View Full Version : Soil Mixture question
ElChupacabro
03-13-2019, 08:55 AM
Hey guys, I am new to the forum and also new to growing banana plants, as soon as I saw a banana plant I had to buy it, so right now I have 4. 1 Musa Basjoo, and 3 Dwarf Cavedish plants. I need help with what soil mixture to use, I bought well draining succulent/cacti/palm mix, chicken Manure, Vermiculite, and I was thinking about buying some garden lime as well. I also purchased a small green house, a hygrometer, and a soil moisture/PH tester. My green house is currently at 90% humidity. And I live in the Bay Area California where right now the temperatures are in the 70s during the day. What is the ultimate mixture? I really want to make sure I知 doing everything I can for optimum health of the plants. I知 not sure how much of each soil mixture to mix. Can someone give me some percentages? Also, what is a good fertilizer that I can purchase? I appreciate all the help. And again, I知 new to this so I have a lot of questions.. :)
beam2050
03-13-2019, 11:23 AM
lots and lots of perlite. near half. for one. earned my lesson.
ElChupacabro
03-13-2019, 01:17 PM
lots and lots of perlite. near half. for one. earned my lesson.
Okay thank you, would you recommend perlite over Vermiculite? I also have peat moss. What is the soil you would use?
beam2050
03-13-2019, 01:21 PM
Okay thank you, would you recommend perlite over Vermiculite? I also have peat moss. What is the soil you would use?
perlites the bomb [great] never used vermiculite.
ElChupacabro
03-13-2019, 01:43 PM
perlites the bomb [great] never used vermiculite.
Okay great, What do you think about me mixing chicken manure with perlite and garden lime?
HMelendez
03-13-2019, 02:51 PM
Okay great, What do you think about me mixing chicken manure with perlite and garden lime?
Be careful with chicken manure!....Make sure the chicken manure has been composted properly!.....Raw chicken manure can burn even kill the plants!....
With all my respect, Mr. ElChupacabro, you must be the husband of LaChupacabra!.......LMAO!......:ha::ha::ha:......hahahahaha!.... .I was joking!.....Don’t get serious!.....
:2723::bananarow::2723:
ElChupacabro
03-13-2019, 04:55 PM
Be careful with chicken manure!....Make sure the chicken manure has been composted properly!.....Raw chicken manure can burn even kill the plants!....
With all my respect, Mr. ElChupacabro, you must be the husband of LaChupacabra!.......LMAO!......:ha::ha::ha:......hahahahaha!.... .I was joking!.....Don’t get serious!.....
:2723::bananarow::2723:
Hahaha, what if I put a layer of chicken manure on the top of the soil? They will be potted. I read not to let it touch the plant. And how do I know if it was composted properly? I bought it from home depot
pitangadiego
03-13-2019, 05:36 PM
I use 100% compost and nothing else. That's all I have used for years. Have seen pix of the growing in horse manure piles.
HMelendez
03-13-2019, 05:52 PM
I use 100% compost and nothing else. That's all I have used for years. Have seen pix of the growing in horse manure piles.
I知 like you too!....I have been using a compost mix for years!....I have never used any type of manure!....Recently, I removed all the compost from the Nana mats to the compost bins!....I知 adding coffee grounds, grass clippings and biochar (very crushed wood charcoal) to the compost bins!...Eventually I will put back a much better quality compost to the Nana mats!....
:2723::bananarow::2723:
HMelendez
03-13-2019, 05:57 PM
Hahaha, what if I put a layer of chicken manure on the top of the soil? They will be potted. I read not to let it touch the plant. And how do I know if it was composted properly? I bought it from home depot
Mr. ElChupacabro,
Most likely if you bought it from Home Depot it has been composted already!....Check the label!....Good luck!.....
:2723::bananarow::2723:
crazy banana
03-13-2019, 08:46 PM
I would be careful with using chicken manure or any manure in pots, but I am known for using fresh horse and chicken manure directly on my banana mats without any harm for years. Do I think it has the right N-P-K proportions? Definitely not, that is why I use (and love) the Fruit Fuel Fertilizer.
cincinnana
03-14-2019, 05:27 AM
Hey guys, I am new to the forum and also new to growing banana plants, as soon as I saw a banana plant I had to buy it, so right now I have 4. 1 Musa Basjoo, and 3 Dwarf Cavedish plants. I need help with what soil mixture to use, I bought well draining succulent/cacti/palm mix, chicken Manure, Vermiculite, and I was thinking about buying some garden lime as well. I also purchased a small green house, a hygrometer, and a soil moisture/PH tester. My green house is currently at 90% humidity. And I live in the Bay Area California where right now the temperatures are in the 70s during the day. What is the ultimate mixture? I really want to make sure I’m doing everything I can for optimum health of the plants. I’m not sure how much of each soil mixture to mix. Can someone give me some percentages? Also, what is a good fertilizer that I can purchase? I appreciate all the help. And again, I’m new to this so I have a lot of questions.. :)
You can get most of the information you need from youtube videos.
Key in the "How To"questions and start watching.
There are videos on how to use your testing devices as well.
Alot of ideas can taken away from these short videos just pick and choose what is right for you.
There are some good soil mix vids also or you may purchase a commercial a peat based mix like Miracle grow or Promix at the big box store. Every thing you nee is in the bag.
As for fertilizer a water soluble Miracle grow type will work.
forum members use a variety of products to grow their plants, all which work very well.
You probably can plant them in the ground soon in your zone.
pjkfarm
03-14-2019, 06:58 PM
Good points from Cincinnana, but one cautionary suggestion: promix is generally pretty much all peat with some perlite - and will get way too wet if used alone. As you will see from videos, most important thing about bananas is DRAINAGE - they rot very easily if too wet. This is especially true if one overwinters corms and starts them out dormant. I learned the hard way :-( !
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