a spectacle! The pups essentially take over after the main pseudostem flowers and dies so you can either remove the old stem and keep the rest as they are or split and repot to get multiple plants. As for your strelitzia, it's not a plant I personally grow but if the roots really are bursting through the pot then like you say, I'd certainly look to pot it up into a slightly bigger pot, yes. The way I frame plants which 'like' to be pot bound is that they're either flowering plants which flower more freely rather than just producing a bigger, greener plant in the stress of a small pot or they're plants which prefer the drier conditions and better drainage a smaller pot offers rather than wallowing in a larger pot which rarely dries out. A strelitzia maybe ticks both boxes so I'd still pot it up to encourage overall growth but just keep the pot size step up small.
Thanks so much George for the great advice. The lasciocarpa flowering was a wonderful spectacle, I felt honoured to experience it but am also sad that it looks to be at the end of it's cycle after several years, but I have pups galore which are taller now than the main dying flower stem!@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks once again for your response 🙂
Hi Richard, no worries and I bet it was an impressive spectacle for sure. I'm sure the pups will grow away rapidly this year and the cycles will repeat again before you know it!
Hi Peter, just popped a video upon on this very topic. I generally just go for a sprinkling of the slow release fertilisers you see in this vid these days.
Hi George think alot of nurseries use fish blood and bone for some palms, mainly phoenix canariensis, have a couple out back which so far have survived winter 🤞 untied & defleeced although keeping the overhead shelters in place for now! Would this be the best feed for my cidp's or would you recommend anything else? Also have some vitax tree fern/palm feed on hand but not using till late spring at earliest. Also hear Osmocote preplant is good for feeding trachys whats ur thoughts mate? Any advise would be helpful 👍Tia
Hi Stephen and yes, when it comes to commercial nurseries and growers, mostly granular feeds are used as far as I understand and it's very much a case of spending the least to get a large plant quickly. It sounds like you've done the right thing with your Phoenix. I'm a fan the Hardy Palms feeds as they contain the trace elements / minerals which might be lacking in more general fertilisers. I haven't used Osmocote preplant personally but like the slow release element and for Trachys in good garden soil it should give them the nice little boost required for good growth. There's no rush to apply anything for a month or so / until it warms up and my window for feeding palms is generally mid April ish to mid August which means a couple of doses of slow release or more frequent liquid options and then I back off in August to allow growth to slow down and harden off into late Autumn.
@GeorgesJungleGarden excellent mate thanks for ur reply 👍used bonemeal last year for my cidp as all I had available seemed to like it! so defo going to use fish blood & bone this season see what growth I can get out them 🤞 my local B&M's have got a full rack of cidp in they're garden centre already was in earlier 2day. Defo starting early this year! Tenner each for decent sized ones 👌can feel the temptation coming already 🤣
Would you feed palms now that have the luxury of a conservatory overwintering and the daytime temp is presently around 11 (cloudy) - 23( after some sunshine)?? Thanks, Chris
Hi Chris, I think I'd just hold off until there's a little more light to get the best growth possible but hopefully a few weeks or so and we'll be there!
Morning George. When would you apply the hardy palm fertiliser? Bought it the end of last summer so haven't had a chance to try it on my trachycarpus. Cheers.
Morning Gareth, personally I’d say if it’s a warm spring then mid-late April would be great, topping another with another feed in June / July. It claims to feed for 2-3 months so covering the late April to August feeding time is my priority before backing off feeding evergreens and shrubs before it gets colder to let the growth harden off.
Haha yes, me too so I'm very aware I might contradict myself now and again! You're best off working off the weather and seeing what it does, there's no strict rules are there. Hopefully the weather is there for some good palm growth soon!
Hi, I'll try and put a vid together about it but basically a handful of chicken manure pellets around the base and you're sorted! You can always use a dilute liquid seaweed or HSK tree fern feed to water them but I generally only did that to give mine a boost while they were potted. Without wanting to repeat it too much, with plants like tree ferns, plenty of water and having a fertile and moisture retentive soil really does make so much more difference than just a load of feeds so I'd certainly prioritise mulching, watering (if it does stop raining!) and a little nitrogen boost.
