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Gardener972
06-08-2009, 04:42 PM
Where does one get a potassium source for bananas since they are high potassium feeders?

Bob
06-08-2009, 04:59 PM
Any organic or chemical fertilizer will have 3 numbers on the package. The last is phosphorous. There are also super bloom mixes with all phosphorus. Does this answer your question or are you looking for a natural source?

alpha010
06-08-2009, 04:59 PM
www.plantsthatproduce.com

That site is ran by one of our own and has wonderful items for sale including higher potassium fertilizer.

Good Luck!

Shaggy

Gardener972
06-08-2009, 05:19 PM
Bob, I believe it's potassium (the last number) not phosphorous that they need although the middle number would make them bloom nicely.

alpha010
06-08-2009, 05:41 PM
Yes I know, but if you go to your local nursery or HD to get potassium, you might be getting the wrong kind....there is different ways of getting true potash needed and certain types are harmful in larger quantities. The site I gave you has a perfect fert that is formulated just for nanners. I believe the proper level of NPK as stated by studious and nanner educated people is roughly 4-1-6 if memory serves me. Let me go grab the link and I'll edit this one to point you in the proper way.

turtile
06-08-2009, 08:57 PM
The two fertilizers with the highest concentration of potassium are Muriate of Potash (Potassium Chloride) and Sulfate of Potash (Potassium Sulfate).

Bob
06-09-2009, 08:28 AM
Bob, I believe it's potassium (the last number) not phosphorous that they need although the middle number would make them bloom nicely.

Yep you're right.....old age is tough!

jfern
06-09-2009, 11:16 AM
El amigo que habla acerca de la concentración de Potasio tiene razón, el Muriato y el Sulfato tienen las mas altas concentraciones pero no olvidemos tambien el NITRATO DE POTASIO QUE TIENE UN BUEN BALANCE NITRÓGENO-POTASIO por lo menos en las orientaciones técnicas yo recomiendo trabajar con este fertilizante desde los primeros 1.5 meses del cultivo, claro esto previo análisis de suelo.

Gardener972
06-09-2009, 11:51 AM
Si, es verdad. Gracias.

alpha010
06-09-2009, 01:03 PM
Wow my spanish is rusty........Got through it...barely.

BUENOS DIAS, Jerry!!!

heynow
06-09-2009, 01:16 PM
Sul-Po-Mag (0-0-22) (http://www.planetnatural.com/site/sul-po-mag-amendment.html)

jfern
06-10-2009, 08:24 AM
Claro el Sul-po-mag puede ayudar pero previo analisis de suelo para determinar si los elementos que contiene el sul-po-mag estan en niveles bajos. Si hubiese deficiencia de Magnesio en este caso es mejor utilizar Sulfato de Magnesio hidrosoluble ya que si la plantación no es grande, si son solamente algunas plantas se puede hacer la aplicación al pie de las plantas con rociadora manual o de espalda.

Patty in Wisc
06-11-2009, 03:10 PM
Here's where I get mine: Wellspring Gardens Product List (http://www.wellspringgardens.org/servlet/Categories)
Click on 'search' & type in 'banana fuel'
It is 15-5-30 called Banana Fuel. $3.95 for a 1 lb bag & you only need 1/2 to 1 tsp per gal water. Great stuff & not as expensive to use. I got a better deal by ordering 3 bags. I bought a few nana plants from them too...Wellspringgardens.org

conejov
06-11-2009, 08:37 PM
Patty,

I think Wellsprings might be out of banana Fuel cause they didnt have any listed. but they did have Borneo Giant alocasia. for a penny

sunfish
06-11-2009, 10:08 PM
Plants that produce fert. is one tablespoon per gal. of water.

The Hollyberry Lady
06-11-2009, 10:37 PM
I should have realized that bananas liked potassium -of course! How obvious, but I never thought of it before.

Soils with a high level of potassium increase a plant's resistance to bacteria and mold. Soluble potash (wood ashes) mixed with water are a great way for organic gardeners to add potassium. Be careful when using wood ash, and it might be best to bring soil pH to around 6.5 before application.

