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Hamilton, MT

I'm curious if folks do all their fertilizer mixing at the time of application or is it ok to mix up a big batch (2gallons or 20 gallons) - sitting up to a couple weeks.

I'm planning a vacation and trying to make my patch chores as easy on the house sitter as possible. Would it be ok to mix Neptune's Seaweed and Mollases in a 2 gal spray tank and have a bigger tank mixed ahead for drenches (the tank is warmed in the sun) - and allow it to sit ? Would it get moldy? Is that the kiss of death, or not so bad...?

It's just nerve racking leaving my plants to another sole!!! Any advice would help me enjoy my time away!
Thanks all.

7/2/2005 9:39:39 PM

Canada

I'm going away on vacation for a week dureing prime period Aug 6-13, All my soaker hoses are down and working well, I will be fertilizing my plants with 12-0-44 aug 5th the day before I leave along with a good deep drench.

My sitter will be told to watch the weather. if NO rain
in forcast and temps are still in the high 90's turn the garden hose on at 5pm leave run till 7pm. Monday wed and friday.

I wouldnt worry about the fertilizers, I would worry more about the watering. myself I like to fertilizer every second to third week so one week with NO fertilizers wont hurt, but a week long with hot weather and no water will

just have him or her. water the plants when needed enjoy your vacation as its only once or twice per year you get away from work.

Dave

7/3/2005 12:00:04 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I know that premixed water soluble will not last for 2 weeks. The trouble is the liberation of ammonia gas. It it's own right the ammonia gas-off is annoying. However the remaining liquid will have turned alkaline & could damage plants.

Liquid Kelps & Seaweeds are even more variable (than synthetics) since despite the formulators goal to produce a consistant product, some variety in finish goods is inevitable.

Worse still is unsulfonated Molasses. The sulfur that we avoid is added to RETARD spoilage. So over a 2 week period, all manner of nasty stuff could grow in what will be an anaerobic condition.

Most folks then ask "how long then?". This figure cannot really be determined without knowlege of some hard to predict information. The starting pH of the water, the actual "nutrients derived from" & analysis of the fertilizer, & the average & high/low temperatures of the storeage area are all critical factors.

Suffice to say that the environmental controls that would be need would cost more than a decent injector device like a Dosatron.

Probably the cheapest & easiest thing to do would be to pre-load a couple "Miracle-Grow Feeders" with instructions to mount inline with the drip system.

If time permits, make a batch & let it sit to see what happens. The enemies of your plan are heat, sunlight & exposure to the open atmosphere.

Think of treating organics like perishable food & you're on the right track. Do you have a really big refrigerator? LOL

7/3/2005 8:54:18 AM