Excellent work as usual George. I have a question...I have a small trachycarpus princeps hybrid... second year planted out. The fronds are all yellow. It's growing, feels well rooted but the colour is just wrong. Soil is very chalky but I had one planted in my old garden and that was basically in chalk...grew lovely! What would you recommend first to try and help. Cheers!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden It's a very washed out green, predominantly yellow with a hint of green. A normal trachycarpus close by is a bright glossy green. My suspicion is that it possibly is building a bigger root system...and it simply can't get all the nutrients it needs for the time being. I may start with some palm focus when it's a bit warmer. Really like these palms...they grow so fast and look amazing when bigger
They are amazing palms and I suspect your right. Given the time of year and the fact it's a smaller plant I'd expect it to naturally improve in spring but some palm focus and maybe palm booster will help it establish quicker and green it up in spring. I'm assuming it's unlikely to be growing in completely waterlogged soil?
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Free draining soil. Hopefully we will have a warm spring and get everything moving. Appreciate you taking the time to read and reply 👍. I have a small princeps arriving soon...I know they are slow but another palm well worth growing. Keep up the good work
No worries, hopefully so! Yes, princeps are lovely. Slower growing like you say but really stunning as they size up. Thanks and all the best with your spring gardening plans!
Hi , I dressed my gunnera with chicken pellets last year and .. my dog was caught eating then ! How do you deal with this !?! Or is your dog not as gross as mine 😂
Oh dear, nope, they're all gross! That's partly why I moved over to the 6x as it's more granular / fibrous and gets washed in quicker. I try to get any feed down before it rains or wash it in well and ideally do it late on a Sunday as luckily our dogs don't go into the garden too much when I'm not out there. They're all different but dogs are going to be dogs and if yours is a particular terror then maybe a combination of autumn / winter mulches and liquid feeds in spring & summer is the way forwards.
Good point. I think there is a bit of a debate about what does which. In fact all three are found in all parts of the plant and they plus micronutrients are all needed for good roots, growth and flowers. That’s why almost all fertilisers have at least some of each in. The plants can take up what they need and move it to where they need it.
Hi @brenmuk and @mylessyewartirvine - yes, you’re both right and the involvement of both in the flowering and fruiting process is more nuanced than I quickly summarised (possibly placing more focus on Phosphorus than intended) - I was originally going to just focus on the higher nitrogen vs more balanced fertilisers but decided to say more on the fly so to speak. Traditionally you’ll find sources either pointing to P as flowers and K as roots or vice versa but I remember looking at a recent study investigating and finding they are taken up and used more symbiotically as you say Myles. As I see it Phosphorus plays a large part in the stimulation & development of flowers, fruit & indeed roots whereas Potassium is what helps transport water and all the cells develop more, toughen the plant up and improve resistance - meaning stronger roots and better flowering and fruiting etc. so both views have merit. Obviously there’s a further distinction between leafy veg, fruit and root vegetables too just to complicate things! As you say Myles, the micronutrients are key are most typical garden soils are unlikely to be lacking in P or K and additional nitrogen is certainly the priority for those wanting a lot of productivity and big leaves out of their soil. I’d love to learn more though so if anyone has has further research or information to share (supporting or contradictory!) it would be great to hear it.
As much as I enjoy your videos I'm a little confused by this one. The commentary clearly says that you are actively feeding your Gunnera. In the comments section you tell us that this feeding is accidental!
Don’t worry John, the comment is a bad joke! Technically speaking, the current horticultural guidance is not to ‘cultivate’ Gunnera x cryptica as it’s currently classed as an invasive (check out my recent Gunnera banned video for more info and my thoughts). You’re allowed to grow Gunnera as I understand it but not to encourage it - the whole situation is a complete mess. I usually make bad jokes referencing it and DEFRA policing the issue - this video I was a bit short of time and I ended up giving perfectly straight care tips so had to leave a tongue in cheek comment before somebody else did! Until I see evidence of these plants spreading I will look after all my garden plants responsibly and to the best of my ability and time and I’m sure most other Gunnera growers feel the same about these magnificent garden plants.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden The messaging from the media/DEFRA couldn't be more idiotic if they tried. I've put some rhubarb (normal stuff you eat, not Gunnera) in the communal gardens at the end of last year and my "Guardian reading" (aka intellectual snob) neighbour was trying to make out it was illegal to grow. My neighbour is actually a lovely person but she loves holding opinions on things she's totally clueless on... normally because she's misinterpreted some stupid article in the Guardian. We have to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Yeah, it's ridiculous isn't it and personally I think it's a real shame that outlets like the Guardian who have the audience and clout to investigate, question and expose issues like this took the easy approach of getting views and readers through sensationalising the 'ban' without rigorous, common sense and proven horticultural advice. How are everyday plant growers expected to understand the nuances and common sense growing measures of plants like Gunnera and bamboo etc. when the media are keen to capitalise on negativity and public 'outrage'...
