Feeding my SD Caven DR. Earth 6-4-6?
 

I brought my Super Dwarf Cavendish in for the winter. I am a first year grower so so I am just getting my roots wet.

I bought some Dr. Earth 6-4-6 Palm, Tropical & Hibiscus Fertilizer. I hope I bought the right thing. It was the closest match I could find in the local store. Since every tropical plant but Banana Trees is discussed on the box, I have emailed the company to see what they suggest for a serving size for my currently indoor SDC Banana Tree in a 10 gallon pot that has just put out its second 13" leaf under 4' T5 lighting to keep the plant actively growing past our now ending summer season. The SDC seems undeterred in his growth since I have brought him in.

The box is wild with its serving suggestions depending on the type of plant. Any suggestions from here? :chefnaner: If I get a reply from Dr. Earth I will post what they say.

Re: Feeding my SD Caven DR. Earth 6-4-6?
 

You say T-5 lighting... do you have 5k bulbs? I think you may need a lil more K in its diet but that's just me.. :^)

Re: Feeding my SD Caven DR. Earth 6-4-6?
 

~ Fast reply from Dr. Earth: "Paul: Thank you for your inquiry. It is our recommendation that you feed the plant every other month. Two tablespoons for every 6" inches of pot diameter or 1/2 cup per five gallons of soil which would be about 1/2 cubic foot. Thank you for your inquiry and have a great week!"
These directions are on the box for container plants but being a new grower did not have the confidence in what directions for my plant to follow.

~ I fed Caven 5TBSB of the Dr. Earth plant food (6 TBSP looked like a lot and I do not want to burn Caven's little roots. ;) Perhaps I am just paranoid of feeding too much, though I do know they are big feeders. I watered him from the top with a gallon or so of water to help wash the meal down. So Caven should be good on plant food for the next 2 months.

~ Abnshrek I have a 4' T5 fixture with six 6400K white grow tubes in it. I have them on a timer so Caven is getting 12 hours of light daily. I hope this is enough to keep him actively growing through the winter. The extra walk in closet he is in seems to be stable at 70-75F. We also brought our tomato plant in to put under them as well and they are continuing to ripen. :)

~ I also have some red shifted 3000k tubes for the blooming stage of plants. Before the time comes I will have to find out if these would be good for my SDC when it reaches the blooming/fruiting stage.

Re: Feeding my SD Caven DR. Earth 6-4-6?
 

~ I have since decided that this fertilizer is not enough boom for my plants. I certainly do not want them to be on a starvation diet. It would have survived the winter indoors ok on it but I was getting no very little growth. I have since changed to Miracle Grow 24-8-16 because of its local availability.