Also, highly saline water that contains sodium will block the uptake of calcium, and magnesium. Vermiculite holds water and contains a touch of magnesium and potassium - essential to seedling development.

I am going to be raising seedlings very shortly, so I want to get them off to a good start. Banana peels themselves make a good source of potassium as well - I dry the peels myself, then bury the pieces in my garden! They're great for all my plants.

: )

jfern
06-12-2009, 09:42 AM
Hola alfha010

El fertilizante al que hace referencia Patty (15-5-30) tiene buen balance nitrogeno-potasio pero recuerden que cuando se abusa con la fertilizacion se crea deficiencia en otros elementos. Ahora se habla de una cucharada por un galón de agua esto sería com si se estuviese fertirrigando, lo que hay que balancear espor el numero de plantas a fertilizar y los nutrientes que son necesarios en ese momento. Con respecto a los que son jardineros organicos pueden utilizar VERMICOMPOST pero tienen que saber el contenido de nutrientes porque experimentos en Colombia con plantaciones comerciales han demostrado que 9 kilogramos de VERMICOMPOST pueden suplir las necesidades del platano. Ahora tambien esta cientificamendate comprobado que el POTASIO regula el contenido de agua y protege a la planta contra enfermedades (ERWINIA).

Patty in Wisc
06-12-2009, 10:54 AM
Hola alfha010

El fertilizante al que hace referencia Patty (15-5-30) tiene buen balance nitrogeno-potasio pero recuerden que cuando se abusa con la fertilizacion se crea deficiencia en otros elementos. Ahora se habla de una cucharada por un galón de agua esto sería com si se estuviese fertirrigando, lo que hay que balancear espor el numero de plantas a fertilizar y los nutrientes que son necesarios en ese momento. Con respecto a los que son jardineros organicos pueden utilizar VERMICOMPOST pero tienen que saber el contenido de nutrientes porque experimentos en Colombia con plantaciones comerciales han demostrado que 9 kilogramos de VERMICOMPOST pueden suplir las necesidades del platano. Ahora tambien esta cientificamendate comprobado que el POTASIO regula el contenido de agua y protege a la planta contra enfermedades (ERWINIA).

My spanish isn't THAT good. Can you (or someone) say it in english?

jfern
06-12-2009, 05:13 PM
FOR PATTY A OTHERS MEMBERS. I used traductor spanish-english of my computer because my english isnot very good.

The fertilizer to which it makes Patty reference (15-5-30) has good balance nitrogen-potassium but they remember that when abuses with the fertilization it creates deficiency in other elements. Now this is spoken of a spoonful by a gallon of water would be com if it were being fertirrigando, which is to balance espor I number of plants to fertilize and the nutrients that are necessary then. With respect to that they are organic gardeners can use VERMICOMPOST but they must know the content of nutrients because experiments in Colombia with commercial plantations have demonstrated that 9 kilograms of VERMICOMPOST can replace the needs of banana. Now also this cientificamendate verified that the POTASSIUM regulates the water content and protects to the plant against diseases (ERWINIA).
________________

Richard
06-14-2009, 07:54 PM
There is information about the potassium requirements of bananas, details of specific fertilizers, and (just added) information about the potassium supplement K-Mag in the Wiki: Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Fertilizer)

harveyc
06-15-2009, 02:09 AM
Sometimes I use KMag and lately I've been using potassium nitrate, both from a agricultural supplier. My native soil is very high in phosphorus so I don't bother with that except for potted plants (or seedling plants in the garden, etc.).

Richard
06-15-2009, 12:58 PM
Information on potassium nitrate and a section on "How to Make a Custom Fertilizer Mix" has been added to Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Fertilizer)

ewitte
06-17-2009, 10:03 AM
Patty,

I think Wellsprings might be out of banana Fuel cause they didnt have any listed. but they did have Borneo Giant alocasia. for a penny

IDK I just got 2 3lb bags from them the day after you posted this. I would have ordered 20-5-30 from plantsthatproduce if I had read more before ordering. Still 15-5-30 should help out as I wasn't really using ANY fertilizer ;)

