Discuss culture on this forum.

Soil, compost, fertilizer, spray programs, bed design etc.

I know that there must be other folks besides me who try to use only organic fertilizers. Can any of you share what organic substances you use to feed your Daylilies?

We use aged chicken litter and horse manure. We also started using alfalfa pellets last year. We think organic is very good, but we also use Nutricote, a slow release granular fertilizer, Milorganite, and Epsom salts.

I use alfalfa pellets, but I am not sure they are organic. Wouldn't the alfalfa being used in the pellets need to be certified organic to qualify?

I don't know if the alfalfa pellets are considered organic or not. They would not be a chemical fertilizer. I look at alfalfa pellets as being a plant biproduct.

Thanks folks, Actually I would consider all of those except Nutricote to be organic as opposed to synthetic fertilizers. I use all of them myself, except chicken manure. I don't use the Alfalfa pellets, I use the Alfalfa meal. Casshigh, why do you also use Nutricote?

Nutricote is a slow release fertilizer that is heat and water activated when the ground temperature reaches 70 degrees. We use the 9 month formula that continues to fertilize throughout the summer and the fall. We then do not have to fertilize again (except for Milorganite and Epsom salts in the late summer) until the next spring. The other fertilizers give the daylilies the special kick needed in spring and then the Nutricote kicks in by the time the daylilies are ready to bloom. Nutricote will not burn the daylilies, so we do not have to worry about applying too much. Many of the Florida hybridizers use it.

Frilly, the cow pasture borders the back of our property. The cows come up to the fence where the trees are in the summer to get out of the sun. I could easily shovel some cow patties onto our side. Do you use fresh or old and does it matter? Better find us a couple of 5 gallon buckets for making manure tea. Actually, we have plenty of cat litter buckets. A friend suggested this a few years ago, but I just have never acted on it. Another thing to add to my "To Do List" this spring and summer.

There are plenty of weeds in that pasture and the seeds find their way through the fence.

Note to self: If I ever think about spending at night at Frillylily's house, make sure I check the pillowcases in her guest room first!! heh heh heh

Alfalfa would be "natural" but only "organic" if it was grown and processed in a cerfified organic way. I am trying to use more "natural" methods in my garden, not necessarily "organic". For example, I use neems oil, but buy regular neems, not organic neems.

Andi, does the neem oil work for thrips and aphids? If so, that is the way I'd prefer to go, too. When do you start spraying and how often?

It worked for my aphids last year. I think it is as effective as dust, but you have to spray a bit more often than you would dust. I add a tiny squirt of Dawn dish soap and a bit of baking soda with neems in a spray bottle. The dish soap is supposed to help it adhere to the plant and the baking soda inhibits black spot fungus (at least in theory). I spray at least twice a week and after every rain starting as soon as I have new leaves. I sprayed twice daily when the aphids were especially bad. I wash the aphids off with soapy water, first. Don't you hate aphids, they attack the new buds and look so icky. I haven't had thrips, or had them and didn't notice them.

Thank you.

Aphids and slugs are my too worst daylily pests. Seems I'm always battling them. The slugs love to chew the fresh new leaves coming up in the spring. I actually lost a plant to them last year. I didn't even get to see it bloom. It was new. They ate the leaves so far down that nothing came up again.
This year it will be WAR!!!

Joy

Anyone know the difference between Nutricote and Osmocote??

Cindy

There are several formulations of Nutricote and Osmocote. But in general, I believe they are both good time released fertilizers and whatever you buy will serve the purpose for daylilies. Most Osmocote products are a little higher in nitrogen than the equivalent Nuticote products so many people in hot, tropical climates prefer not to use the high nitrogen ones. For you living in Michigan, it should not matter. Daylilies like higher nitrogen during strong growth periods.....early spring and two weeks after blooming.... but if you use high nitrogen during really hot weather like you get in Florida, plants can rot. Nutricote is often cheaper. Just check your labels for formulation. What you use will depend on your soil test which can vary from state to state. Time released fertilizers, in general, are expensive so I find it easier and cheaper to just give them some nitrogen during strong growth periods instead. You might post this question to the AHS mother robin because I once read there was a difference in how they were released that was dependent on water as well.....with one washing out faster than the other. Senior moment on that aspect!

Judy

Thanks Judy. I actually have not seen Nutricote in the store. I will have to check the next time I visit Lowes or Aco.

Cindy