Kylie2x

Sodium Borate..Does anyone use it??? I had a couple of plants looking a little pale... I use it now and again as well as Epsom salt ...
Kylie

Chironex

Kylie, I dont know the answer, but I would like to know how muc you use and how often. Also, how do you apply it? Is it used to help green-up paler colored bananas? Does it increase or decrease acidity?
Thanks!

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Scot

Richard

Kills many kinds of insects, including grubs in the ground. It will also raise your pH -- which can be good if your soil is too acidic, and very bad if your soil is already bordering on alkaline.

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Kylie2x

It can also be used as a Fungicide...I only use it a few times a yr. Alto I use epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate) on my Brugs and other Nightshade plants monthly and when I see a difficency in the banana's.. We are organic .. I do test the PH at the first of the season and we are Neutral...Is this something I should be concerned about??? Is there something I should or can use instead??
Kylie

Kylie2x

Scot..
I use 1TBL to a gallon of water.. I don't use the Borax and Epsom Salt at the same time .. at least a few days apart..
Kylie

Richard

By organic, do you mean you like to use non-synthetic materials?

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Kylie2x

Yes..

Richard

O.K. ... just wondering because Borax and Epsom salts are non-synthetic although they are not considered to be organic since they are not derived from biologic or carbon materials. Both of them are also refined before being sold to yield a consistent concentration, but I believe the refining process is something you would find acceptable.

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malkova

Thanks guys for the post, very useful and interesting information!

sputinc7

What does sodium borate bring to the table for the plants as far as nutrients? Unless there is a borate deficiency, of course...

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If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

Botanical_Bryce

I keep my plants nutritionally balanced and microbial innoculated so I don't have to use these things. Borate is crucial but in certain amounts kill the soil flora.

malkova

good review, thank you guys found a lot of useful information!

edwmax

To answer the question, Borax supplies 'boron' to the plant. Boron deficiency is evidenced by withering and dying growing points, brittle & interveinal chlorosis of upper leaves. A Boron deficiency can indicate and/or cause a calcium deficiency since boron improves calcium intake of the plant. ... Immediate treatment is by folar spray.

While this is a specific cause and correction, diagnosis is not simple and easy for most people since many problem symptoms look the same. Generally I believe this type of problem is an indication of depletion or lack of 'micro elements' to the plant. ... 'I would': apply a folar spray to include the micro elements' for faster remedy of the problem and apply micro element supplement to the root zone of the plant for long term plant support. This does not tend to be a major problem with plants in the ground and proper use & application of fertilizers with micro elements, but is prevalent with container grown plants.

Inside plants generally benefits from folar misting with a low dose mixture of micro elements.

My references: https://cals.arizona.edu/hydroponict...s/nutritio.htm

http://www.brixbounty.com/wp-content...ition-2016.pdf

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Juicy Bananas

Our soil lacks many micro nutrients in Hawai'i. Boron being one of them. After supplementing my 6 year old Ulu tree it decided to have its first flowers. After several months of applying Azomite via soil and foliar different parts of the yard have become much happier.

ellisers

I use epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate) on my Brugs and other Nightshade plants monthly and when I see a difficency in the banana's.. We are organic ..

beam2050

so 1 tblspn per gal. so how many gallons for a 4 ft. plant, 7 ft. plant?

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

edwmax

My reference gives 20g per plant for ground application (dry) or a .2% solution (7.5 g/ gal) foliar spray.

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beam2050

ground application. so is that [20g] 2tblspn per gal? don't have scales. I am a country boy, cook using my hand. about that much, that looks right.

how many gal. per mat?

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

edwmax

Ok ... country Boy. Put 20 g (2 Tbsp) in ONE gallon or 5 gallons which ever make you happy. ... But Why? 5 gallon of water is heavy, just sprinkle the 2 Tbsp about 12" around the base.



Boron is a trace element, so one application is enough.

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beam2050

thank you very much. thank you very kindly. I will take that as; 2 tblspn - 1 gal. - per mat. use the information tomorrow.

I like a lot of people who read these things do not have beakers and Bunsen burners. we are not mad scientists [.....] like you and some of the people here.

you have to talk to us in plaaaaaain eeeeengliiiiiiiiish.

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5