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I think I get amused how so many Guardian readers still perceive it as a trustworthy outlet, when as you say they have recently lost the nuance they used to have in favour of sensational material or just pushing a government agenda. The number of times I've got into debates with a neighbour and after a bit of probing have managed to realise they have been parroting the Guardian verbatim tickles me. On other topics I've literally called them out and said, do explain why, is that you're opinion or someone else's? 😄 Thankfully we have UA-cam escape from such silly narratives 🙂
I don't read any papers these days but yes, there was a time when I would have held the Guardian as a trusted and informative outlet when compared to other papers thriving on sensationalism and negativity. Yeah, some people would be better off investigating and questioning further wouldn't they! Often the truth is nuanced and a grey area but that doesn't sell papers or divide opinion as well does it.
(For legal reasons I do not condone feeding or irresponsibly cultivating Gunnera x cryptica, any fertiliser I may have applied around mine is purely to help the tree fern behind and any unintended Gunnera fertilisation is entirely coincidental 😂)
My lawyers have advised me 😂😅
Hi George, just watched feeding video, I’ve got all the products you use but how often would you reapply
Love the legal terms and conditions 😂😂.
Please can you also start every video by warning the general watching public that if they go outside in the rain there is a risk that they may get wet.
Both legal messages equally unuseful 😂😂
@@kevincahalan9994 I'm not called George, but I'll give you and answer lol...
Slow release stuff like bonemeal, use when planting... I also apply in late autumn because bonemeal has less nitrogen for hardy perennials but George does have a point with tropical nitrogen hungry plants that are sensitive, waiting till now might be better because you don't sensitive plants to grow preemptively in colder weather. The granules take time to break down so get it applied by the start of the season. There's not much point putting in on mid summer.
Liquid food should be used regularly when plants are growing and the strength should be protionate to the rate of growth, hence Gunnera's being able to take more than the palms.
I've got a lot of nettles down the road from me. To stop them seeding in my neighbours garden I let cut them back and let them ferment in water (I use my recycling bin). This makes a great liquid feed by harnessing the energy of the weeds and redirecting it to more desireable plants. Just make sure they've had 2 weeks to rot down or make sure there's no seeds so you're not spreading the weeds).
Your editing is truly professional and well explained. Many thanks again 😊
Thanks, that's great to hear and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know!
Thank you for this. It's always good to have reminders of what and when.❤
Thanks, happy to help Marianne!
I like the analogy of a hearty Sunday roast dinner vs takeaway 🙂....great video
Haha thanks, pleased you got something from it. I don't know where the analogy came from while I was filming but I thought I'd leave it in!
Fantastic Video.
Really well explained - Thanks George!
Thanks, happy to help and I'm pleased it came across that way!
Another informative video George 👏
Thanks, pleased to help!
Great advice, George! I’m going to start feeding in the greenhouse in the next couple of weeks and wait a bit longer for my outdoor plants
Thanks and sounds like a plan. Every year is different and we're certainly not getting the sun and warmth required for much growth just yet so there's no rush. It's been a funny one this year hasn't it, the mild end to winter got a lot of plants starting to grow but we haven't had that real spring boost just yet!
very good, always use Blood Fish & Bone when I'm planting stuff, but then trying to stop my two Terriers from digging it up is another matter!
Thanks and yes, that can be a battle I imagine! It's definitely worth sticking to the more granular / powdery feeds and ideally using them before it rains or properly soaking it in. Some dogs are definitely wired up to go mad for it though so good luck and maybe stick to mulches and more soluble feeds during the season.
Great video and thanks for sharing.
Thanks, that's kind of you!
Nice one mate iv just started doing the same thing 😊
Nice one Steve, I hope everything grows well for you this spring!
Thanks off to do some shopping for my plants 🪴
Nice one, that's far more exciting! What did you go for?!
Iv got a chamaerops humilis schefflera taiwaniana some spiraea snowmound and a yucca rostrata blue swan .Oh dear cant stop .
