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bdollarbill
01-10-2009, 04:50 PM
Hello all I've been away from the boards for a while life kinda distracts you from Hobbies sometimes. I am Nursing along about 95% of my banana's indoors in containers, some are doing better than others with = watering & identical lighting (1000 watt halogen Lamps) I am in the process of setting up my mad scientist hydroponic systems. I plan to set up the following:

1-10 gallon homemade Rubbermaid Mister system with about 20 spray nozzles

1-8 gallon aeroponics set up with just a large air pump & air stone.

1-10 gallon fogger set up with a 4" square tubing cut for about 10 3" net cups.

My discovery's will be posted on site as to what banana's do well under what conditions, my theory is the Fogger set up will be the one that gives the best result as it gives 100% humidty to the root system and runs 24/7.

I will be using rapid rooter cubes & Hydroton pebbles for medium. I am using some banana pup's to start & may try some seeds while I am at it.

Has anyone here ventured on a path such as this yet that may save me some time researching & trial & error.

If anyone is interested I can send some photo's of the set-ups when I am done building them, I have studied several different commercial set ups & do not see any reason my homemade contraptions won't do the same job & they would be to my spec's etc.

Thanks,
Bill

chong
01-10-2009, 06:12 PM
Thank you. I would be interested in viewing your photos.

Chong

nullzero
01-10-2009, 09:54 PM
Im interested in photos.

john_ny
01-11-2009, 03:43 PM
I'd like to see the pix, also. Maybe you could just post them here.

CookieCows
01-11-2009, 07:56 PM
Has anyone here ventured on a path such as this yet that may save me some time researching & trial & error.

No but you're going to be saving me the trial and error time!! I'm so excited that you're doing this! I would love to see your pictures also.

Deb

lt_eggbeater
01-11-2009, 08:03 PM
Hello all I've been away from the boards for a while life kinda distracts you from Hobbies sometimes. I am Nursing along about 95% of my banana's indoors in containers, some are doing better than others with = watering & identical lighting (1000 watt halogen Lamps) I am in the process of setting up my mad scientist hydroponic systems. I plan to set up the following:

1-10 gallon homemade Rubbermaid Mister system with about 20 spray nozzles

1-8 gallon aeroponics set up with just a large air pump & air stone.

1-10 gallon fogger set up with a 4" square tubing cut for about 10 3" net cups.

My discovery's will be posted on site as to what banana's do well under what conditions, my theory is the Fogger set up will be the one that gives the best result as it gives 100% humidty to the root system and runs 24/7.

I will be using rapid rooter cubes & Hydroton pebbles for medium. I am using some banana pup's to start & may try some seeds while I am at it.

Has anyone here ventured on a path such as this yet that may save me some time researching & trial & error.

If anyone is interested I can send some photo's of the set-ups when I am done building them, I have studied several different commercial set ups & do not see any reason my homemade contraptions won't do the same job & they would be to my spec's etc.

Thanks,
Bill

The Epcot center at disneyworld has some huge banana trees grown from hydroponics.

Richard
01-11-2009, 10:41 PM
...
Has anyone here ventured on a path such as this yet that may save me some time researching & trial & error.
...


For bananas in hydroponics:

Start the plants on water-soluble "Urea Free 15-5-15 Cal-Mag Plus", 100ppm constant feeding (1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water in the system once per week).
When the plants are about 3 feet (1 meter) high -- i.e., about 1 year from flowering: also use "Urea Free 5-11-26", 100ppm constant feeding.


Both of these are manufactured under the Scotts brand and others, in 25 lb bags.

For ideas on your homemade system, browse through the online Hydrofarm (http://www.hydrofarm.com) catalog.

Lagniappe
01-12-2009, 04:52 PM
Thanks, Richard! Do you know a good place to get these products? I'm having a tough time finding info on Scotts Urea Free 15-5-15 Cal-Mag Plus.
This should make up a lot of nutrient solution.

Richard
01-13-2009, 02:15 AM
Thanks, Richard! Do you know a good place to get these products? I'm having a tough time finding info on Scotts Urea Free 15-5-15 Cal-Mag Plus.
This should make up a lot of nutrient solution.

It is sold by agricultural supply firms in 25 lb bags. Note that this is for hydroponics -- the Cal-Mag plus is not a good idea for most soil applications.

Lagniappe
01-13-2009, 02:21 AM
Thanks, I've been using CNS17 up until now and I've been looking for a more cost-effective means.

Richard
01-13-2009, 02:24 AM
Thanks, I've been using CNS17 up until now and I've been looking for a more cost-effective means.

Oh you are definitely going to save money over that product. Don't go too cheap, some of the 15-5-15 Ca-Mg+ manufacturers do not include micronutrients.

Lagniappe
01-13-2009, 02:54 AM
That was the reason behind my choosing this product. It's marketed as a one part product with a growth and a bloom formula.
I was trying to put a DIY product together which contained all of the micro nutrients but had a tough time finding Calcium nitrate for the mix. Even if I had, it may have been more expensive than the Scotts solution.
On a completely different note, my plants which are nourished by my aquarium affluent water seem to be the healthiest I've ever grown.

Richard
01-13-2009, 01:25 PM
Here's the marketing pitch for CNS17:

CNS17 - One Part, Professional Hydroponic Solution Designed with the commercial grower in mind, CNS17 is a highly concentrated, economical fertilizer that produces professional results at an affordable price.

