Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano

PR-Giants · 04-01-2015, 11:28 AM

A full pot of Biochar
enough Milli-turds to fill in the gaps
one Manzano banana plant
one banana peel
and some water.

Only water was added afterwards.

PR-Giants · 04-01-2015, 11:29 AM

PR-Giants · 04-01-2015, 11:30 AM

When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect

but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing.

Snarkie · 04-01-2015, 01:43 PM

OMG! You're feeding it banana peels?! Cannibal!

kubali · 04-01-2015, 05:08 PM

I never knew the manzano was such a fast growing banana, I got a manzano and mona Lisa from Larry>aka sddarkman619 < last July and it is blooming now. Just 8 months unreal....

PR-Giants · 04-01-2015, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kubali

I never knew the manzano was such a fast growing banana, I got a manzano and mona Lisa from Larry>aka sddarkman619 < last July and it is blooming now. Just 8 months unreal....

Congrats...

... hopefully Larry>aka sddarkman619 < gave you the correct plants... the mona Lisa is a much faster grower and blooms about 2 months before the manzano.

J B · 04-01-2015, 08:05 PM

Thanks for sharing the experiment,I like it

Foreverlad · 04-01-2015, 08:10 PM

Fascinating.

Could you tell us anything about what was happening above the soil line, like the size and number of leaves produced? How often have you been watering?

It's amazing progress for a single month. Thanks for this!

PR-Giants · 04-05-2015, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarkie

OMG! You're feeding it banana peels?! Cannibal!

Your thread or more precisely this post from your thread was the impetus for this simple experiment. People with real world experience know that Richards pH range is certainly not key and really not that important. As far as the Nitrogen robbers, is it like removing a bucket of water from the ocean and then stating there's less water available for the fish, technically true but does it really make a difference.

This experiment was an easy way to demonstrate the short term effects of using an extreme amount of biochar.

I use biochar to help prevent my soil from becoming compacted, which promotes rapid root growth. I've also read that the biochar becomes colonized with mycorrhizae and certainly everyone can agree that it retains moisture well and improves aeration in the soil.

I've found biochar extremely helpful with rooting a'ea'e and would recommend people with sandy soil to learn more about the benefits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Your choice of carbon will rob the plants of Nitrogen for the first few years, then the process will reverse. In the meantime you can supplement with the nitrate form of Nitrogen. Keeping the soil pH in the 5.8 to 6.4 range will be key.

PR-Giants · 04-05-2015, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foreverlad

Fascinating.

Could you tell us anything about what was happening above the soil line, like the size and number of leaves produced? How often have you been watering?

It's amazing progress for a single month. Thanks for this!

The leaves were normal in size, shape, and color, it pushed the partial and two full leaves.

Damp the first day and nothing for the next 10 to 12 days. Watered as needed after that.

Snarkie · 04-05-2015, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR-Giants

Your thread or more precisely this post from your thread was the impetus for this simple experiment. People with real world experience know that Richards pH range is certainly not key and really not that important. As far as the Nitrogen robbers, is it like removing a bucket of water from the ocean and then stating there's less water available for the fish, technically true but does it really make a difference.

I use mine for an entirely different purpose, as my main plant of interest and re-establishment is the dawn redwood. I'm still learning a lot about bananas, and what works for redwoods that may also work for bananas.

Not much real world experience with nanners, but as far as Metasequoia is concerned, I am second to none. If there are similarities that I can bring from my work with the dawn redwood to bananas, then I am all for it.

Hope that clears it up.

cincinnana · 04-05-2015, 07:05 PM

[quote=PR-Giants;257992]

When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect
but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing.

Now that is Amazing....cool post.
That is why I use a light and airy soiless mix....it works.

PR-Giants · 04-05-2015, 07:34 PM

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION FACT SHEET

PR-Giants · 04-09-2015, 07:58 AM

I've got thousands of orchids and have found they grow fine with just biochar & rain.

If you can burn a marshmallow, you can use the stick to grow an orchid plus it makes a cool gift.

Once the roots can hold the char together, I remove the wire.

Going Bananas · 06-04-2015, 07:29 PM

[quote=cincinnana;258180]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR-Giants

When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect
but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing.

Now that is Amazing....cool post.
That is why I use a light and airy soiless mix....it works.

Bravo!
Some growers use volcanic rocks.
Some pine bark to create that
light and airy soil less mix.

04-01-2015, 11:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
PR-Giants Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,834 BananaBucks : 5,139 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,011 Times Was Thanked 13,133 Times in 3,884 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,231 Times	Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano A full pot of Biochar enough Milli-turds to fill in the gaps one Manzano banana plant one banana peel and some water. Only water was added afterwards. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

04-01-2015, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
PR-Giants Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,834 BananaBucks : 5,139 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,011 Times Was Thanked 13,133 Times in 3,884 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,231 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

04-01-2015, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
PR-Giants Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,834 BananaBucks : 5,139 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,011 Times Was Thanked 13,133 Times in 3,884 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,231 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties Last edited by PR-Giants : 04-01-2015 at 06:48 PM.

04-01-2015, 01:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 189,962 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,976 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano OMG! You're feeding it banana peels?! Cannibal! __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

04-01-2015, 05:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
kubali kubali Location: lakeland,fl Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: kub Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 996 BananaBucks : 48,405 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,943 Times Was Thanked 1,439 Times in 627 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,617 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano I never knew the manzano was such a fast growing banana, I got a manzano and mona Lisa from Larry>aka sddarkman619 < last July and it is blooming now. Just 8 months unreal.... Last edited by kubali : 04-01-2015 at 05:10 PM.

04-01-2015, 08:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
J B Location: Wetumpka,Al Zone: 8 Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 73 BananaBucks : 25,758 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 140 Times Was Thanked 160 Times in 45 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano Thanks for sharing the experiment,I like it

04-01-2015, 08:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Foreverlad Location: Pinellas County, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 46 BananaBucks : 21,716 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 65 Times Was Thanked 64 Times in 35 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano Fascinating. Could you tell us anything about what was happening above the soil line, like the size and number of leaves produced? How often have you been watering? It's amazing progress for a single month. Thanks for this!

04-05-2015, 07:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,890 BananaBucks : 58 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,930 Times Was Thanked 11,811 Times in 4,923 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,959 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano [quote=PR-Giants;257992] When I started this experiment I didn't have any idea what to expect but I certainly didn't expect anything near this amazing. Now that is Amazing....cool post. That is why I use a light and airy soiless mix....it works. __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 04-05-2015 at 07:20 PM.

04-05-2015, 07:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
PR-Giants Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,834 BananaBucks : 5,139 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,011 Times Was Thanked 13,133 Times in 3,884 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,231 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION FACT SHEET __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

04-09-2015, 07:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
PR-Giants Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,834 BananaBucks : 5,139 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,011 Times Was Thanked 13,133 Times in 3,884 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,231 Times	Re: Biochar, Milli-turds, & a Manzano I've got thousands of orchids and have found they grow fine with just biochar & rain. If you can burn a marshmallow, you can use the stick to grow an orchid plus it makes a cool gift. Once the roots can hold the char together, I remove the wire. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

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