This is my first Grow Blog (glog)!
I want to share with you guys my ongoing "fertilization experiment".
I am a rookie grower from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I have started growing superhots this year with somewhat moderate success. On my first set of plants, I was unsure of what ferts to use so went a bit crazy and threw anything I could get my hands on at them, with very little control. I don't have access here to the great variety of organic and chemical fertilizers you guys have over in the US and Europe. My results were varied, with some plants having very good pepper yields while others almost none. Heat was intense in some plants and mildish in others. My morugas where as hot as a normal hab while the chocolate bhutlahs were lava hot!
Since no notes were taken on what I was using, I had no idea of what effect each fert was having on the plants. So I decided to grow a new batch of peppers and experiment with some of the different fertilizers I have available and find out what works for best for me and my conditions.
Please, feel free to ask questions, suggest ideas/changes or criticize the methodology. This is one of my main objectives in posting this here.
The goal of this experiment first year is to find out what effect each fert has on:
Consistent Inputs
[*]Weather: Hot, sunny and humid. Highs are around 40C during may and june and lows around 19C during december. Average humidity is around 80%. (hardiness zone 13b)
[*]Water availability
[*]Pest control: neem oil and soap
Variable Inputs
I am aware some of these are only complementary fertilizers, like cal-mag or even epsom salts, but I want to see what their isolated effect is none the less. Sample size is very small to be considered a real scientific experiment with statistical significance, I am aware of that too, but.. well this aint a nasa study.
The granular mix was given to me in a local agro shop. They were not able to provide me with its npk ratio, but they assured me it was a "complete mix" and what my peppers needed. They instructed me to spread what I could pinch with 4 fingers in a circle 5 inches away from the base of the plant.
Epsom salts will be added foliarly and to the soil.
So, lets begin!
-3/10/2018
The plants have finished germinating on the seed starting tray.
-20/10/2018
The 6 seedlings with the most similar size have been transplanted to 16 oz foam cups, using the double cup method, and have gotten their first round of fertilizer. the granular mix was added to the bottom par of the soil on cup #4
Size Rank: All seedling were very similar so sizing them was somewhat hard, this is the best I could judge them from large to small:
Size Rank: 2,3,5,1,4,6
There is a clear size difference in #2 (miracle gro) and, #3 (epsom salts) compared to all the other plants. Plant #6 has dropped a couple of leafs and looks withered.
-18/11/2018
Size Rank: 3,2,5,4,1,6
The plant with epsom salts (#3) has overtaken miracle gro (#2). The other appear stagnant.
Second round of fertilizers was applied to #2,3,5,6. Concentration of fertilizer to #6 was halved.
-25/11/2018
Size Rank: 3,2,5,4,6,1
Epsom salts still in the lead, the plant with no fertilizers is now the smallest.
-3/12/2018
-Third round of fertilizers to #2,3,5,6
Size Rank: 3,2,5,4,6,1
-9/12/2018
-Size Rank: 2,3,5,4,6,1
Plants were transplanted into grow bags.
To be continued...
I want to share with you guys my ongoing "fertilization experiment".
I am a rookie grower from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I have started growing superhots this year with somewhat moderate success. On my first set of plants, I was unsure of what ferts to use so went a bit crazy and threw anything I could get my hands on at them, with very little control. I don't have access here to the great variety of organic and chemical fertilizers you guys have over in the US and Europe. My results were varied, with some plants having very good pepper yields while others almost none. Heat was intense in some plants and mildish in others. My morugas where as hot as a normal hab while the chocolate bhutlahs were lava hot!
Since no notes were taken on what I was using, I had no idea of what effect each fert was having on the plants. So I decided to grow a new batch of peppers and experiment with some of the different fertilizers I have available and find out what works for best for me and my conditions.
Please, feel free to ask questions, suggest ideas/changes or criticize the methodology. This is one of my main objectives in posting this here.
The goal of this experiment first year is to find out what effect each fert has on:
- Plant Growth
- Time to flower
- Yield
- Heat
Consistent Inputs
- Plants: 6 red habaneros, seeds taken from the same pod, seedlings selected according to similarity in size
- Final Container: 5 gallon grow bags
- Soil: Potting mix with 4 handfuls of compost mixed thoroughly
- (sand:58%, lime:22%, clay 20%, organic material:7.59%... I really dont trust these number and Its quite possible someone just pulled them out their rear)
[*]Weather: Hot, sunny and humid. Highs are around 40C during may and june and lows around 19C during december. Average humidity is around 80%. (hardiness zone 13b)
[*]Water availability
[*]Pest control: neem oil and soap
Variable Inputs
I am aware some of these are only complementary fertilizers, like cal-mag or even epsom salts, but I want to see what their isolated effect is none the less. Sample size is very small to be considered a real scientific experiment with statistical significance, I am aware of that too, but.. well this aint a nasa study.
The granular mix was given to me in a local agro shop. They were not able to provide me with its npk ratio, but they assured me it was a "complete mix" and what my peppers needed. They instructed me to spread what I could pinch with 4 fingers in a circle 5 inches away from the base of the plant.
Epsom salts will be added foliarly and to the soil.
So, lets begin!
-3/10/2018
The plants have finished germinating on the seed starting tray.
-20/10/2018
The 6 seedlings with the most similar size have been transplanted to 16 oz foam cups, using the double cup method, and have gotten their first round of fertilizer. the granular mix was added to the bottom par of the soil on cup #4
Size Rank: All seedling were very similar so sizing them was somewhat hard, this is the best I could judge them from large to small:
- 6,3,2,1,4,5
Size Rank: 2,3,5,1,4,6
There is a clear size difference in #2 (miracle gro) and, #3 (epsom salts) compared to all the other plants. Plant #6 has dropped a couple of leafs and looks withered.
-18/11/2018
Size Rank: 3,2,5,4,1,6
The plant with epsom salts (#3) has overtaken miracle gro (#2). The other appear stagnant.
Second round of fertilizers was applied to #2,3,5,6. Concentration of fertilizer to #6 was halved.
-25/11/2018
Size Rank: 3,2,5,4,6,1
Epsom salts still in the lead, the plant with no fertilizers is now the smallest.
-3/12/2018
-Third round of fertilizers to #2,3,5,6
Size Rank: 3,2,5,4,6,1
-9/12/2018
-Size Rank: 2,3,5,4,6,1
- Miracle gro (2) is again in the lead. Foliage looks healthier and greener on the plant with epsom salts (3).
Plants were transplanted into grow bags.
- Was one 5 gallon grow bag short, used a 7 gallon bag for plant #1 instead.
To be continued...
