View Full Version : Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano
PR-Giants
04-01-2015, 11:28 AM
A full pot of Biochar
enough Milli-turds to fill in the gaps
one Manzano banana plant
one banana peel
and some water.
Only water was added afterwards.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50897 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50897)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51079 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51079)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51227 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51227)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51482 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51482)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51933 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51933)
PR-Giants
04-01-2015, 11:29 AM
:drum:
PR-Giants
04-01-2015, 11:30 AM
When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect
but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51159 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51159)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51161 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51161)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51165 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51165)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51195 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51195)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51228 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51228)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51306 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51306)
Snarkie
04-01-2015, 01:43 PM
OMG! You're feeding it banana peels?! Cannibal! :D
kubali
04-01-2015, 05:08 PM
I never knew the manzano was such a fast growing banana, I got a manzano and mona Lisa from Larry>aka sddarkman619 < last July and it is blooming now. Just 8 months unreal....
PR-Giants
04-01-2015, 07:03 PM
I never knew the manzano was such a fast growing banana, I got a manzano and mona Lisa from Larry>aka sddarkman619 < last July and it is blooming now. Just 8 months unreal....
Congrats...:woohoonaner:... hopefully Larry>aka sddarkman619 < gave you the correct plants... the mona Lisa is a much faster grower and blooms about 2 months before the manzano.
Thanks for sharing the experiment,I like it :08:
Foreverlad
04-01-2015, 08:10 PM
Fascinating.
Could you tell us anything about what was happening above the soil line, like the size and number of leaves produced? How often have you been watering?
It's amazing progress for a single month. Thanks for this!
PR-Giants
04-05-2015, 05:13 PM
OMG! You're feeding it banana peels?! Cannibal! :D
Your thread or more precisely this post from your thread was the impetus for this simple experiment. People with real world experience know that Richards pH range is certainly not key and really not that important. As far as the Nitrogen robbers, is it like removing a bucket of water from the ocean and then stating there's less water available for the fish, technically true but does it really make a difference.
This experiment was an easy way to demonstrate the short term effects of using an extreme amount of biochar.
I use biochar to help prevent my soil from becoming compacted, which promotes rapid root growth. I've also read that the biochar becomes colonized with mycorrhizae and certainly everyone can agree that it retains moisture well and improves aeration in the soil.
I've found biochar extremely helpful with rooting a'ea'e and would recommend people with sandy soil to learn more about the benefits.
Your choice of carbon will rob the plants of Nitrogen for the first few years, then the process will reverse. In the meantime you can supplement with the nitrate form of Nitrogen. Keeping the soil pH in the 5.8 to 6.4 range will be key.
PR-Giants
04-05-2015, 05:16 PM
Fascinating.
Could you tell us anything about what was happening above the soil line, like the size and number of leaves produced? How often have you been watering?
It's amazing progress for a single month. Thanks for this!
The leaves were normal in size, shape, and color, it pushed the partial and two full leaves.
Damp the first day and nothing for the next 10 to 12 days. Watered as needed after that.
Snarkie
04-05-2015, 06:22 PM
Your thread or more precisely this post from your thread was the impetus for this simple experiment. People with real world experience know that Richards pH range is certainly not key and really not that important. As far as the Nitrogen robbers, is it like removing a bucket of water from the ocean and then stating there's less water available for the fish, technically true but does it really make a difference.I use mine for an entirely different purpose, as my main plant of interest and re-establishment is the dawn redwood. I'm still learning a lot about bananas, and what works for redwoods that may also work for bananas.
Not much real world experience with nanners, but as far as Metasequoia is concerned, I am second to none. If there are similarities that I can bring from my work with the dawn redwood to bananas, then I am all for it. :08:
Hope that clears it up. :nanadrink:
cincinnana
04-05-2015, 07:05 PM
[QUOTE=PR-Giants;257992]When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect
but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing.
Now that is Amazing....cool post.
That is why I use a light and airy soiless mix....it works.
PR-Giants
04-05-2015, 07:34 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51236 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51236)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51188 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51188)
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION FACT SHEET (http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS147E/FS147E.pdf)
PR-Giants
04-09-2015, 07:58 AM
I've got thousands of orchids and have found they grow fine with just biochar & rain.
If you can burn a marshmallow, you can use the stick to grow an orchid plus it makes a cool gift.
Once the roots can hold the char together, I remove the wire.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51220 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51220)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51224 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51224)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50456 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50456)
Going Bananas
06-04-2015, 07:29 PM
[QUOTE=PR-Giants;257992]When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect
but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing.
Now that is Amazing....cool post.
That is why I use a light and airy soiless mix....it works.
Bravo!
Some growers use volcanic rocks.
Some pine bark to create that
light and airy soil less mix.
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