View Full Version : Miracle Gro all purpose plant food
steven
09-02-2009, 02:31 PM
should i use this stuff everyday on banana plants? or just follow the instructions to use every 7-14 days?
conejov
09-02-2009, 02:40 PM
I would say just follow the instructions you dont want to burn it.,
bencelest
09-02-2009, 03:02 PM
Follow the instruction.
JuniPerez
09-02-2009, 03:33 PM
I use it twice a week on my bananas (basjoo/sikkimensis/lasiocarpa), plus I have 3 month slow-release banana fertilizer mixed into the ground... so far no burns. The leaves are nice and big.
steven
09-02-2009, 04:02 PM
yah im gonna follow the instructions, thanks for your opinions! :woohoonaner:
bencelest
09-02-2009, 04:42 PM
I use it twice a week on my bananas (basjoo/sikkimensis/lasiocarpa), plus I have 3 month slow-release banana fertilizer mixed into the ground... so far no burns. The leaves are nice and big.
It is just not the burn but it's the way it's growing. The plant may become too fat so the tissues are too large and too soft. Just like a boy too obese to walk to do its errand in everyday living.
If you can do it more power to you.
You can do it the way you want it . I'd follow the instruction.
damaclese
09-02-2009, 05:45 PM
id get better fertilizer
Richard
09-02-2009, 06:27 PM
Becareful about adding a water-soluble fertilizer when you already have slow-release in the ground. Depending on which manufacturer and formula of water soluble -- it can cause the slow-release to be released all at once right then. I've seen examples of terrible plant death from this.
JuniPerez
09-02-2009, 09:41 PM
It is just not the burn but it's the way it's growing. The plant may become too fat so the tissues are too large and too soft. Just like a boy too obese to walk to do its errand in everyday living.
If you can do it more power to you.
You can do it the way you want it . I'd follow the instruction.
You've got me thinking now... this is only my second year, so maybe in the long run I'll pay? I'll take precautions just in case... nobody wants a fat banana!
Thanks...
mjdsinsacto
09-03-2009, 12:07 AM
Becareful about adding a water-soluble fertilizer when you already have slow-release in the ground. Depending on which manufacturer and formula of water soluble -- it can cause the slow-release to be released all at once right then. I've seen examples of terrible plant death from this.
Richard,
I have 3 new young bananas purchased from justin's divorce sale here. I potted all three last Friday with some Oscomote time release in the potting mix.
If not water-soluble fertilizer, what should I feed the baby banana plants, how soon, and how often?
God forbid I murder them before the month is out.
I have them in partial light shade right now, we're hitting temps in the high 90s in Sacramento this week.
I
Patty in Wisc
09-03-2009, 12:37 AM
First of all, MG all purpose is either 15-30-15 or 24-8-16 & that is not good for nanas. They need more K(potash) as in NPK, like 15-5-30 (what I use - called 'Banana Fuel'). When mine are ACTIVELY growing I feed them every 7-10 days. If they are slow to push out a leaf or sick, I don't feed them then or maybe try 1/4th dose to see if they perk up. When they perk up & grow, feed them but not as often if you have timed released ferts in the soil.
mjd, I hope this answers your questions too :)
Good point Benny...well said.
chong
09-03-2009, 02:15 AM
Be careful about adding a water-soluble fertilizer when you already have slow-release in the ground. Depending on which manufacturer and formula of water soluble -- it can cause the slow-release to be released all at once right then. I've seen examples of terrible plant death from this.
Richard,
I have 3 new young bananas purchased from justin's divorce sale here. I potted all three last Friday with some Oscomote time release in the potting mix.
If not water-soluble fertilizer, what should I feed the baby banana plants, how soon, and how often?
God forbid I murder them before the month is out.
I have them in partial light shade right now, we're hitting temps in the high 90s in Sacramento this week.