Very nice, some lovely choices and all interesting plants! I hope they all settle in well and soon grow away for you!
Thanks fingers crossed
The best exotic garden that I have ever seen.
Hi and thanks, that really is very kind of you! I'm not sure I quite deserve it but I enjoy growing exciting plants and it's great to know you enjoy seeing them too!
As well as fertilizer, focusing on soil structure is key thing, as you have done. I've setup a communal garden at the end of last year. I'm lucky to have a stable near me so manure/newspaper(for weed suppression, especially as my manure has a lot of nettles) and wood chip (to hide ugly newspapers and add carbon) in autumn has made a huge difference. Bonemeal is great when planting and late winter (roots will grow in the winter when it's not too cold). As you say liquid food is generally a summer thing, and I stick to tomato food mostly because the manure has a lot of nitrogen. The simple rule with liquid food is to apply portionally to the plants speed of growth.
You have to be careful with manure as it can have a lot of herbicide, which can stunt growth in some plants, especially leafy things and things related to the pea family. The farm near me has had theirs rotting for a few years so this is not an issue for me, but fresh stuff should be applied in autumn to allow time for this to break down.
Saving egg shells, banana skin and tea/coffee for compost massively helps with things like calcium and trace minerals which some soil types and synthetic fertilizers lack.
Hi and thanks for your great points, I completely agree on the value of mulching and delivering liquid food as a boost when the temperature and plant growth is there to use it. You're certainly right on the manure and I'd always recommend getting it from trusted sources - whether local or from suppliers who can guarantee it's organic etc. Well rotted is essential really and I don't generally recommend using fresh stuff as many of the plants we grow are evergreen and not completely dormant over winter unlike completely mulching over a vegetable / summer bedding area etc.
Great tips on the calcium and trace minerals too. I didn't go into it in this video but most of the issues I hear about and see with palms especially are often related to deficiencies in terms of minerals / trace elements rather than NPK which is why I recommended the specific fertiliser for them whereas improving the soil with mulches and prioritising a spring / summer boost works best for the majority of leafy plants.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden It's amazing how much there is to learn about these topics when you drill into them. I've only been gardening more seriously in the last 6 months but learnt a lot (all my other knowledge is mostly from uncles from childhood who were keen gardeners so I'm sort of rediscovering some old knowledge). I actually don't have a tropical garden (Being based up in the north east on a windy site where most of the land I'm used is really communal/council means it would be unwise if I was move away to leave a load of high maintenance plants in situ) but follow you and Kris because it's good to understand things from different perspectives (and partly some garden envy). On the other side I also follow Charles Dowding and Jesse from No Till and it's great being able to distile such a broad spectrum of knowledge via UA-cam whenin the past many would have only been exposed to more mainstream/conventional wisdom.
Hi and I completely agree yes. I'm also somebody who's come back round to it and 'relearning' a lot in addition to coming across new sources on here and across the internet. Kris is also inspirational and I value his real life experiences and experimentation with a lot of exotics. My Dad is also getting into veg growing after a life of not really having much to do with gardening and he's getting into the whole no dig and modern / alternative knowledge rather than the traditional dig, organise and kill practices of the past! Happy to share what I can but equally I'm more than open to what other people can teach me too as I'm far from an expert in many areas. All the best with your spring gardening plans!
Morning!!! I’ve just been out and bought a few plants this morning in rainy Rotherham 😅
Nice one, there was so much rain wasn't there! What did you go for?!
Thanks George, great advice
Thank you, I'm pleased it helped!
ive found the chicken manure brings in the mice and rats so i add coffee to it
That’s kind of you to give them a little caffeine boost while they’re eating l! Haha no, I didn’t know it was a deterrent. I’m still a bit on the fence about the benefits of coffee grounds for plants but if it keeps the mice and rats away that’s a big positive.
Great timing George it's difficult time of the year for alot of people as far as feeding plants go. Henrietta is 1 that's crazy ,soon be time to get a spade in her hand to help out the old boy lol! 😂
Thanks, trying to share more of what I'm doing as I'm doing it this year and I hope it's helpful. Haha yes, time flies doesn't it!
@GeorgesJungleGarden Definitely helpful 👍
Thank you, pleased to hear it and there's plenty more vids on the way!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden 👍👍
Great video George and brilliant tips as always! I'm a firm believer in building the soil. I am going to be using chicken manure pellets and blood, fish and bone soon and a nice too dressing of compost followed by some woodchips.
