Efficient way to use those Miracle Grow hose feeders things?

[peebee]

I'm thinking of getting one of those feeders that you can attach to a hose to feed plants. I'm not sure how the concept works. Questions:
If you use 1 full bag of fertilizer, how long can you feed before it's gone?
Is there a way to use it half strength?
Can I use other brands of water soluble fert, or even liquid fert?
This will be used on my ornamentals not vegetables.
Thank you!

[jbclem]

I had one of these feeders years ago. It was easy and fun to use, but I was going through the Miracle Gro like crazy. I eventually figured out it was a great deal for the fertilizer company, but not for me. Read the reviews on Amazon, here's something from one of them: "

"The Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder takes approximately 4 minutes to fill. While the jar is filling, plain water is spraying from the shroud. Once the jar is full, it will begin dispensing plant food. The solution spraying from the shroud will still appear clear even though it is siphoning the diluted plant food. The sprayer will dispense 4 gallons per minute, or 1 gallon every 15 seconds. One jarful (one 1-1/4 pound refill) will be dispensed in approximately 12 minutes."

It uses water pressure to make it function, and you end up dispensing the fertilizer at a much faster rate than you normally would. And I don't think you can slow it down much because it needs the pressure to draw and mix the fertilizer. It may work in your own situation, but for me it was like owning a gas guzzling car whose engine was always racing.

[peebee]

Ok I took your advice and actually took the time to read reviews. Yikes I won't get one. I'll just go back to fertilizing the old way, with my ole watering can.
Thanks

[Tormato]

It may be a 1 in a million (or more) chance, but if you connect that feeder, without an anti back flow valve, and you lose water pressure...