How to top dress like a pro

1. Calculate how much fertiliser to use.

Recommendations:

Potted Plants

1-5ml per litre of soil

1ml per litre - Not a full feed on its own. This amount is used to give a plant a boost or if being used in conjunction with other fertilisers. It can also be used for young plants. 

2ml per litre - This can be used as a full feed. Great amount for smaller pot sizes 15-20 litre. We recommend feeding every 2 weeks with this amount.  

3ml per litre - This can be used as a full feed. Not recommended for a pot size smaller than 20 litre. I recommend feeding every two weeks with this amount. 

4ml per litre - I only recommend using this when in 30 litre and larger pot size. I tend to feed every 3-4 weeks with this amount but if you want to push the plant you can feed every two weeks.  

5ml per litre - This is only for bloom fertilisers and if you want to push the plant. Not for beginners. Do not use in less than 30 litre pot size.

1 teaspoon = 5ml, 1 tablespoon = 17ml

If you are a beginner or new to dry amendments and want a feeding schedule that works, click here. 

 

Soil Beds/Outdoor

75-150g per metre squared of soil

We recommend using per square metre of soil to determine fertiliser amount rather than ml per litre when using pots that are larger than 50 litres in size.

 

Example

3ml per litre

30 litre pot size

(fertiliser ml x litre pot size)

3ml x 30  = 90ml

Approx. 5.5 tablespoons (1 tablespoon is 17ml)

Mix outdoors or in a well-ventilated area with a face mask.

You can aid the breakdown of nutrients by mixing the fertiliser with an equal amount of worm castings or good-quality compost. This will also help to reduce the amount of dust when applying. If you simply want to reduce the dust when applying you could also use moist coco.

Ready to use.

 

2.Top dress the plant.

Sprinkle the fertiliser evenly over the surface of the soil in the pot. Lightly work into soil with your fingers or a fork/trowel.  

 

3. Water the plant

We recommend watering approximately 10% of pot volume. So if using a 30 litre pot, water each pot with 3 litres. 

Water using any one of the following:

 

1. Water - Preferably filtered

Can be purchased here from UK Water Filters. 

 

2. Ecothrive Biosys

Find it in our shop here.

3. Soil Smith’s Goop compost extract

Can be purchased here from Soilsmiths. 

4. Compost Extract with Vermicompost

Buy it here.

Or learn how to make your own here.

5. Compost Tea

Find it in our shop here. 

Or learn how to make your own here. 

 

 6. EM-1 (Acti-Ferm) Application

Find it in our shop here.

 

Using any of these will add beneficial microbes that will speed up the breakdown of the nutrients, making them available for the plant.