View Full Version : making it hard
cherokee_greg
09-17-2009, 11:11 AM
Ok here is whats going on. Im not very smart with this fertilizer thing. Heres were im at. I been growing plants for years. I never used fertilizer. Im new to bananas. I have been shopping for fertilizer for them. I could never find any of the ones allot of you recomended. Someone said the 2-1-3 was the best they say at the stores there is no such thing. What should I do they told me to get 10-10-10 at the store.
Help
JuniPerez
09-17-2009, 12:15 PM
Isn't 10-10-10 straight up lawn fertilizer?
I've never heard everyone agree on just one ratio. I was told to use 15-5-30 (3:1:6), or 6-3-15 (2:1:5), or 24-8-16 (3:1:2), etc... the recommendation seems to vary depending on who I ask.
The one I buy from Stokes is their banana fertilizer (6-2-12 with minors). Don't know if it's the best, but it has worked well so far.
supermario
09-17-2009, 01:36 PM
Ok here is whats going on. Im not very smart with this fertilizer thing. Heres were im at. I been growing plants for years. I never used fertilizer. Im new to bananas. I have been shopping for fertilizer for them. I could never find any of the ones allot of you recomended. Someone said the 2-1-3 was the best they say at the stores there is no such thing. What should I do they told me to get 10-10-10 at the store.
Help
Im sure the person that told you 2-1-3 meant to say that is the ratio you want to look for. That is not the specifik NPK value. The 3 numbers are Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P), and Potassium(K). Most banana fertilizers are very high in potassium, some are high in nitrogen, and all are pretty low in phosphorus. So, at a 2-1-3 ratio you may find something like 10-5-15 or 16-8-24.. etc etc.
In a VERY general sense.. The important thing to remember is that bananas need plenty of K. So, the last number should always be the highest. The same can be said for most fruit trees, but bananas need more K than most.
I use 6-3-16 plus minors. I also apply additional potash during the late spring and summer months.
cherokee_greg
09-17-2009, 02:21 PM
Im sure the person that told you 2-1-3 meant to say that is the ratio you want to look for. That is not the specifik NPK value. The 3 numbers are Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P), and Potassium(K). Most banana fertilizers are very high in potassium, some are high in nitrogen, and all are pretty low in phosphorus. So, at a 2-1-3 ratio you may find something like 10-5-15 or 16-8-24.. etc etc.
In a VERY general sense.. The important thing to remember is that bananas need plenty of K. So, the last number should always be the highest. The same can be said for most fruit trees, but bananas need more K than most.
I use 6-3-16 plus minors. I also apply additional potash during the late spring and summer months.
I checked out the stokes there kinda high priced. Is there any brand like from lowes or HD
Want Them All
09-17-2009, 02:52 PM
Well, Osmocote (widely available at any store) is 14-14-14. I just bought 16-16-16 (forgot the manufacturer's name) at Lowes too. Richard, a knowledgeable member here, sells fertilizers as well. I bought some from him. These are all good choices.
damaclese
09-17-2009, 03:17 PM
don't get all worried you will learn threw time how to best firtalize your plant the best advice i can give any one and this goes for all plants is watch them closely see how they respond to light heat cold water or Food they will show you if they are happy by growing well and vigorously if you do something and the plant doesn't respond or looks weirs then don't do that again its that simple its sorta trial and aror when you are new and if you kill a plant don't get discouraged buy a new one and try again sooner of later you will figure out how to best take care of it
Bananas are really vary hardy tropical plants the grow fast and die young thats there way so
I hope that helps i know it doesn't specifically answer you question but other on this thread already have i thought you sounded like you could use a pep talk more
cherokee_greg
09-17-2009, 03:35 PM
don't get all worried you will learn threw time how to best firtalize your plant the best advice i can give any one and this goes for all plants is watch them closely see how they respond to light heat cold water or Food they will show you if they are happy by growing well and vigorously if you do something and the plant doesn't respond or looks weirs then don't do that again its that simple its sorta trial and aror when you are new and if you kill a plant don't get discouraged buy a new one and try again sooner of later you will figure out how to best take care of it
Bananas are really vary hardy tropical plants the grow fast and die young thats there way so
I hope that helps i know it doesn't specifically answer you question but other on this thread already have i thought you sounded like you could use a pep talk more
Thank you. Yes I know in the back of my mind I keep telling myself to chill out LOL Im making it dificult. The bananas will be ok. :02:
Thanks
supermario
09-17-2009, 04:25 PM
I checked out the stokes there kinda high priced. Is there any brand like from lowes or HD
Home Depot sells a fertilizer for Mango and Avocado trees. I believe it's 12-5-8 with minors. That should work for you.
stumpy4700
09-17-2009, 04:30 PM
HD and Lowes have MG Tomato food it will do in a pinch as the K is very high. But it is missing some of the minors and over time you will see a calcium deficincy. Wellspring100 on ebay has a good banana food. Just search banana fert on ebay and it should come up. Thats what I used this year and had a lot of growth.