I
mjd,
Richard qualified his statement with "when(if) you already have slow-release (fertilizer) in the ground (or potting soil)", then it would be risky to feed your plant with water soluble fertilizers. That would be like doubling up on the fertilizers. Hence, if you do not have the slow-release fertilizer in the soil, fertilize as you would normally. But, anyway, for new transplants, I would not fertilize them outright. I would use a transplanting solution after transplanting, but just water normally thereafter until the plant puts out strong leaves before resuming with a regular fertilizing schedule.
bencelest
09-03-2009, 02:38 AM
Specially now. Now is the time to slow down fertilizing and watering your bananas to toughen them up for the coming winter in order to survive. Soft tissues will just turn to mush easily including the pstem. Just do the opposite when spring comes. This is for those people living in zone 9 and below and without a greenhouse.
damaclese
09-03-2009, 09:15 AM
Specially now. Now is the time to slow down fertilizing and watering your bananas to toughen them up for the coming winter in order to survive. Soft tissues will just turn to mush easily including the pstem. Just do the opposite when spring comes. This is for those people living in zone 9 and below and without a greenhouse.
when do you noramly get your first frost?
bencelest
09-03-2009, 09:25 AM
when do you noramly get your first frost?
Actually on the late part of December or January..
For me it is still too early to slow down fertilizing and watering but to others who have frost early it's time to think about it.
At this time here in Monterey it looks and feels like we have the hottest month of the year so I just fertilized last week.
JuniPerez
09-03-2009, 09:35 AM
I can't wait to face our first frost and freeze this year (1st frost usually October)... FreezePruf!!!! =-)
Thanks for the advice Benny...
Richard
09-03-2009, 09:35 AM
Now (September) is a great time winterize your plants with supplements of potash and mineral magnesium. This is especially true for pit fruit trees -- you are feeding them for next year's crop.
supermario
09-03-2009, 10:05 AM
First of all, MG all purpose is either 15-30-15 or 24-8-16 & that is not good for nanas. They need more K(potash) as in NPK, like 15-5-30 (what I use - called 'Banana Fuel'). When mine are ACTIVELY growing I feed them every 7-10 days. If they are slow to push out a leaf or sick, I don't feed them then or maybe try 1/4th dose to see if they perk up. When they perk up & grow, feed them but not as often if you have timed released ferts in the soil.
mjd, I hope this answers your questions too :)
Good point Benny...well said.
Most fertilizers made for bananas(that I've seen) do have a higher K to NP ratio. The one I use is 6-3-16. I follow recommendations on the UF web site and have had fantastic results so far.
The miracle grow will probably work fine if it's the 24-8-16 type..but, if you have other options similar to the above mentioned ferts, use those instead.
justjoan
09-03-2009, 01:20 PM
I use the same fert. (Banana Fuel)that Patty does and it made a big difference in the growth of the 2 Super Dwarf Cavandish that I have, great stuff!:0519:
steven
09-03-2009, 02:48 PM
the kind im using is 24-8-16
supermario
09-03-2009, 03:40 PM
the kind im using is 24-8-16
That is alot of N, but I think you'll be fine. However, I'm no expert.
Now that you have a few recommendations, there is no harm in looking into other fertilizers. In some cases, it may even be cheaper. I get a 50lb bag of the 6-3-16 plus minors for under $20 from a local fertilizer plant. It's not the cheapest fertilizer you can find, but the best for the money in my opinion.
That's the other thing.. try and search you local area for nurseries and/or fertilizer companies. The prices tend to be better than at the big retail store garden centers.
The important thing to take from this is that bananas like fertilizers with about a 2:1:6 ratio. Examples: (Banana fuel 15-5-30 = 3:1:6 ratio, 6-3-16 = 2:1:5, MG 24-8-16 = 3:1:2). Am I making sense?..or am I making up a new science? :p
I forgot to mention that I also apply extra potash every few months. Especially in the summer. So, a fertilizer like banana fuel would probably do away with that requirement.
Patty in Wisc
09-03-2009, 04:43 PM
24-8-16 is what I use for my citrus. It's the perfect ratio of NPK for them. Citrus like more nitrogen & nanas like more potash (K).
Mario, you make perfect sense :)
Before I found Banana Fuel, I used miracle grow tomato food. I forgot the exact ratio but it had more k.
As for cheap fertilizer, I recently found a farmers Co-op nearby that sells bulk fertilizer. I had been buying 5# bags of ammonium sulfate for my blueberries at 4-5$, but I now have over 50 blueberry bushes and I needed to find it in bigger amounts. I was going to buy a 50# bag ($15) from the Co-op, but they were out--he said that they had some in bulk if I had something to put it in, so I told him I wanted 50#--it was a little over $7. They have all kinds of fertilizer in bulk and can mix up any ratio you want in larger quantities.
