Fruit Fuel Grow More Container Plant Dosing

cdrako · 04-20-2021, 08:29 AM

Hi, I am a new banana grower and just bought Fruit Fuel (Grow More) 16-8-24 on Amazon; I'd previously been using a basic Bonide 10-10-10 without micronutrients and some of my leaf edges were starting to look chlorotic so it made me think perhaps the bananas needed more potassium and/or magnesium. My plants are in 3 gallon pots currently, about 2 feet high, indoors.

I have some questions about how much fertilizer each plant needs. I know there are prior posts on this but I've read a number and still have questions so please bear with me! Any advice appreciated.

Most sources I've found recommend a certain amount of fertilizer in a certain amount of water. I find this confusing - it seems to me that that a plant should need a certain amount of fertilizer / nutrients per period of time, regardless of how much water that fertilizer is dissolved into, right?

For example: I see on the fruit fuel website and in this post that approximately 1 tbsp per gallon of water per month is recommended. However, my plants don't need a gallon of water at a time... so I'm not sure if I should be using 1 tbsp of fertilizer in a gallon of water and distributing it over all my plants or whether I should be using less water with 1 tbsp of fertilizer for each plant - as the fertilizer is quite soluble it'll dissolve in less water.

Also, I wanted to verify the amount of fertilizer each plant needs (1 vs 2 tbsp / month), as Richard's comment here states that a young plant in a two gallon pot needs 2 tbsp of fertilizer per month (per PLANT, I believe) instead of one.

Lastly - do these doses change at all for container grown plants? Thanks so much again for any help or recommendations!

cdrako · 04-20-2021, 09:05 AM

I know folks often ask for pictures. I've had a lot of trouble uploading pictures in a prior attempt but here are some photos of my bananas and their current pale leaf margins. I would also welcome any thoughts on whether I'm right in thinking this is a fertilizer issue or way off base.

Akula · 04-20-2021, 09:39 AM

I can't advise about indoor banana plants other than to check the banana wikipedia for fertilizer dosage. Your plant looks pretty healthy to me but the yellowing along the edge of the leaf may indicate a slight iron deficiency.

sddarkman619 · 04-20-2021, 01:47 PM

My suggestion would be to ask the seller, as to how much to use.
But I can tell you right now, for potted use 1 tsp per gallon.
if in ground 1 Tbsp per gallon and water it in.

with small plants especially indoor you don't want to burn them.

cincinnana · 04-20-2021, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrako

Hi, I am a new banana grower and just bought Fruit Fuel (Grow More) 16-8-24 on Amazon; I'd previously been using a basic Bonide 10-10-10 without micronutrients and some of my leaf edges were starting to look chlorotic so it made me think perhaps the bananas needed more potassium and/or magnesium. My plants are in 3 gallon pots currently, about 2 feet high, indoors.

I have some questions about how much fertilizer each plant needs. I know there are prior posts on this but I've read a number and still have questions so please bear with me! Any advice appreciated.

Most sources I've found recommend a certain amount of fertilizer in a certain amount of water. I find this confusing - it seems to me that that a plant should need a certain amount of fertilizer / nutrients per period of time, regardless of how much water that fertilizer is dissolved into, right?

For example: I see on the fruit fuel website and in this post that approximately 1 tbsp per gallon of water per month is recommended. However, my plants don't need a gallon of water at a time... so I'm not sure if I should be using 1 tbsp of fertilizer in a gallon of water and distributing it over all my plants or whether I should be using less water with 1 tbsp of fertilizer for each plant - as the fertilizer is quite soluble it'll dissolve in less water.

Also, I wanted to verify the amount of fertilizer each plant needs (1 vs 2 tbsp / month), as Richard's comment here states that a young plant in a two gallon pot needs 2 tbsp of fertilizer per month (per PLANT, I believe) instead of one.

Lastly - do these doses change at all for container grown plants? Thanks so much again for any help or recommendations!

Indoors anything goes....there are many variables which affect your plant.

Will they be outdoors soon or on balcony?

cdrako · 04-20-2021, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Indoors anything goes....there are many variables which affect your plant.