Nice one Peter and thanks. Sounds like a top plan and it really is the way forwards isn't it! When I can afford it I want to get a decent shredder so I can more efficiently chop up bamboo growth and palm leaves to use as a mulch here too.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden That sounds like a great idea!
I'll keep an eye out, that would really minimise the amount I put in my brown bin to basically weeds and the odd dead plant I don't want to shred - everything else could be reused like at Dr Simon Olpin's garden.
Great advice as always. I tend to invest in long term soil improvement, rather that a quick steroid boost to plants. The only exceptions would be Cannas, Musa and Gunnera. The do get feed extra and I tried the X6 fertiliser you mentioned in this and your previous video. This does seems to work well and it highly concentrated, so goes a long way. I may give the slow release palm food a go as a few palm leaves are looking a little yellow coming out of winter.
Thanks and I can't fault you! It's always something I recommend, even in a video looking at bags of fertiliser! I do like the 6x as it seems to disappear in the soil better than pellets and as you say, seems powerful stuff. The palm leaves should naturally green us as the soil gets drier and warmer but an April feed will give them a nice boost as we head into sunnier weather!
I mix both quick and slow release. To continuously feed throughout the growing
Precisely, cover your bases and get some slow release down then target the special / fast growing plants with a liquid boost!
@GeorgesJungleGarden I make my own. It's a mix of slow and quick release. I add the dry ammendment in the spring. Then make it into water soluble for the rest of the season. Using less to make a lot. Twice a month
Good stuff, it's always interesting to hear about people's systems and approaches. The longer you garden, the less likely you are to buy shiny and brightly coloured bottles of feed in garden centres and shops!
A great video as ever. As this is only my second year with the plants in the ground rather than pots, I am really want to improve the soil, as I know you have said this many, many times, and it clearly works for you! After that, it will be fish blood and bone, because I got some cheap, then topping up with liquid seaweed. I have always used seaweed and if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Haha yes, probably guilty of repeating that (more than a couple of times!) but it's usually the answer rather than buying another shiny bottle of fertiliser! There's nothing wrong with blood fish & bone mixed with seaweed, I'm a fan of both and I'm sure your plants will reward you with some real growth this summer!
I've found plants in the ground do much better. A lot of people think containers are easier (probably think there will be less weeds), but I've found the opposite. Containers will get hot in the summer and cook the roots and microorganisms along with needing constant watering. The new areas where I've done manure/newsapaper/fallen leaves/woodchip (find somewhere that will provide this in dumpy sacks) last autumn has done wonders. I've got an insane amount of worms in the soil now. Newspaper under woodchip will save you a lot of time weeding. It means come sreping you can just put a bit of clean compose on the woodchip and sow directly on to that.
Where I've not been able to do this, and there is a lot of weed pressure, just using thick black plastic is great. It will starve the weeds of light and raise the ground temperature in early spring. This will encourage the worms to accumulate. If you are starting a new area you can grow squashes over this area for a season as these will quickly cover the unsightly plastic plastic. They'll love the warmer moist soil. This is what Charles Dowding does.
You're absolutely right that most plants grow so much better - stronger, faster and with less care, than potted plants. Having come from a garden where most of the plants you can now see were in pots I can tell you that it was so much more effort to look after the pots!
Mulching is certainly the way forward to cover bare soil and the newspaper / cardboard is a great tip. I've naturally come to follow a lot of Charles Dowding's practices. I'm not a fan of plastic weed membranes as such and prefer access to the soil but for bed preparation and initially starving the surface weeds something like a thick black DPM can definitely help and in fact I'm currently prepping a new bed by covering the bare soil with upturned large growbag trays to essentially do the same thing. If you can look after the soil, give your plants a great start and save effort in the process then you're onto a winner!
@@GeorgesJungleGardenYes plastic is just a short term solution. Now I've getting dragged into doing my neighbours gardens I'm slowly starting to hate the unfettered use of low quality weed membrane (i.e. the woven stuff that deteriorates and still lets all the dandelions and thistles through 😂). It only needs to be down for a season in bad areas as bed prep for large areas.
Like you and many others, I discovered some of Dowding's techniques through my own logical progression (i.e. battle with perennial weeds).
