Tallahassee Bonsai Society

During the January 2022 meeting, we worked on making bonsai fertilizer cakes. These cakes can be placed on the soil of your bonsai trees. They will slowly break down over time, providing the bonsai plant with need nutrients.

The fertilizer recipe we used is located below, but there is no broad consensus of what makes the best fertilizer cakes. So please verify for use in your area and with the specific plants that you are growing.

Wearing a mask and gloves is highly recommended.

When the cakes are dry that can be staked to the bonsai soil surface with a nail or a toothpick or a plastic cage. Use a single cake for a small tree and several for larger trees.

Bonsai Fertilizer Recipe

By Les and John

3 Parts Cottonseed Meal

1 Part Blood Meal

1 Part Bone Meal

½ Seven Dust

1 Part Hardwood Ash or Potassium

For Every 5 pounds of dry ingredients

5oz Fish Emulsion

Mix with Miracle Grow (20-20-20) Ful Strength

Bond it all together with an 8oz bottle of Elmer’s Glue. Cornstarch or flour can be used instead of glue

Spread on Disposal cookie sheet. Cut into 1″ X 1″ cubes

Or

Place in ice cube trays

Let dry thoroughly outside in the sun before storing

Store in an airtight container