Will they be outdoors soon or on balcony?

I'd been planning to keep them indoors - I live on the 27th floor with a north facing balcony that has a balcony above it so it doesn't get much sunlight and is often VERY windy.

cdrako · 04-20-2021, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sddarkman619

My suggestion would be to ask the seller, as to how much to use.
But I can tell you right now, for potted use 1 tsp per gallon.
if in ground 1 Tbsp per gallon and water it in.

with small plants especially indoor you don't want to burn them.

@Sddarkman619 thanks so much! I'm sure this is a rather dense question but when you say use 1 tsp per gallon and water it in, you mean just give each banana a "reasonable" amount of water for them - which will be less than a gallon - and that'll be enough fertilizer for them? Or does each plant need 1 tsp of fertilizer? Is this monthly during warmer months? Thanks again.

sddarkman619 · 01-19-2024, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrako

@Sddarkman619 thanks so much! I'm sure this is a rather dense question but when you say use 1 tsp per gallon and water it in, you mean just give each banana a "reasonable" amount of water for them - which will be less than a gallon - and that'll be enough fertilizer for them? Or does each plant need 1 tsp of fertilizer? Is this monthly during warmer months? Thanks again.

what the plant with the fertilizer dosed water.
and then you take your hose and water that into the ground more.
I fertilize soemtimes every 2 week during grow season.

04-20-2021, 08:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
cdrako Location: New York, NY Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Carl Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 10 BananaBucks : 1,957 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Fruit Fuel Grow More Container Plant Dosing Hi, I am a new banana grower and just bought Fruit Fuel (Grow More) 16-8-24 on Amazon; I'd previously been using a basic Bonide 10-10-10 without micronutrients and some of my leaf edges were starting to look chlorotic so it made me think perhaps the bananas needed more potassium and/or magnesium. My plants are in 3 gallon pots currently, about 2 feet high, indoors. I have some questions about how much fertilizer each plant needs. I know there are prior posts on this but I've read a number and still have questions so please bear with me! Any advice appreciated. Most sources I've found recommend a certain amount of fertilizer in a certain amount of water. I find this confusing - it seems to me that that a plant should need a certain amount of fertilizer / nutrients per period of time, regardless of how much water that fertilizer is dissolved into, right? For example: I see on the fruit fuel website and in this post that approximately 1 tbsp per gallon of water per month is recommended. However, my plants don't need a gallon of water at a time... so I'm not sure if I should be using 1 tbsp of fertilizer in a gallon of water and distributing it over all my plants or whether I should be using less water with 1 tbsp of fertilizer for each plant - as the fertilizer is quite soluble it'll dissolve in less water. Also, I wanted to verify the amount of fertilizer each plant needs (1 vs 2 tbsp / month), as Richard's comment here states that a young plant in a two gallon pot needs 2 tbsp of fertilizer per month (per PLANT, I believe) instead of one. Lastly - do these doses change at all for container grown plants? Thanks so much again for any help or recommendations!

04-20-2021, 09:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Akula Location: Pensacola, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9a Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 1,236 BananaBucks : 78,808 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,539 Times Was Thanked 2,381 Times in 809 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 128 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel Grow More Container Plant Dosing I can't advise about indoor banana plants other than to check the banana wikipedia for fertilizer dosage. Your plant looks pretty healthy to me but the yellowing along the edge of the leaf may indicate a slight iron deficiency.

04-20-2021, 01:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
sddarkman619 Banana Man Find me on the map! Name: Larry Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,161 BananaBucks : 212,719 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 341 Times Was Thanked 1,230 Times in 541 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel Grow More Container Plant Dosing My suggestion would be to ask the seller, as to how much to use. But I can tell you right now, for potted use 1 tsp per gallon. if in ground 1 Tbsp per gallon and water it in. with small plants especially indoor you don't want to burn them. __________________ Ca Licensed Nursery - Snail/Disease Free and Inspected: Bountiful Garden Nursery - A1469.001 Banana Plants for Sale https://www.bananatreesforsale.com Sign up to the Newsletter for Updates: Sign Up Here

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