Fixing micronutrient deficiency

caliboy1994 · 07-14-2012, 06:09 PM

Some of my plants appear to have boron or calcium deficiency. Does anyone know of any fertilizers or products I can use to fix this? Should I use a foliar spray or apply directly to the soil? Any recommendations on dosage? One of the affected plants has 5 and a half feet of p-stem and the other has 4 and a half. Thanks.

Nicolas Naranja · 07-14-2012, 06:24 PM

It is unlikely that the problem is lack of nutrients in the soil if it is just now showing up. If you can find a product with calcium and boron in a chelated form you could apply it foliarly. Keyplex has a blossom formula that has Ca-Mg-B chelates.

sunfish · 07-14-2012, 06:39 PM

I'll almost guarantee it's too much fert. rather than lack of.

caliboy1994 · 07-14-2012, 07:25 PM

Probably. In my most recent application, I did lessen the dosage for all my plants. I apply 20-5-30 Banana Fuel monthly. Maybe I should lay off it for a while.

RandyGHO · 07-14-2012, 07:30 PM

The question would be then can an increase in calcium and boron help sustain good health with higher levels of fertilizer that would have normally been detrimental?

caliboy1994 · 07-14-2012, 08:40 PM

I think it can. My fertilizer also contains boron in it, so it might be calcium deficiency then.

sunfish · 07-14-2012, 08:54 PM

If I remember right you have clay soil ? Throwing more fertilizer at it won't help.Maybe compost,manures would be a better idea ?

caliboy1994 · 07-14-2012, 09:50 PM

I do have clay soil. I guess I'll really lower my fert dosage and add more organics. But the deficiency is really starting to affect my plants. For the time being, I need to supply them with the required micronutrients.

Nicolas Naranja · 07-14-2012, 10:20 PM

How hot has it been at your location.

caliboy1994 · 07-14-2012, 11:31 PM

It's been in the 90s lately, and dry.

venturabananas · 07-15-2012, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

My fertilizer also contains boron in it, so it might be calcium deficiency then.

This logic is not sound. The NPK gets transported into the newly forming tissues faster than the boron can be. Lay off the fert altogether, get a professional soil test, and spray with a "complete" micronutrient foliar spray.

venturabananas · 07-15-2012, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyGHO

The question would be then can an increase in calcium and boron help sustain good health with higher levels of fertilizer that would have normally been detrimental?

The short answer is yes.

Nicolas Naranja · 07-15-2012, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

It's been in the 90s lately, and dry.

With those conditions certain varieties always show deficiency symptoms. The plant just can't move those nutrients quick enough to keep up with growth.

Ivanov_Kuznetsov · 07-15-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas

This logic is not sound. The NPK gets transported into the newly forming tissues faster than the boron can be. Lay off the fert altogether, get a professional soil test, and spray with a "complete" micronutrient foliar spray.

Aye, I would stop changing the environment and get some good data before you make a potentially lethal mistake. I suspect I am not the only person who has killed plants trying to correct a suspected nutrient issue.

momoese · 07-15-2012, 08:44 PM

Andreas, Mark's idea will achieve what you want, to grow healthy bananas. If you can get the banana fuel feeding regime down and you know your soil via soil testing, that would work fine, but if you go organic you don't really need to do anything other than feed the soil and the plant will take what it needs, no math or soil testing needed.

Nicolas Naranja · 07-15-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese

Andreas, Mark's idea will achieve what you want, to grow healthy bananas. If you can get the banana fuel feeding regime down and you know your soil via soil testing, that would work fine, but if you go organic you don't really need to do anything other than feed the soil and the plant will take what it needs, no math or soil testing needed.

I'm not sure that going organic would necessarily fix the problem. I've looked into the problem at length and it seems to be an issue all over the subtropics. I see it on my bananas and they are growing in soil that is 30% organic matter. My personal feeling is that the problem will eventually work itself out, but if you are looking to be proactive, foliar feeding is an option. You do have to be careful with boron though.

venturabananas · 07-15-2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicolas Naranja

You do have to be careful with boron though.

That's for sure! From what I understand, the difference between enough and too much is very slight, and boron toxicity is not a good thing!

PR-Giants · 07-22-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

Some of my plants appear to have boron or calcium deficiency. Does anyone know of any fertilizers or products I can use to fix this? Should I use a foliar spray or apply directly to the soil? Any recommendations on dosage? One of the affected plants has 5 and a half feet of p-stem and the other has 4 and a half. Thanks.

Plant Nutrients

Hammocked Banana · 07-22-2012, 04:50 PM

Are there any pics of this "deficiency"?

pitangadiego · 07-22-2012, 06:04 PM

2 quick sources are Vigoro "Citrus and Avocado" fertilizer, of "Citrus Growers Mix".

07-14-2012, 06:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 259,833 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Fixing micronutrient deficiency Some of my plants appear to have boron or calcium deficiency. Does anyone know of any fertilizers or products I can use to fix this? Should I use a foliar spray or apply directly to the soil? Any recommendations on dosage? One of the affected plants has 5 and a half feet of p-stem and the other has 4 and a half. Thanks. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

07-14-2012, 06:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 472,618 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency It is unlikely that the problem is lack of nutrients in the soil if it is just now showing up. If you can find a product with calcium and boron in a chelated form you could apply it foliarly. Keyplex has a blossom formula that has Ca-Mg-B chelates. __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

07-14-2012, 06:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 996,772 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency I'll almost guarantee it's too much fert. rather than lack of.

07-14-2012, 07:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 259,833 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency Probably. In my most recent application, I did lessen the dosage for all my plants. I apply 20-5-30 Banana Fuel monthly. Maybe I should lay off it for a while. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

07-14-2012, 07:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 135,992 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency The question would be then can an increase in calcium and boron help sustain good health with higher levels of fertilizer that would have normally been detrimental? __________________ Thinking outside the peel always.

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07-14-2012, 08:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 259,833 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency I think it can. My fertilizer also contains boron in it, so it might be calcium deficiency then. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

07-14-2012, 08:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 996,772 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency If I remember right you have clay soil ? Throwing more fertilizer at it won't help.Maybe compost,manures would be a better idea ?

07-14-2012, 09:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 259,833 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency I do have clay soil. I guess I'll really lower my fert dosage and add more organics. But the deficiency is really starting to affect my plants. For the time being, I need to supply them with the required micronutrients. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

07-14-2012, 10:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 472,618 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency How hot has it been at your location. __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

07-14-2012, 11:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 259,833 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency It's been in the 90s lately, and dry. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

07-15-2012, 08:44 PM	#15 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 3,038 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency Andreas, Mark's idea will achieve what you want, to grow healthy bananas. If you can get the banana fuel feeding regime down and you know your soil via soil testing, that would work fine, but if you go organic you don't really need to do anything other than feed the soil and the plant will take what it needs, no math or soil testing needed.

07-22-2012, 04:50 PM	#19 (permalink)
Hammocked Banana Relaxin Under the Nanners Location: Toronto, ON and Peterborough, ON Find me on the map! Zone: 6a and 5a respectively Name: Brady Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 958 BananaBucks : 54,258 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,178 Times Was Thanked 1,156 Times in 555 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 30 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency Are there any pics of this "deficiency"?

07-22-2012, 06:04 PM	#20 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,488 BananaBucks : 132,567 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,729 Times in 929 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Fixing micronutrient deficiency 2 quick sources are Vigoro "Citrus and Avocado" fertilizer, of "Citrus Growers Mix". __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

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