Hi:
May I mention that what Sir Peter actually said was that he had strong
suspicions that high doses fertilizers (like many growers do: "I usually
spread a handful of whatever available, when I remember") particularly those
that are suitable for crop production were a main factor in the appearance
of virus symptoms in Nerines. Hence he relied to minimum fertilizing. High
nitrogen fertilizers attract more virus spreading insects to plants than no
fertilizer or no nitrogen at all. Sir Peter was right in his observations
but fertilizers properly balanced for African violets or tomatoes are very
good for bulbs, providing care is given to theri particular needs. Note that
serious growers like Brian Whyer use doses that resemble more and more what
the plants actually obtain from the soil naturally.
And Diane, if you water you leach and with time your plants starve and have
no additonal reserves to produce flowers. Curiously, results after you start
fertilizing again will be spectacular. Most people will deduce that heavy
fertilization is the best since the plants responded so well to small doses.
But, the plants were only just below ideal conditions.
Best
Alberto
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