Thread: Food 4 Thought!
View Single Post
Old 01-12-2011, 03:45 PM   #3 (permalink)
mango_kush
Banana nana bo bana
 
mango_kush's Avatar
 
Location: Hollywood, Florida
Zone: 10b
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 59
BananaBucks : 28,923
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 20 Times
Was Thanked 88 Times in 34 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times
Default Re: Food 4 Thought!

Quote:
Originally Posted by varig8 View Post
Ferts are easy to figure out once you know this little tip:
They have 3 numbers on the front of the package; ex. 10-10-10. Start from the first number and go up the plant>>>>1st number=roots, 2nd number=foliage, 3rd number=fruit and flowers. So, depending on what you would need for any plant-if the root system needs help-purchase a fert with a higher 1st number, if the foliage is lacking-purchase a fert with a higher second number, if you want to produce lots of flowers and fruit-purchase a fert with a higher 3rd number. Even numbers such as the 10-10-10 example would be good for the entire plant. Depending on your soil (if its really lacking) bananas and heliconias will benefit from using Epsom salts dissolved in the water. Of course you can always go with using Miracle grow at half strength or even a little less each time you water. Dont fertilize in the winter months as even tropicals will slow down and tend to go into a rest phase if you live in an area where it is dry and cooler in the winter. Save it for spring when the rains and heat are back up. Indoor plants during the winter will also not benefit very much from having fertilizer. I would also recommend using Superthrive as an addition to any fert regiment-it does wonders for growing new healthy root systems, especially for bananas that have been sort of struggling inside the home all winter long..
its really not that clear cut.

N P K numbers = Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium

Nitrogen by itself will not induce root growth, quite the opposite it. it will create a potassium deficiency leading to alot of vegatative growth and an under developed root structure.

bloom inducing fertilizers for flowering bushes are phosphorous biased,
__________________
mango_kush is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To mango_kush