Yep, I'm not a fan of the woven barrier either. I used some for a section of path here and it's not the best stuff and you get lose weaves of it everywhere!
Great vid George, and just at the right time... this is only my first real summer growing these plants ( just bought myself a 8ft Waggie today ) and was woundering when I should start feeding, as the ground is so wet. As it stands now I have palm focus and liquid seaweed.
So i am guessing I need pellets as well, although a lot of my boarders have weed barrier on them, so not sure how well that would work. As always mate, you are the go to person for everything you need to know, and that vid has helped as always :)
Wow, an 8ft Waggie, nice one! I'd just hold off until it starts to dry and warm up a little bit but that shouldn't be long (hopefully!). Personally I'd use the liquid feeds you mentioned if mulching isn't an option. For a palm in most normal garden soil you should be just fine! Thanks, happy to help and bring on the sun...
@@GeorgesJungleGarden well 8ft in the pot. more like just over 6ft when in the ground lol :)
That's still a cracking size, similar to the one I have growing between my tree ferns.
Your garden looks great already! Mind the Gunnera, he will have no mercy (even if not fed)! Lol Take care George! 🙋♂
Thank you as always Bernard, it's definitely leafier and greener on here watching some of the video back! Not long though until we can both enjoy some spring growth and warm sun - definitely both welcome after this long, dull winter here!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Indeed! 🙋♂☀
Hi George, Thanks for another great video with food for thought! Do you mind me asking you a couple of questions? Lasciocarpa - it flowered right through the summer till now. Will the pups die after the main stem dies or do I have to cultivate the pups now? Second question: I have a strelitzia only a couple of years old but it is sending roots out the bottom of the pot. I heard they like to be pot bound, but would it hurt to put it in a slightly bigger pot to contain all the roots? Thanks for any advice, regards Rich 🙂
Thanks Rich, happy to help! No problem. With lasiocarpa - firstly, well done for getting one to flower as they're quite a spectacle! The pups essentially take over after the main pseudostem flowers and dies so you can either remove the old stem and keep the rest as they are or split and repot to get multiple plants. As for your strelitzia, it's not a plant I personally grow but if the roots really are bursting through the pot then like you say, I'd certainly look to pot it up into a slightly bigger pot, yes. The way I frame plants which 'like' to be pot bound is that they're either flowering plants which flower more freely rather than just producing a bigger, greener plant in the stress of a small pot or they're plants which prefer the drier conditions and better drainage a smaller pot offers rather than wallowing in a larger pot which rarely dries out. A strelitzia maybe ticks both boxes so I'd still pot it up to encourage overall growth but just keep the pot size step up small.
Thanks so much George for the great advice. The lasciocarpa flowering was a wonderful spectacle, I felt honoured to experience it but am also sad that it looks to be at the end of it's cycle after several years, but I have pups galore which are taller now than the main dying flower stem!@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks once again for your response 🙂
Hi Richard, no worries and I bet it was an impressive spectacle for sure. I'm sure the pups will grow away rapidly this year and the cycles will repeat again before you know it!
Hi George , what do you feed your tree fern with, or do you use a propiatry tree fern feed
Hi Peter, just popped a video upon on this very topic. I generally just go for a sprinkling of the slow release fertilisers you see in this vid these days.
Hi George think alot of nurseries use fish blood and bone for some palms, mainly phoenix canariensis, have a couple out back which so far have survived winter 🤞 untied & defleeced although keeping the overhead shelters in place for now! Would this be the best feed for my cidp's or would you recommend anything else? Also have some vitax tree fern/palm feed on hand but not using till late spring at earliest. Also hear Osmocote preplant is good for feeding trachys whats ur thoughts mate? Any advise would be helpful 👍Tia
Hi Stephen and yes, when it comes to commercial nurseries and growers, mostly granular feeds are used as far as I understand and it's very much a case of spending the least to get a large plant quickly. It sounds like you've done the right thing with your Phoenix. I'm a fan the Hardy Palms feeds as they contain the trace elements / minerals which might be lacking in more general fertilisers. I haven't used Osmocote preplant personally but like the slow release element and for Trachys in good garden soil it should give them the nice little boost required for good growth. There's no rush to apply anything for a month or so / until it warms up and my window for feeding palms is generally mid April ish to mid August which means a couple of doses of slow release or more frequent liquid options and then I back off in August to allow growth to slow down and harden off into late Autumn.