The 2-1-3 ratio that was recommended is based on what the banana uses. You can use pretty much any ratio, but the excess will just be wasted and may contribute to eutrophication. For example, if you use 10-10-10, all of the K will be used and about 2/3s of the N, but 70 % of the P will be wasted. Also, There is a problem with excess P ---it can tie up minerals and make them unavailable to the plant. Excess N and excess K will pretty much just be washed away.
frog7994
09-17-2009, 09:10 PM
it seems to me that every one has there own idea about fertilizer I go with Don chafins personal brand from Going bananas(http://www.going-bananas.com/) i had no problems.
hammer
09-17-2009, 09:19 PM
well i used 13-13-13 once a month and miracle grow for tomatoes once a month these has worked for me but every body has there on way. and i cant forget the horse crap they really love that.
Richard
09-17-2009, 10:15 PM
Check out the nursery fertilizer list in the Wiki: Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Fertilizer)
it seems to me that every one has there own idea about fertilizer I go with Don chafins personal brand from Going bananas(http://www.going-bananas.com/) i had no problems.
The website does not list the fertilizer--do you know what the ratio is?
frog7994
09-18-2009, 08:52 AM
Sorry I don't but when I go out side today I'll check the bag.
JuniPerez
09-18-2009, 09:03 AM
Check out the nursery fertilizer list in the Wiki: Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Fertilizer)
Excellent info.... thanks...!!!
Now, question:
What do they mean by "fruiting" vs "ornamental"????
To me, many bananas people call ornamental give inedible fruit, but still it's a fruit. Or do they just mean edible "fruiting bananas" vs inedible fruiting "ornamentals"???? That's confusing.
cherokee_greg
09-18-2009, 10:01 AM
HD and Lowes have MG Tomato food it will do in a pinch as the K is very high. But it is missing some of the minors and over time you will see a calcium deficincy. Wellspring100 on ebay has a good banana food. Just search banana fert on ebay and it should come up. Thats what I used this year and had a lot of growth.
I went with the Wellspring on EBay
Fertilizer - Banana Formula - 3 lbs.
15-5-30 Premium Water Soluble Fertilizer w/minor elements
Will see how it works.
Thanks again:waving:
Richard
09-18-2009, 11:17 AM
Excellent info.... thanks...!!!
Now, question:
What do they mean by "fruiting" vs "ornamental"????
To me, many bananas people call ornamental give inedible fruit, but still it's a fruit. Or do they just mean edible "fruiting bananas" vs inedible fruiting "ornamentals"???? That's confusing.
You got it!
I went with the Wellspring on EBay
Fertilizer - Banana Formula - 3 lbs.
15-5-30 Premium Water Soluble Fertilizer w/minor elements
Will see how it works.
Thanks again:waving:
That looks like a really good choice.
frog7994
09-18-2009, 02:43 PM
For going bananas firtilizer it's 6-2-12 thats what I use.
frog7994
09-18-2009, 02:45 PM
oh I buy 4 50 lb. bag I think it's 29 dollars a bag but not sure.
supermario
09-19-2009, 09:27 AM
I went with the Wellspring on EBay
Fertilizer - Banana Formula - 3 lbs.
15-5-30 Premium Water Soluble Fertilizer w/minor elements
Will see how it works.
Thanks again:waving:
I think you made a good choice.
:0517:
Note- You will need to purchase larger quantities in the future though. Banana plants need lots of fertilizer.
Richard
09-19-2009, 09:53 AM
For going bananas firtilizer it's 6-2-12 thats what I use.
oh I buy 4 50 lb. bag I think it's 29 dollars a bag but not sure.
In terms of value: a 50 lb bag is 6% nitrogen so it has 3 lbs of nitrogen for plants. At $29 / bag that would be about $9.67 per net pound of Nitrogen. If $29 is the actual price, that is a relatively good value.
The Banana Fuel 15-5-30 is currently $10 per 3 lb bag, so that's $10 / (3 lbs x 15%) = $22.22 per net pound of Nitrogen.
The Grow More / Scotts 20-5-30 is $9 per 5 lb bag, so that's $9 / (5 lbs x 20%) = $9.00 per net pound of Nitrogen.
frog7994
09-19-2009, 03:39 PM
yes you make a good point I just can't remember the correct price? I only buy it when I know he's going to be up in my part of town or when I'm down close to him.
cherokee_greg
09-19-2009, 04:41 PM
I think you made a good choice.
:0517:
Note- You will need to purchase larger quantities in the future though. Banana plants need lots of fertilizer.
I thought about that and the price is probally to steep. I will need to find something at a good price.
Richard
09-19-2009, 06:35 PM
The N-P-K numbers also tell you about dosage.
Suppose you would like to feed your bananas planted in the ground 1/10th of a pound of Nitrogen per month during the growing season. Here's what you would use:
6-2-12 ... 0.1 / 6% --> 1+2/3 pounds per month
15-5-30 ... 0.1 / 15% --> 2/3 pound per month
20-5-30 ... 0.1 / 20% --> 1/2 pound per month
28-8-18 ... 0.1 / 28% --> 5/14 pound per month (for ornamentals)
For plants in a large pot past the juvenile stage, use about 1/2 of those dosages.
For younger plants in a pot or in the ground, about 1/4 dose.
For TC's about 6 to 12 inches, a teaspoon per gallon of water.
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