It does not live up to any of this.

CNS17 is not concentrated, it is very weak at 3% N, 2% P, and 4% K.
At $24 per gallon retail it is not affordable. You can buy 1 gallon of better products for 1/2 the price or less.
It is certainly not economical at $60 per net lb N, and $45 per net lb K.
It is not a product for any experienced professional grower, since they are accustomed to paying $10 to $20 per net lb of nutrients in products with a much better array of micronutrients and non-nutrient ingredients.

bdollarbill
01-17-2009, 10:25 AM
Just uploadedfirst set of pictures, will be working this weekend on this project. I am stil waiting on some more pieces to arrive before I can finish all of these but I started last night on small aeroponic units.

If anyone wants to power buy some of the components to build one of these yourself let me know, I bought small qty's just to start out, could save big money buying large lots of pots etc. I can also make someone a cutter if they want one for cheap or if your not looking to build but 1 I'd hook you up for cost of container & shipping to cut you out a couple. Not looking to make a profit helping out fellow Naner's.

If someone needs detailed info just drop me an email or PM I'll keep my post in here simple.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15222&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15222)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15221&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15221)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15223&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15223)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15225&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15225)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15224&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15224)

bdollarbill
01-17-2009, 10:30 AM
As far as the nutrients go here is what I plan to use to start:

Quickgro
15.8 Nitrogen
5% phosphate
13% potassium Oxide (potash)
4% calcium
3% magnesium
7% sulfur
1% iron

I don't have any information on brand name or part #'s as its a "custom Mix" ?? I doubt it but we'll see how well it does.

I got 2# bag for $15 so its cheap enough to start, results will dictate if I buy larger qty to save some dough!

Intruction state 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water.

:bananas_b

bdollarbill
01-24-2009, 04:08 PM
First small aeroponic unit is up & running. I used some small Alocasia babies to start system up I will sub out some banana pups after I confirm nutrients aren't too strong, I have lots of these Gaceania's so if I lose a few it won't hurt as bad as losing any nana's. PM me if you want any extra info on this kit, pretty cheap set up, about $20 total You could not use the velcro but I wanted to be able to remove air stone to clean unit when it gets dirty every so often, most peole I have seen making these usually silico0ne the stone to the bottom, the velcro will make keeping the stone where you want it easier too.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15390&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15390)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15388&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15388)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15386&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15386)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15389&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15389)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=15387&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15387)

Lagniappe
01-24-2009, 05:52 PM
Looks good.
What are you using to keep the light out of the container?

bdollarbill
01-24-2009, 09:43 PM
If I find algae growth is a problem I'll just rough up the outside of the resevoir & shoot it with some flat black paint, I may do that anyways. For now being able to see root growth easyily is reason for leaving transparent.

Bill

Ueberwinden
01-31-2009, 12:16 AM
Bill,

I would be interested in hearing what bananas you are using in your hydro experiment. I have a water farm I'm going to set up this spring, I think I am going to try a Dwarf Brazilian in the drip system. Last year I had a Brugmansia in it. I had incredible growth by this method. I like to use natural fertilizers, so I was using liquid fish. I think that's what I am going do again this time, which is why I'm waiting until Spring and it can be outside. Liquid fish is quite smelly indoors in a hydro system, and you really can't mask the smell. I like to use Neem Oil, you can mask the smell of that with scented laundry detergent or scented liquid hand soap. Fish just can't be masked.

Michael

Richard
01-31-2009, 03:49 AM
There are many water-soluble mineral formulas that are all natural, including the 20-5-30 urea-free formula that includes kelp meal for micronutrients. Alternately, you can pay 10 times as much per net pound of nutrients for liquid fish which also contains traces of machine oil.

Bill,

I would be interested in hearing what bananas you are using in your hydro experiment. I have a water farm I'm going to set up this spring, I think I am going to try a Dwarf Brazilian in the drip system. Last year I had a Brugmansia in it. I had incredible growth by this method. I like to use natural fertilizers, so I was using liquid fish. I think that's what I am going do again this time, which is why I'm waiting until Spring and it can be outside. Liquid fish is quite smelly indoors in a hydro system, and you really can't mask the smell. I like to use Neem Oil, you can mask the smell of that with scented laundry detergent or scented liquid hand soap. Fish just can't be masked.

Michael

Ueberwinden
01-31-2009, 10:17 AM
Richard,

I like to learn new things, it helps to keep my interest. So what are some brand names, or trade names I should look at? What exactly am I looking for to show my bananas that I care?

Michael

Richard
02-01-2009, 12:51 AM
Richard,

I like to learn new things, it helps to keep my interest. So what are some brand names, or trade names I should look at? What exactly am I looking for to show my bananas that I care?

Michael

The two leading manufacturers are Scotts and Grow More. Both manufacture water-soluble formulas compatible with hydroponics. One approach is to use 15-5-15 "Plus" -- a formula with extra Ca and Mg, along with a liquid or water-soluble potassium supplement that you scale to 0-0-15. A second approach is to use 20-5-30 urea free with a Ca/Mg supplement; e.g., Fert-All Ca/Mg plus.

Grow More has several distribution sites in the U.S. Minimum order is usually $250 and well worth the savings over your standard agriculture supply store.

The Scotts product line of interest is called "Peters Professional". You'll have to purchase from a regional distributor because the factory minimum order is something like 20 pallets.