Daylily Drench Feeding

This page is our development of a Hooker Style drench for our daylilies, roses, and hydrangea.

Hooker Formula – 5 gallon version by others with our notes – Ready to Apply – Not Hooker’s Stock Solution

  • 1/3 cup Peters or Miracle Grow (Crystals) [5.28 Tbs so it is 1 Tbs/gal, i.e. standard dilution]
  • 1/3 cup Epsom salts for Magnesium–[Not needed in our soil per 2018 soil test. In 2021 we resumed including Epsom Salts as the plants seem to like it and do well; especially the roses.]
  • 1/3 cup liquid iron – [Our first batch used Ferti-Lome Chelated Liquid Iron with Other Micronutrients. Copper 0.05%; Iron 3.25%; Soluble Manganese 0.15%; Zinc 0.16%]
  • 1/3 cup fish emulsion [5.28 Tbs so it is 1 Tbs/gal, i.e. standard dilution]
  • 5 gallons of water

Application

  1. 5 gallons of water = 5 x 16 C/Gal = 80 cups
  2. 2-4 cups (pint to a quart) per daylily clump depending on size.
  3. So, 5 gallons is good for 20 large or 40 small clumps

For 20 gallons

  • 1-1/3 cup Peters or Miracle Grow (Crystals)
  • 1-1/3 cup liquid iron – [Our first batch used Ferti-lome Chelated Liquid Iron with Other Micronutrients. Copper 0.05%; Iron 3.25%; Soluble Manganese 0.15%; Zinc 0.16%]
  • 1-1/3 cup fish emulsion
  • 20 gallons of water

For 25 gallons

  • 1-2/3 cup Peters or Miracle Grow (Crystals)
  • 1-2/3 cup liquid iron
  • 1-2/3 cup fish emulsion
  • 25 gallons of water

When Using a 2 Gallon Watering Can

At 2-4 cups (a pint to a quart) per daylily clump the 2 gallon watering can will feed:

  1. 8 large clumps, or
  2. 16 small clumps, or
  3. 4 large and 8 small clumps.
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