Richard
06-17-2009, 11:43 AM
IDK I just got 2 3lb bags from them the day after you posted this. I would have ordered 20-5-30 from plantsthatproduce if I had read more before ordering. Still 15-5-30 should help out as I wasn't really using ANY fertilizer ;)

Ewitte -- I agree 100%! Just about any fertilizer will be an improvement over none. If you want to increase the proportion of Nitrogen you are providing, check out the example "supplementing Banana Fuel with a nitrogen source" on the Wiki page Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Fertilizer) . You don't have to use Fish Emulsion -- just plug in the N-P-K of any nitrogen source you happen to have.

rscotth
06-30-2009, 01:32 PM
Hello everyone- new guy here from Palm Coast with my first post.
Someone posted earlier about fertilizer from Wellspring. Below is an address to their ebay store where you can buy their banana fertilizer. It's the initial shipping charge that is a bit hard to swallow but each additional bag seems to knock the shipping up by only $.50 so buying multiple just makes sense.
RSH

BANANA FERTILIZER- 3 lbs. Make your bananas happy! - eBay (item 190260777834 end time Jul-16-09 14:44:04 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/BANANA-FERTILIZER-3-lbs-Make-your-bananas-happy_W0QQitemZ190260777834QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0 ?hash=item2c4c6d136a&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A30)

Bob
06-30-2009, 01:37 PM
Thanks and welcome to the org rscotth.

OrganicBananac
07-08-2009, 06:03 PM
Liquid molasses (blackstrap pref.) is very high in (K) Potassium, as well as magnesium,calcium and iron. Plus it feeds the beneficial microbes in the soil. Kelp meal is very good as well, and do not worry or be concerned about the low (K) value... its good stuff and has loads of trace minerals and hormones. Greensand has (K) value, but it is extremely slow release and I would rely on it more in the form of micronutrients than a potassium source.
Go organic!

Richard
07-08-2009, 06:58 PM
There is a USDA (and historically California) Certified Organic potassium supplement in liquid form. It is 25% potash suspended in citric acid. Some manufacturers refer to it as "liquid potassium", others correctly as potassium citrate, and some as "potassium in citric acid chelate".

OrganicBananac
07-09-2009, 03:07 PM
Interesting Richard,
Do you have a name for this product by chance?
Off the top of my head, EarthJuice has a Meta-K that is 0-0-11 i believe.
Not speaking from experience using it, just remembered seeing this product.

jfern
07-09-2009, 07:00 PM
Hello Organicbananac Welcome To The Forum. You Are Right About The Qualities Of The Molasses But Furthermore I Want To Add Something And Is A Experience That Lives With A Banana Producer. This Equivocal Product Producer And I Am Applied Weed Killer To Its Banana And Logically Recomende Was Damage But Tapeworm Money Not To Buy Amino Acids To Fight The Stress Caused To The Then Plantation Him Molasses And That Replacement To The Amino Acids That Sell In The Agroservice. Furthermore He Is Logical That Activates The Microorganisms In The Ground Because The Sugar That Contains Activates I Verify It To Plaster With The Organic Foliar Fertilizer Elaboration That I Elaborate And I Add Molasses To Them, I Wait For This Helps Ours Friends.

Richard
07-09-2009, 09:12 PM
Interesting Richard,
Do you have a name for this product by chance?
Off the top of my head, EarthJuice has a Meta-K that is 0-0-11 i believe.
Not speaking from experience using it, just remembered seeing this product.

Some manufacturers refer to it as "liquid potassium", others correctly as potassium citrate, and some as "potassium in citric acid chelate".

I carry it in my online store under "Potassium Supplement". Otherwise I have not seen it online, but often in agricultural supply stores (for commercial farmers) and in hydroponic stores. For example, a local hydroponic store carries "liquid potassium" in quart & gallon bottles.

OrganicBananac
08-11-2009, 01:29 PM
Comfrey is a great soil ammendment, its properties may be very beneficial for bananas.

Richard
08-11-2009, 01:56 PM
Comfrey is a great soil ammendment, its properties may be very beneficial for bananas.