@GeorgesJungleGarden excellent mate thanks for ur reply 👍used bonemeal last year for my cidp as all I had available seemed to like it! so defo going to use fish blood & bone this season see what growth I can get out them 🤞 my local B&M's have got a full rack of cidp in they're garden centre already was in earlier 2day. Defo starting early this year! Tenner each for decent sized ones 👌can feel the temptation coming already 🤣
No worries and nice one, at a tenner for a good plant it would be hard not to let the Mediterranean delusions begin again! Good luck with them haha
Would you feed palms now that have the luxury of a conservatory overwintering and the daytime temp is presently around 11 (cloudy) - 23( after some sunshine)?? Thanks, Chris
Hi Chris, I think I'd just hold off until there's a little more light to get the best growth possible but hopefully a few weeks or so and we'll be there!
Morning George. When would you apply the hardy palm fertiliser? Bought it the end of last summer so haven't had a chance to try it on my trachycarpus. Cheers.
Morning Gareth, personally I’d say if it’s a warm spring then mid-late April would be great, topping another with another feed in June / July. It claims to feed for 2-3 months so covering the late April to August feeding time is my priority before backing off feeding evergreens and shrubs before it gets colder to let the growth harden off.
When do you start using the slow release palm fertiliser? April onwards?
Hi, generally one dose late April (maybe early May if it’s been a colder spring), then another around June / July to cover the growing season well 😊
Thanks, I believe I do the same but each year I can never remember when to start!
Haha yes, me too so I'm very aware I might contradict myself now and again! You're best off working off the weather and seeing what it does, there's no strict rules are there. Hopefully the weather is there for some good palm growth soon!
Hi dude how do u feed ur tree ferns?
Hi, I'll try and put a vid together about it but basically a handful of chicken manure pellets around the base and you're sorted! You can always use a dilute liquid seaweed or HSK tree fern feed to water them but I generally only did that to give mine a boost while they were potted. Without wanting to repeat it too much, with plants like tree ferns, plenty of water and having a fertile and moisture retentive soil really does make so much more difference than just a load of feeds so I'd certainly prioritise mulching, watering (if it does stop raining!) and a little nitrogen boost.
Excellent work as usual George. I have a question...I have a small trachycarpus princeps hybrid... second year planted out. The fronds are all yellow. It's growing, feels well rooted but the colour is just wrong. Soil is very chalky but I had one planted in my old garden and that was basically in chalk...grew lovely! What would you recommend first to try and help. Cheers!
Thanks very much! As for the palm, is it only a slight yellowish tinge or more severe?
@@GeorgesJungleGarden
It's a very washed out green, predominantly yellow with a hint of green. A normal trachycarpus close by is a bright glossy green. My suspicion is that it possibly is building a bigger root system...and it simply can't get all the nutrients it needs for the time being. I may start with some palm focus when it's a bit warmer. Really like these palms...they grow so fast and look amazing when bigger
They are amazing palms and I suspect your right. Given the time of year and the fact it's a smaller plant I'd expect it to naturally improve in spring but some palm focus and maybe palm booster will help it establish quicker and green it up in spring. I'm assuming it's unlikely to be growing in completely waterlogged soil?
@@GeorgesJungleGarden
Free draining soil. Hopefully we will have a warm spring and get everything moving. Appreciate you taking the time to read and reply 👍. I have a small princeps arriving soon...I know they are slow but another palm well worth growing. Keep up the good work
No worries, hopefully so! Yes, princeps are lovely. Slower growing like you say but really stunning as they size up. Thanks and all the best with your spring gardening plans!
Hi , I dressed my gunnera with chicken pellets last year and .. my dog was caught eating then ! How do you deal with this !?! Or is your dog not as gross as mine 😂
Oh dear, nope, they're all gross! That's partly why I moved over to the 6x as it's more granular / fibrous and gets washed in quicker. I try to get any feed down before it rains or wash it in well and ideally do it late on a Sunday as luckily our dogs don't go into the garden too much when I'm not out there. They're all different but dogs are going to be dogs and if yours is a particular terror then maybe a combination of autumn / winter mulches and liquid feeds in spring & summer is the way forwards.
I always make stinging nettle fertiliser does great and it's free 😂
I can't fault you! I usually just chop down the swathes of nettles growing in my garden and dump them direct onto the bamboo haha!
