Quote:
Originally Posted by edwmax
A Banana plant needs 1 lb of nitrogen and 1.5 lb of potash per growing season (aka: year).
If you used 10-10-10 fertilizer, then for 1 lb of nitrogen you would need:
1lb / .10 = 10 lbs of fertilizer.
BUT, 10 lbs of 10-10-10 will only furnish 1 lb of potash (K). ... 10 lb X .10 = 1 lb Therefore, a supplement of potash is needed to furnish additional 1/2 lb of potash (K) for a total of 1 1/2 lbs. ... exam: potassium sulfate (0-0-52) => 1/2 lb / 52% = .96 lbs supplement.
So if the fertilizer is formulated to furnish the TOTAL needs of the plant, a supplement would NOT be required.
That is the basics. So now to your question, Banana Fuel 15-5-30.
5 lbs of Banana Fuel will supply 1.5 lbs of potash (K) ..... 5 lb X .30 = 1.5 lb
BUT, 5 lbs of Banana Fuel will only supply 3/4 lbs of Nitrogen (N) .... 5 lb X .15 = .75 lb Therefore, a supplement of 1/4 lb of nitrogen is needed.
Banana Fuel was designed for the Tropics where the environment furnished the 1/4 lb of Nitrogen by vegetation decay. ... Here in the US unless you use lots of compost with your banana plants then 1/4 lb of nitrogen should be furnished with a nitrogen supplement or a complete fertilizer formulated for growing bananas such as Fruit Fuel (16-8-24) may be used.
Fruit Fuel (16-8-24): 1 lb nitrogen / 16% = 6.25 lb fertilizer
6.25 lbs X 24% = 1.5 lbs potash (K) .... no supplement required for N & K
Knowing how to calculate the N-P-K needs of a plant you can adjust the type fertilizer being used to the plant needs and make fertilizer selection based on availability & cost. ... Using a balanced fertilizer 10-10-10 with minors formulated for gardens & vegetables ($10 / 50 lb bag) and a potassium supplement, I can fertilize my banana plants at a cost of $3 per plant for the season.
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edwmax, this is awesome and so much easier for me to understand your breakdown for some reason. Thanks so much for helping me - You rock! Cincinnana, no kidding lol.
Okay, so that leads me to a few questions (I know, you're shocked lol) and light bulbs are starting to show signs of life on over my head lol:
1) I now know bananas need 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lbs of potash per plant per growing season/aka year. My growing season 35 miles northeast of Atlanta is from mid-late April until mid-late October-ish. If I follow the dosage instructions on the Banana Fuel or Fruit Fuel labels, I would never hit the correct amount of nutrients needed in my growing season. For example, if I follow the Fruit fuel label, I'm supposed to use 1 tablespoon/per gallon of water/per month and my growing season is roughly 6 months, I'll never hit the 6.25lbs of Fruit Fuel needed to give it 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lb of potash. Does the banana plant get the rest of the nutrients from the soil then I'm assuming? If that's the case, how do you really know how much the plant is getting from the soil?
2)
Quote:
Originally Posted by edwmax
BUT, 10 lbs of 10-10-10 will only furnish 1 lb of potash (K). ... 10 lb X .10 = 1 lb Therefore, a supplement of potash is needed to furnish additional 1/2 lb of potash (K) for a total of 1 1/2 lbs. ... exam: potassium sulfate (0-0-52) => 1/2 lb / 52% = .96 lbs supplement.
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Do folks just mix the correct amount (weight) of added supplement into whatever fertilizer they're using if both are water soluble or whatever? Like dump it in the bag and mix it up?
3) Which 10-10-10 fertilizer and potassium supplement do you use? (you knew that one was coming lol).
Thanks again!