Dry, composted Comfrey has an N-P-K of about 0.25 - 0.25 - 1.5. The potash content is about half that of dry, composted alfalfa which is 2 - 0 - 3. Comfrey has the advantage that it has a much longer life span and much greater output per shrub than alfalfa. The seeds are invasive, so take care when it flowers. As the sole source of potassium for a fruiting banana, use 60 to 100 pounds of dry composted Comfrey leaf per year.

OrganicBananac
08-11-2009, 03:41 PM
Using only comfrey would be much like trying to live on iceburg lettuce alone.
Lets use some common sense here. Thanks.

Gardener972
08-11-2009, 07:45 PM
I wonder if using potassium vitamins that I take would work? I make my own sports drink by breaking open a potassium capsule and putting it in a powdered drink mix along with a bit of salt. Why wouldn't it work on a banana? The capsules are 99 mg. each... how many would it take do you suppose????

BananaBoo
08-11-2009, 08:20 PM
I wonder if using potassium vitamins that I take would work? I make my own sports drink by breaking open a potassium capsule and putting it in a powdered drink mix along with a bit of salt. Why wouldn't it work on a banana? The capsules are 99 mg. each... how many would it take do you suppose????

Pill's probably potassium chloride, AKA muriate of potash. I imagine that would be a VERY expensive way to put the potassium on a plant. And the plants don't need the chlorine.

Don't know if your 99 mg is the dose of K or the dose of KCl. Assume it is K.

99mg / 1000 mg per gram =0.099 grams of K
0.099 grams / 1000 grams per kg = 0.000099 kg of K
.000099 kg * 2.2 Lb per kg = 0.000218257677 Lb of K
1 Lb / 0.000218257677 Lb of K per pill = 4583 pills

Someone check my math I don't have my glasses on.

4583 pills per pound of K which is probably close 'nuff to 1.5 Lbs of potash (KO2). (Richard says bananas need 1.5 Lbs of potash a year.)

How much will 4583 pills per year per plant cost you?

Cheap way to get potassium chloride for gardens is the "sodium free" water softener salt. Look for the white bag. Read the label. But look for potassium nitrate at a fertilizer store. Kill 2 birds with one stone and no chlorine.

Richard
08-11-2009, 11:40 PM
Using only comfrey would be much like trying to live on iceburg lettuce alone.
Lets use some common sense here. Thanks.

True, what other sources would you use to provide 1 to 1.5 lbs net potash per plant per year?

permaculturekidd
08-11-2009, 11:58 PM
I call moringa leaf as a dieback perrenial mulch source high in K with little input other than minimal nitrogen that a legume could provide.

Richard
08-12-2009, 12:18 AM
O.K., so that's about 40 lbs of Moringa tree leaf plus 40 lbs of Comfrey leaf (both dried) per banana plant per year. By the way, these plants don't manufacture the potash from thin air, so you still have to feed the Moringa and Comfrey potash so that they can pass it on to the bananas. Further, once the bananas uptake the potassium you can't recover more than about 1/4 of it, so you are operating at a perpetual loss. It would be much simpler to feed the bananas a mineral-source potash in the first place.

permaculturekidd
08-12-2009, 12:27 AM
Well its been mentioned that using banana peels for potassium was useful; moringa has atleast twice the amount of potassium as a whole banana so wouldn't it be quite abit less than 40lbs?

Richard
08-12-2009, 12:34 AM
Well its been mentioned that using banana peels for potassium was useful; moringa has atleast twice the amount of potassium as a whole banana so wouldn't it be quite abit less than 40lbs?

The reports I read stated that Morenga trees on a monthly dosage of 1/2 lb of 15-5-15 per tree yielded dry leaves with 1.5% potash content. To obtain net 1.5 lb of potash from such leaves, you would need (1.5 lb potash) / (0.015) = 100 lbs of dried Morenga leaves.

ared1999
11-12-2014, 01:00 PM
hi im new to this but been reading sulphate of potash is very good as its high in potassium just got mine today not sure how much to give or how often yet ive posted a question on that ill keep you updated one i found out and hopefully ill see good results although had one reply that says even though fertilizer well unless under right conditions of light and heat it still might not grow to well even indoors as mine is till spring.