I thought it was P for roots and K for flowers and fruit.
Good point. I think there is a bit of a debate about what does which. In fact all three are found in all parts of the plant and they plus micronutrients are all needed for good roots, growth and flowers. That’s why almost all fertilisers have at least some of each in. The plants can take up what they need and move it to where they need it.
Hi @brenmuk and @mylessyewartirvine - yes, you’re both right and the involvement of both in the flowering and fruiting process is more nuanced than I quickly summarised (possibly placing more focus on Phosphorus than intended) - I was originally going to just focus on the higher nitrogen vs more balanced fertilisers but decided to say more on the fly so to speak. Traditionally you’ll find sources either pointing to P as flowers and K as roots or vice versa but I remember looking at a recent study investigating and finding they are taken up and used more symbiotically as you say Myles. As I see it Phosphorus plays a large part in the stimulation & development of flowers, fruit & indeed roots whereas Potassium is what helps transport water and all the cells develop more, toughen the plant up and improve resistance - meaning stronger roots and better flowering and fruiting etc. so both views have merit. Obviously there’s a further distinction between leafy veg, fruit and root vegetables too just to complicate things! As you say Myles, the micronutrients are key are most typical garden soils are unlikely to be lacking in P or K and additional nitrogen is certainly the priority for those wanting a lot of productivity and big leaves out of their soil. I’d love to learn more though so if anyone has has further research or information to share (supporting or contradictory!) it would be great to hear it.
Had the 6x manure delivered today, god does it stink! 🤣🤣
Haha yes, it’s certainly got a distinctive fragrance, it’s worth wearing gloves with! I’ve no idea how it got 3/5 stars for scent on Amazon 😂
I'm giving my pink china, sweet and sour chicken balls and special fried rice.
Hahaha there we go, what a treat! Do you cut it with seaweed to a specific ratio you could share?
As much as I enjoy your videos I'm a little confused by this one. The commentary clearly says that you are actively feeding your Gunnera. In the comments section you tell us that this feeding is accidental!
Don’t worry John, the comment is a bad joke! Technically speaking, the current horticultural guidance is not to ‘cultivate’ Gunnera x cryptica as it’s currently classed as an invasive (check out my recent Gunnera banned video for more info and my thoughts). You’re allowed to grow Gunnera as I understand it but not to encourage it - the whole situation is a complete mess. I usually make bad jokes referencing it and DEFRA policing the issue - this video I was a bit short of time and I ended up giving perfectly straight care tips so had to leave a tongue in cheek comment before somebody else did! Until I see evidence of these plants spreading I will look after all my garden plants responsibly and to the best of my ability and time and I’m sure most other Gunnera growers feel the same about these magnificent garden plants.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden The messaging from the media/DEFRA couldn't be more idiotic if they tried. I've put some rhubarb (normal stuff you eat, not Gunnera) in the communal gardens at the end of last year and my "Guardian reading" (aka intellectual snob) neighbour was trying to make out it was illegal to grow. My neighbour is actually a lovely person but she loves holding opinions on things she's totally clueless on... normally because she's misinterpreted some stupid article in the Guardian. We have to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Yeah, it's ridiculous isn't it and personally I think it's a real shame that outlets like the Guardian who have the audience and clout to investigate, question and expose issues like this took the easy approach of getting views and readers through sensationalising the 'ban' without rigorous, common sense and proven horticultural advice. How are everyday plant growers expected to understand the nuances and common sense growing measures of plants like Gunnera and bamboo etc. when the media are keen to capitalise on negativity and public 'outrage'...
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I think I get amused how so many Guardian readers still perceive it as a trustworthy outlet, when as you say they have recently lost the nuance they used to have in favour of sensational material or just pushing a government agenda.
The number of times I've got into debates with a neighbour and after a bit of probing have managed to realise they have been parroting the Guardian verbatim tickles me. On other topics I've literally called them out and said, do explain why, is that you're opinion or someone else's? 😄
Thankfully we have UA-cam escape from such silly narratives 🙂
I don't read any papers these days but yes, there was a time when I would have held the Guardian as a trusted and informative outlet when compared to other papers thriving on sensationalism and negativity. Yeah, some people would be better off investigating and questioning further wouldn't they! Often the truth is nuanced and a grey area but that doesn't sell papers or divide opinion as well does it.