| Last time I sent in an email regarding fertilizing for my Endless Summer. Here is the reply: You can plant 'Endless Summer' in a container. I'd use regular potting soil - it contains sand, peat, compost and vermiculite which will help moderate soil moisture. Since your plant will be in a container it should be fed more frequently than the same plant in the ground (containers require more frequent watering which will leach minerals out of the soil). I use a half-strength dilution of Miracle Gro, applied every 2-3 weeks during the growing season to keep my plants healthy and thriving. Sorry to ask you again (I'm new to gardening), I have the Miracle Gro All Purpose Plant Food, do you mean I use half of what they suggested? ie. instead of 1 Tbsp for every gallon, I use 1/2 tbsp for a gallon of water for every 2 - 3wks? Do I use the whole gallon for my 12 |
| If you used potting soil in your container, it should have a slightly acidic pH because of the peat moss. You won't need to add anything to keep the flowers blue, especially if you use Miracle-Gro (or Miracid) as a fertilizer. If the flowers are not as blue as you'd hoped, you can add aluminum sulfate the following winter (before the flower buds develop). As far as diluting the fertilizer, use half of the suggested amount (I use 1 Tbsp in a two-gallon watering can) and thoroughly water the plant with however much water/fertilizer solution you need. If the container is still thirsty, mix up another solution and water some more. I try to keep the fertilizer solution off the leaves because it leaves a white residue when it dries. If you want to sprinkle it on the leaves (it's called a foliar application of fertilizer), you can lightly rinse it off the leaves when you've finished feeding. Hope this clarifies things for you! Happy gardening! |
