Does anyone use it on their on trees? I bought some of the epsoma brand and I've heard kelp meal is loaded with minors and plant hormones.

It is possible that one or two possibly could have used it, but generally, citrus is a variety that does not do all that well with organic fertilization. Also, please go to your profile and list your location. Knowing a tree's location, greatly helps our membership when answering requests. Thank you. - Millet (1,300-)

Done, I live in Gilbert, AZ. I rotate my firts. Right now I'm using Miracid, Bonemeal, Fish Emulsion, Kelp Meal (Just started) and some Epsom Salts every now and then. I'm looking for a good all around firt with excellent content of minors. Something I can use on my trees and other plants. I've read Kelp Meal may be it.

Citrus roots absorb nutrients in the ratio 5-1-3, meaning that for every 5 parts nitrogen that the tree absorbs, it will take up 1 part phosphorus and 3 parts potassium, plus various trace minerals. There are many commercial fertilizers. They should be chosen according to the replacement of minerals used. It is best that fertilization should respect this ratio when the mineral content in the leaves are satisfactory. Obviously, in cases of a deficiency of one or more elements this ratio must be changed to a more appropriate one to correct any deficiency. I use 25-5-15 W/trace minerals which is the perfect 5-1-3 ratio. Citrus are heavy feeders, requiring higher levels of nutrition. Although it is certainly possible to grow a citrus tree with organic nutrition, organic fertilizers have a hard time supplying enough nutrition, and organic grown trees always have a smaller crop. Organically, the hardest element of supply is potassium. Any way, welcome to the citrus growers forum, we are excited having you as a member. Take care. - Millet (1,299-)

Is your tree a container tree or inground? The 5-1-3 ratio is much more important for container trees where excess fertilizer becomes salt that can harm roots. Inground, these are either leached away (excess N or K) or bound to soil (excess P). Inground trees also will probably be able to get most minerals from soil unless your soil is very mineral poor ( like our FL sand).

As you can read on other post about organic fertilizer, there is nothing magic about organic fert.--the chemical forms found in commercial fert are the forms that these elements must be converted to to become available to plants.

Yes, I have a bunch of dwarf's in containers. In fact, I found a Pink Varigated lemon by freak accident today!! I'm thrilled and totally stricken with the citrus fever. All my plants are growing in terra cotta pots, all on fly dragon expect some seedlings I've recently started.

Here's my list:

Cara Cara
Midnight Valencia
Improved Meyer
Bearss Lime
Moro Blood
Varigated Pink Lemon


I'm really hot for a Kaffir lime, but I'm also interested in Key lime, Ponderosa lemon, Page Manderin and maybe a Grapefruit not sure which type. The scary part is I stumbled onto the varigated forum and find these types amazing.

I've also got a Don Gillogly avocado growing and my only in ground plant fruit is a Wonderful Pomegranite. I'll probably be bothering you people for bit.

What climate zone are you in? AZ is a citrus growing state, so it is very likely you could grow many of your citrus inground if you have the space.

Key lime is easily grown from seed--should flower from seed in about 3 years--it is one of the most cold sensitive of all citrus, so you probably would need to grow it in a container.

If the kelp meal is insoluble granules, it will probably only release any nutrients or growth hormones at a very slow rate, subject to decomposition and leaching etc. You could try adding a handfull to a bucket of water and see how much seem to enter the water. Other kelp powder products are highly solubilized extracts , for use in foliar sprays and fertigation, which allows control of the application rates and better use of the kelps components.