matt18e

I appreciate the feedback I'm getting from all of you and will definately try these techniques.

I was starting strictly with the nutes that came with my system, flora bloom, flora micro and flora gro and wasnt getting the results I guess I expected. They have all reacted really well with maxigro so far. I read an article by Martin Waterman in the growing edge magazine and it was his opinion that 9-3-19 is ideal for hydro bananas and ph right around 6.5 hence I started using maxigro since it was closest to that ratio and my basjoo is looking alot healthier now and the ventricosums our growing almost 2X faster than the potted ones. I've only been doing this since April and the big thing I have learned so far is that it is alot of trial and error and I definately want to try different techniques.

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Ohio'sBest

That's good to hear Matt. Why fix it if it's not broken.

I am wondering since you said it is growing much faster. That if a person grew a banana plant its entire life in Hydro..........Would it speed up the fruiting process if no stress was given to the plant?

Richard

No, they charge too much for it. I'd recommend going to a local Ag supply warehouse like American Horticultural Supply or Crop Production Services (no internet sales) -- or directly to a manufacturer and buy something in plain packaging that works better for a fraction of the cost.

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fergus banana

thats interesting to hear. i have my bananas growing in a rockwool, hydroton and coco coir medium. i was using GH micro, flora bloom and gro as well. i was pHing the nutrients to 5.6. I will try ur suggestions.

Thanks.

fergus banana

i was wondering that about the fruiting process as well cause all my bananas are indoors in hydro growing media under 600WHPS. i feed them hydroponic nutrients that i pH and ppm.

matt18e

Oh yeah I did forget to mention one crucial thing. The same time I started using the maxigro I have also been adding Hormex to my solution. I dont know if any of you have heard of it but it contains an active ingredient of .24% of Napthaleneacetic Acid and .013% Indolebutyric Acid, inactive ingredient consists of 99% Vitamin B-1. After a little research I saw that it supposedly contains the proper vitamins and hormones for healthy root growth. I've been using it on all of my hydros when I got it so I dont really have any comparisons to how well its working. Was wondering what your guys thoughts are about it.

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Ohio'sBest

I use it in my cloner as a root stimulator

Richard

The compounds in Hormex are great for ornamental plants, but outlawed in most states for use on edibles. Seaweed extract (contains gibberellic acid) is an excellent choice in this case. For more information on plant hormones, see: Plant hormone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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fergus banana

I have never heard of Hormex. Sounds like it has good stuff in it.

I did add this beneficial fungal and bacterial inoculate to all my plants. Its supposed to help the plants take up water and nutrients more efficiently.

Recently, I have backed off on the nutes because i think i started to see some slight nutrient burn. i was giving nutes every other day and have been flushing with plain water for about a week to see how the plants react.

Ohio'sBest

I just called Brooker Chemical Corp.(producer of Hormex) and she said their products meets all EPA guidlines, is not illegal in any state, and is safe to use.


Hormex.net: News

Richard

Of course you can spend $6 on a pint of Hormex or $6 on a quart of Seaweed extract. They both contain B vitamins. The B-1 compound advertised in the Hormex brand (and many other products) has been shown many times to be worthless to plants. It is the other constituents that are beneficial.

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fergus banana

thats kewl.
keep us posted on the progress.

fergus banana

what is the benefit of seaweed extract? i have never used that stuff before. if it is cheap and good for the plants then i may give it a go.

Richard

You over-generalized. I said "outlawed in most states for use on edibles". There is a sticker added to the label that says: Do not use this product on plants intended for food or feed purposes.

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Ohio'sBest

So your saying that B-1 is useless for transplant shock?

Lagniappe

I've been meaning to ask about this. Dip-n-grow has the same warning. Does this mean that I can't use it on pomegranates, Feijoa, persimmons......?
What would one use in it's stead for rooting cuttings?

Richard

There is the cheap stuff (to be avoided) that is sea-shore kelp run through an olive press or similar. These folks are laughing all the way to the bank because it often contains unwanted salts and the nutrients have not been "balanced" for plants.

In contrast, you can find reputable manufacturers that use an extraction process that also utilizes some ionic chemistry to reduce some of the mineral content -- so that long-term application will not adversely effect the growing environment.

Norwegian Kelp is the typical source: Ascophyllum nodosum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Richard

Products labeled with B-1 contain other B vitamins and hormones (usually gibberellic acid) that typically eliminate transplant shock. The B-1 itself has been shown countless times to have no benefit -- it is a common demonstration in entry-level horticulture classes.

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Richard

Gibberellic acid. Instructions are on most manufacturers' labels of seaweed extract.

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Ohio'sBest

You can clone a plant using a technique called air layering.