Richard
09-03-2009, 08:12 PM
the kind im using is 24-8-16
Great for ornamental bananas. The higher potash levels are desired by the fruiting varieties. I know that the U of F extension has one article describing 2:1:6 ratios but many of the other sources including the Yale banana expert on this site (inkcube) calls for 16:1:24, or more practically: 2:x:3 where x is smaller than 2.
sandy0225
09-04-2009, 08:11 AM
24-8-16 is good summer food. use it during the warm months. for winter use very dilute 20-10-20, or 20-20-20. I often use 24-8-16 during the summer at 300 ppm, but 20-10-20 every third or fourth watering at 100ppm.
bencelest
09-04-2009, 10:20 AM
24-8-16 is good summer food. use it during the warm months. for winter use very dilute 20-10-20, or 20-20-20. I often use 24-8-16 during the summer at 300 ppm, but 20-10-20 every third or fourth watering at 100ppm.
Sandy:
Please tell us again how do you compute 300ppm in terms in tspn/cup etc to add to your plant. I forgot. I think Richard posted this a long while ago.
Richard
09-04-2009, 12:57 PM
Sandy:
Please tell us again how do you compute 300ppm in terms in tspn/cup etc to add to your plant. I forgot. I think Richard posted this a long while ago.
Benny,
The measurement must be done by weight of the specific water-soluble fertilizer.
For 20-x-x at 100ppm Nitrogen, you need 0.0675 ounces weight per gallon of water.
For 24-x-x at 300ppm Nitrogen, you need 0.1689 ounces weight per gallon of water.
supermario
09-04-2009, 04:06 PM
Great for ornamental bananas. The higher potash levels are desired by the fruiting varieties. I know that the U of F extension has one article describing 2:1:6 ratios but many of the other sources including the Yale banana expert on this site (inkcube) calls for 16:1:24, or more practically: 2:x:3 where x is smaller than 2.
Actually,it was my mistake. I came up with the 2:1:6 number off the top of my head, but U of F recommends a 3:1:6 ratio. I also failed to mention that the recommendations from the site are specific to us here in FL.
Is there any reason why other sources recommend such a low phosphorus count?
Richard
09-04-2009, 04:09 PM
Actually,it was my mistake. I came up with the 2:1:6 number off the top of my head, but U of F recommends a 3:1:6 ratio. I also failed to mention that the recommendations from the site are specific to us here in FL.
Is there any reason why other sources recommend such a low phosphorus count?
Low uptake by the plant in proportion to other nutrients, permanance of phosphorus in most soils, lack of necessity to promote bloom.
bencelest
09-04-2009, 04:13 PM
Benny,
For 20-x-x at 100ppm Nitrogen, you need 0.0675 ounces weight per gallon of water.
For 24-x-x at 300ppm Nitrogen, you need 0.1689 ounces weight per gallon of water.
Richard:
0.068 oz and 0.169 oz how is that in terms of teaspoonful?
Richard
09-04-2009, 04:33 PM
Richard:
0.068 oz and 0.169 oz how is that in terms of teaspoonful?
Benny, you have to take your fertilizer and weigh it with say, a kitchen scale. Weigh one measuring cup of fertilizer and then weight the empty cup to get the actual weight. Whatever that weight is, divide by 48 to obtain the weight of 1 teaspoon, or divide by 16 to obtain the weight of 1 tablespoon.
bencelest
09-04-2009, 05:24 PM
Benny, you have to take your fertilizer and weigh it with say, a kitchen scale. Weigh one measuring cup of fertilizer and then weight the empty cup to get the actual weight. Whatever that weight is, divide by 48 to obtain the weight of 1 teaspoon, or divide by 16 to obtain the weight of 1 tablespoon.
