Re: Fertilizer options?
Jay.
Did you use the Miracle grow feeder inline or right at the end of the line?
I got one and tried putting it in the middle of about 100 feet of 3/4
plastic pipe and it seemed like it could not handle the "drag" on the output
end and just leaked like a sieve. Although when I put it right near the end
of the pipe with very little "backload" on it - it worked fine. Not what I
was looking for as I wanted to have it right near the pump so that the
fertilizer would be distributed to the entire pipe network.
What I replaced it with was a undercounter water filter setup that you can
get at any hardware store to go under the kitchen counter to filter your
drinking water. I used just the housing with no filter in it. It has a clear
heavy thick plastic housing that would normally hold the filter cartridge.
The filter housing has a twist and lock assembly that is very easy to remove
and has a good heavy o-ring on it to create a good seal at 60 -70 psi
pressure that I use. What I use is a small baby food bottle with small holes
punched in the lid. I put the desired amount of water soluble fert into the
baby food bottle, and then put the bottle upside down into the clear plastic
bottle of the filter assembly. Oddly enough the fertilizer does not come out
until there is water flowing through the system, and then the bottle bobbles
around in the bottom and if you watch through the clear housing you can see
little pulses of fertilizer coming out. I was surprised how evenly it
distributes the fertilizer. You can just experiment with the number and size
of the holes in the lids of the baby food bottles. I have three bottles with
various numbers and sizes of holes in the lids that dispense one quarter,
one half and one cup of water soluble fertilizers per hour of water flow.
Works great for me and was less than 40 bucks.
Glenn
-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Reynolds <jay@gorge.net>
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
Date: Monday, November 22, 1999 10:45 PM
Subject: Fertilizer options?
>A less expensive, probably (hopefully) serviceable option for automatic
>fertilizing as well is the new "line feed" MiracleGrow feeder which will
put
>any water soluble fertilizer out in line when plumbed into a basic water
>hose and sprinkler. Coupled with timer, you can come up with a fertilize
>and "soak in cycle" and later flush/water with fresh water as well.
>
>Seems to work so far..
>
>JR
>
>----------
>>From: "BILL J. SADOWSKI" <BSADOWSKI@CompuServe.COM>
>>To: "INTERNET:pumpkins@mallorn.com" <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
>>Subject: RE: Fertilizer Injector's
>>Date: Mon, Nov 22, 1999, 7:06 PM
>>
>
>> I am in the process of designing a watering, fertilizer injector system.
>> I will be using a programmable timing device to activate the different
>> watering zones. I am also going to use a chemical feed pump which has
a
>> metering system built-in. The fertilizer mix will be agitated in a 30
>> gallon plastic tank prior to injection. The injection will be added to
>> the watering zones as needed. it can be metered as to not add too much.
I
>> am estimating the metering pump to be about $120.
>>
>> My design will be complete by February, with all parts ordered and
running.
>> I will send the design plan and all part numbers to those who are
>> interested.
>>
>> I want this design to do my watering and fertilizing while I am at work.
I
>> am an engineer by profession and I guarantee this system will be "slick"
>> when I am finished with it.
>>
>> I am also going to build a table / spreadsheet showing the type of
>> mister/sprinkler and how much water per week which will equal running
time
>> of the zone and calculated fertilizer injection quantity.
>>
>> It will be an easy system and very reliable and cheap. I want something
>> that I can sit back, drink beer, and watch those pumpkins grow.
>>
>> It can even have a sensing device to detect if has rained that day and
not
>> to water or fertilize. That feature will be added later.
>>
>> Bill Sadowski, Ohio
>>
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