Making your own fertilizers

[Evan]

On the front page vote someone said that they make  their own fertilizers.

If you do make your own what typs of plants do you have.

Does anyone have any info on this?  What do you use/how much etc.



thanks,

[Anubias]

Hi,

I do make my own. I use a trace mineral powder -mix up about 50 cc in 300 ml of water. I add this maybe once a week.

I also make up another mixture of
40 cc potassium nitrate (KNO3)
50 cc potassium sulfate (K2SO4)
2 cc boric acid (H3BO4?)
75 cc epsom salts (MgSO4:7H2O)
in 300 cc of water water.
I add this daily depending on the amount of growth in the tank.

If growth is very fast or one has few fish, one can also add phosphate. Sometimes I add 7 cc calcium chloride CaCl2 if I have gone more than 2 weeks without a water change.

None of this is very precise, but it is adequate. In any case one must add potassium to one's tanks, no matter how slow the plants grow.

All products can be purchased at B & B Hydroponics or at Upper Valley Hydroponics found in the yellow pages.

Regards,

[Migs]

Here's a good read for you...
http://home.infinet.net/teban/how-to.html

I read this article and will try this substrate model in the near future once my lighting needs have been met.  Does anyone who read this have any comments?  

[Migs]

I just found a new online resource at
http://www.plantgeek.net/
I registered and it looks like there are lots of goodies here... enjoy!

[valiko]

I also make up another mixture of
40 cc potassium nitrate (KNO3)
50 cc potassium sulfate (K2SO4)
2 cc boric acid (H3BO4?)
75 cc epsom salts (MgSO4:7H2O)
in 300 cc of water water.
I add this daily depending on the amount of growth in the tank.

where do you buy all this?
I am looking into PMDD, but I haven't found a supplier for the ingredients except for http://www.gregwatson.com/products.asp

[Evan]

thanks, I think when I run out of the stuff I bought I will give it a try

[BigDaddy]

I bought my PMDD stuff at Ottawa Valley Hydroponics off hunt club at riverside.

Their trace mix has all the right percentages and includes Boron (which most don't).  All I have to do is add epsom salts for the Magnesium.

The trace mix is 7 dollars.  KNO3 and K2SO4 are 3 dollars.  KH2PO4 is 5 bucks.

Less than 1 bottle of Flourish complete, but will make you a significantly larger supply of ferts!

[luvfishies]

I just found a new online resource at
http://www.plantgeek.net/
I registered and it looks like there are lots of goodies here... enjoy!

Welcome to plantgeek! Ice has a great site there.