Propagation: basic how to on propagation based on my experience, 1 by tigerlily123

tigerlily123 wrote:
I just took this picture in the hopes that it will explain what I mean in needing to use a scale for measuring-this really only applies if you are going to use a siphon. If you are just taking a gallon of water and measuring out a Tablespoon, then I am sure that it works well-because you are mixing such a small amt at a time.

Its really interesting to figure it out, but can be confusing at first also. I should say that this chart applies to a fert that is 20-10-20. the reason that that is important is the Nitrogen number. If you were using a fert with a higher nitrogen number, then you would use less ( each bag has its own chart), a lower N # would be more.

there are 3 boxes top to bottom. Its the middle box that I am going to be referring to.
On the left side, first column is what the different ppm are-what strength you want. The next 3 columns are the ratio amt. The first of these is the siphon one ( 1:15). I usually use a injector and so I use the 1:200 rate because I fertilize so much I don't want to be making up a solution all the time-and I make up 4 gallons each bucket. All these numbers are for 1 gallon of water so I multiply my number by four.
The last column is what the EC (electrical conductivity-how you measure the soluble salts (fert). You use this column if you want to make sure that your siphon or injector is calibrated (working) correctly. You take a sample from the end of the hose and stick a EC meter probe into the sample and see if the number that it reads is close to the corresponding number in the chart.

so-lets go thru the 1:15 ratio one. Say you want 200 ppm in one gallon of concentrate-if you follow the chart, it will say 2 (all numbers are in ounces-dry) under the 1:15 ratio heading. So you would weigh out 2 oz, mix it in the gallon of water and there you go! With mine- I want 150 ppm so I see that it would be exactly half of the 100 ppm and the 200 ppm amt-which would be 1.5 oz. But since I am using a 1:200 ratio, then I go over to that column and I see that I would use 20.25 oz (13.5 plus 27 divided by 2) and I am making 4 gallons so I will weigh out 81 oz. and mix that into 4 gallons of water. And I should get a EC reading of .88 on my EC probe.

Here is my concern with the spoon. If it is a tablespoon and you usually use 1 T gallon when you mix it up ( somewhere in my mind, I seem to remember that that is the rate?), using a siphon ,according to their website, they are telling you to multiply that amt by 16-which is 16 T , which is way more than the 2 oz on the chart and you very well may end up burning your plants. It is not hard to do with soluble fert as it is, but when you start to use larger amts, its even easier.

Anyway-I hope this helps and doesn't confuse people more. As I am sure that Dave will tell you-it isn't always easy to convey the knowledge over the internet-esp if you are not a great typer as i am not!