Hi, i'm new on this forum and this is the first time i would try to grow some cactus.
I'm growing some san pedro and living stones. I see that i want to use som 2-7-7 fertilizer? But i cant find that, is there som webshop that have fertilizer for cactus?
-Daffe
What fertilizer to use?
Re: What fertilizer to use?
It helps Daffe if people put their country in their avatar since advice for one country may be wrong for others.
You may get it off Amazon or EBAY if it is available in your country:-
http://www.amazon.com/Schultz-2-7-7-Cac ... B001B0E0CC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chempak-Cactus- ... B004KQ4AF6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Otherwise those designed for flowers or fruit such as tomato fertilisers that are lower in nitrogen are often used. Depending whether your potting mixture includes soil containing trace elements you may need a fertiliser containing them if not. Some however seem to use general fertilisers quite successfully, even if higher in nitrogen:-
http://succulent-plant.com/fertiliser.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
When comparing fertilisers of course it is the ratio that matters since 4-14-14 is exactly the same as 2-7-7, just twice as concentrated so you simply dilute it more. Higher numbers are sometimes used in order to avoid stating fractions for one of the ingredients.
You may get it off Amazon or EBAY if it is available in your country:-
http://www.amazon.com/Schultz-2-7-7-Cac ... B001B0E0CC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chempak-Cactus- ... B004KQ4AF6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Otherwise those designed for flowers or fruit such as tomato fertilisers that are lower in nitrogen are often used. Depending whether your potting mixture includes soil containing trace elements you may need a fertiliser containing them if not. Some however seem to use general fertilisers quite successfully, even if higher in nitrogen:-
http://succulent-plant.com/fertiliser.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
When comparing fertilisers of course it is the ratio that matters since 4-14-14 is exactly the same as 2-7-7, just twice as concentrated so you simply dilute it more. Higher numbers are sometimes used in order to avoid stating fractions for one of the ingredients.
Re: What fertilizer to use?
OK, thanx. I'm in Norway, i did finde one of them on ebay, thanx 
Re: What fertilizer to use?
This litle guy says hello after 6 days in the soil. When should i start to feed them?
http://www.anony.ws/image/DHhV
http://www.anony.ws/image/DHhV
Re: What fertilizer to use?
Not too quickly, most soils intended for cultivating seedlings contain little fertiliser. My father always used to say "you don't feed babies beefsteak's", meaning excessive indigestible food for young things, including seedlings, can upset their metabolism. Slow growing cacti even more than more vigorous growing plants don't need a great deal of fertiliser, therefore if they are growing OK the soil they are in should provide all they need for 6 months or so and then only feed diluted quarter to half strength fertiliser until the plants are larger.
http://gardening.about.com/od/seedstart ... g-Food.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://gardening.about.com/od/seedstart ... g-Food.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: What fertilizer to use?
ok, thanx.
Re: What fertilizer to use?
Feed when you want. Even with what you want. The main thing is never to feed to much. Dilute 2-4 times beyond the instructions for normal plants. You can even dilute specialist cactus fertiliser more than the instructions say.
For regular use, you would want to find a particular fertiliser with a sensible balance of the main nutrients and also including trace elements. It doesn't have to be a specialist cactus fertiliser. Something with a picture of a cactus on the label may be the simplest way to start, but there is no guarantee that it will be a good choice or any better than a general purpose fertiliser. A common rule of thumb is to choose a fertiliser where the first number (nitrogen) is the smallest, but this is more to prevent noobs hurting themselves than any underlying reason. Again, don't over-fertilise and most other things will fall into place.
Lithops don't need any fertiliser for at least a few months in most soils, possibly several years, but seedlings will grow best with regular very dilute fertiliser. Columnar cacti, certainly Trichocereus, are heavier feeders, but no need to go mad.
For regular use, you would want to find a particular fertiliser with a sensible balance of the main nutrients and also including trace elements. It doesn't have to be a specialist cactus fertiliser. Something with a picture of a cactus on the label may be the simplest way to start, but there is no guarantee that it will be a good choice or any better than a general purpose fertiliser. A common rule of thumb is to choose a fertiliser where the first number (nitrogen) is the smallest, but this is more to prevent noobs hurting themselves than any underlying reason. Again, don't over-fertilise and most other things will fall into place.
Lithops don't need any fertiliser for at least a few months in most soils, possibly several years, but seedlings will grow best with regular very dilute fertiliser. Columnar cacti, certainly Trichocereus, are heavier feeders, but no need to go mad.
--ian