Thanks Richard.
austinl01
09-08-2009, 03:09 PM
I bought some Lowe's Garden Select fertilizer yesterday for my bananas. I tried to find a high-low-high ratio. What do you think about 16-2-12? It's the closest to the recommended ratio that I could find in any local stores.
sandy0225
09-08-2009, 05:40 PM
I'm spoiled, I have fertilizer injectors that inject the fertilizer into the water at a ratio of 1:100, so to get 200 ppm, I just weigh up 13 ounces of my 20-20-20 and stir that into a gallon of water and the injector portions it out. So I'm not sure of the exact measurement you'd need for a gallon or two. it does take 13 ounces to do 100 gallons though, so .13 ounces would be for 1 gallon. The Plant marvel website says that 1 ounce is approximately 2 tablespoons and one cup is approximately one pound if that helps. Sounds like .13 ounces is about 1/7th of 2 tablespoons. For banana purposes, then that would be a little less than a teaspoon per gallon to get 200 ppm. Correct me if I'm wrong, though. I think your average kitchen scale wouldn't be accurate enough for measuring that. My legal for trade scale I use at the farmers market won't get it on that small of an amount.
Richard
09-08-2009, 11:02 PM
I bought some Lowe's Garden Select fertilizer yesterday for my bananas. I tried to find a high-low-high ratio. What do you think about 16-2-12? It's the closest to the recommended ratio that I could find in any local stores.
Good for ornamental bananas. For fruiting kind I would add a potassium supplement such as Sul-Po-Mag or Potassium Citrate.
Richard
09-08-2009, 11:09 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, though. I think your average kitchen scale wouldn't be accurate enough for measuring that. My legal for trade scale I use at the farmers market won't get it on that small of an amount.
A strategy is to find a proportion that works for a small number of whole teaspoons (or tablespoons) and gallons. For example, to get 200ppm of Nitrogen from Scotts 15-5-15 +Cal,Mg you would use 5 teaspoons per 7 gallons of water.
jmoore
09-09-2009, 02:02 AM
I like the way everyone mixes up their measurements, ounces and gallons being an imperial or US measurement ppm (parts per million or mg per litre) being a metric measurement, could get confusing.
If you don't have the scales make up a stock solution and dilute it down everytime you want to feed. Saves all the "oooo it might half a teaspoon...oh no what size teaspoon" confusion.
Or does it really have to be that accuate?
supermario
09-09-2009, 06:23 AM
I bought some Lowe's Garden Select fertilizer yesterday for my bananas. I tried to find a high-low-high ratio. What do you think about 16-2-12? It's the closest to the recommended ratio that I could find in any local stores.
I've mentioned this before, but here goes...
Do you have any nurseries nearby? If you do, you should ask them for a source of fertilizer. Alot of the time, you may find that you have somewhere nearby that has more selection at a fraction of the price. I did this a few years ago and now get my fertilizer from the same place most local nurseries do. I used to pay about $1/lb for some fertilizers, but now I don't pay anymore than $0.40/lb!
bencelest
09-09-2009, 08:56 AM
I've mentioned this before, but here goes...
Do you have any nurseries nearby? If you do, you should ask them for a source of fertilizer. Alot of the time, you may find that you have somewhere nearby that has more selection at a fraction of the price. I did this a few years ago and now get my fertilizer from the same place most local nurseries do. I used to pay about $1/lb for some fertilizers, but now I don't pay anymore than $0.40/lb!
Or go to the internet. Just type the kind of fertizer you want and check the nearest dealer and call them for the price.
steven
09-13-2009, 04:11 PM
is it ok if i use about a 1 tsp of dry miracle gro plant food and then water it or is 1 tsp not ok to use
sandy0225
09-13-2009, 06:45 PM
you should be able to give it a teaspoon per gallon water every time you water it with no problems during the summer months when it's actively growing. During the winter months, less fertilizer is required, like if it's still growing slowly then give it like 1/4 t fertilizer per gallon of water. Then in the spring as it starts growing again increase it. But don't overwater it in the winter. It's a lot harder to overwater in the summer!
steven
09-13-2009, 06:49 PM
thanks! but do i have to mix it with a gallon of water or can i get a tsp of dry miracle gro powder, spread it around the potted plant, and then water it or is this a bad idea?
Richard
09-13-2009, 08:14 PM
thanks! but do i have to mix it with a gallon of water or can i get a tsp of dry miracle gro powder, spread it around the potted plant, and then water it or is this a bad idea?
Most of the nitrogen and some of the other nutrients will be lost to the air. You need to 1st dissolve it in water.
jakesebastin
06-26-2012, 08:38 AM
You should follow the instructions given on the plant food and the nutrients packs. It will be the best to follow this instruction to get the good results. As this instructions are given by the experienced growers.
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