What NPK failed but mustard cake did

[sash_007]

hello friends,
If you remember i posted a thread here months back about my dying hibiscus
now after several months i got my hibiscus up and running by applying npk 19 19 19 and npk 7 6 5 alternatively
which sure improved my plant and i saw lots of new leaves

but after that i faced another problem which was falling flower buds..my plant was producing lots of buds but almost all 99% buds was falling off just before blooming
i asked some guys they told me i need to replace my soil ..bla bla bla

but after that i totally stopped dosing npk 7 6 5 and switched to using diluted fermented mustard cake water weekly and now i get bloom ever 2-3 days

so my question ..to the experts..what is missing in npk 7 6 5 ( i was dosing around 0.40gm in 250ml water weekly)
that mustard cake water solved?

 

[oneeye]

Hello friend. That is a pretty flower, I love hibiscus flowers. The problem with using 19 19 19 and npk 7 6 5 alternatively is the high amount of nitrogen will inhibit flowering. When you switched to mustard water, you dropped the high amount of nitrogen. The rest of the nutrients are immobile and still in the container. Thanks for the post.

• Excess nitrogen pushes plants towards leafy growth: When plants have an oversupply of nitrogen, they focus their energy and resources on producing more leaves and stems instead of developing flowers and fruits. AI

 

[sash_007]

Hello friend. That is a pretty flower, I love hibiscus flowers. The problem with using 19 19 19 and npk 7 6 5 alternatively is the high amount of nitrogen will inhibit flowering. When you switched to mustard water, you dropped the high amount of nitrogen. The rest of the nutrients are immobile and still in the container. Thanks for the post.

• Excess nitrogen pushes plants towards leafy growth: When plants have an oversupply of nitrogen, they focus their energy and resources on producing more leaves and stems instead of developing flowers and fruits. AI

thank you for the reply and appreciation
yes you are right too much nitrogen do cause leafy growth
but mustard water not only helps flowering its helps to produce lush green leaves too ...as you can see ...i dose my vinca with just mustard water .. its cheap but most importantly i see this very effective

 

[DiggersJo]

Never heard of Mustard Cake Powder, but a quick search and it does not seem cheap!

 

[Chuck]

hello friends,
If you remember i posted a thread here months back about my dying hibiscus
now after several months i got my hibiscus up and running by applying npk 19 19 19 and npk 7 6 5 alternatively
which sure improved my plant and i saw lots of new leaves
View attachment 110036

but after that i faced another problem which was falling flower buds..my plant was producing lots of buds but almost all 99% buds was falling off just before blooming
i asked some guys they told me i need to replace my soil ..bla bla bla

but after that i totally stopped dosing npk 7 6 5 and switched to using diluted fermented mustard cake water weekly and now i get bloom ever 2-3 days

View attachment 110037

so my question ..to the experts..what is missing in npk 7 6 5 ( i was dosing around 0.40gm in 250ml water weekly)
that mustard cake water solved?

Mustard cake IS an NPK organic fertilizer. It is a 4-1-1 ratio. It also has quite a few micro-nutrients. Since it is low in phosphorus your blooming will cease again if you use it alone without alternating with something with more phosphorus.

 

[sash_007]

Never heard of Mustard Cake Powder, but a quick search and it does not seem cheap!

I am not sure about your country
but in my country and area
1kg mustard cake powder costs Rs100(lil more that $1) which will produce 100ltrs of diluted fertilzer( online price is140rs/kg) whereas npk 19 19 19 costs locally 150rs/kg(online 180rs/kg)
if you use 1:10 ratio
I myself make 2ltr solution using 20gms powder ..ferment for 4 days
and use 100-150ml of that in 6in pot and 200-250ml to 8-10in pot weekly

Mustard cake IS an NPK organic fertilizer. It is a 4-1-1 ratio. It also has quite a few micro-nutrients. Since it is low in phosphorus your blooming will cease again if you use it alone without alternating with something with more phosphorus.

so far i have switched to mustard cake water to all my plants and seeing amazing results
like for example pinwheel plants leaves was producing pale green big leaves after using npk 7 6 5 but moment i started dosing mustard cake water it produces lush green leaves along with lots of buds

. yes you are right mustard cake powder is acts as a natural fertilizer, providing essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium(n : p : K - 4:1:1), as well as micronutrients like sulfur, manganese, zinc, and magnesium. It also improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and can help deter certain pests and diseases due to its glucosinolate content


Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Nutrient Supply:
  Mustard cake is a rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are crucial for plant growth and development. It also contains other essential micronutrients like sulfur, manganese, zinc, and magnesium, which contribute to overall plant health.
  
  
• Improved Soil Health:
  The organic matter in mustard cake improves soil structure, making it more porous and improving its ability to retain water and nutrients. This creates a healthier environment for plant roots to grow and thrive.
  
  
• Pest and Disease Control:
  Mustard cake contains glucosinolates, compounds that have insecticidal and fungicidal properties. This can help to deter certain soil-borne pests and diseases, reducing the need for synthetic pesticides.
  
  
• Slow-Release Fertilizer:
  Mustard cake is a slow-release fertilizer, meaning that it gradually releases nutrients into the soil over time, rather than all at once like some synthetic fertilizers. This reduces the risk of nutrient burn and ensures a consistent supply of nutrients for the plants.
  
  
• Natural and Organic:
  Mustard cake is a natural and organic fertilizer, making it a good choice for gardeners who prefer to avoid synthetic chemicals. It is also a sustainable option, as it is a byproduct of mustard oil production.

i will using npk very sparingly when required like once in a month alternatively as you mentioned but my local nursery suggested to use mustard cake water only to get flowers which i didn't follow at all and was using npk but now i know

 

[Meadowlark]

The Mustard plant has many attributes...among them is it serves as a great cover crop to control weeds and build soil nutrients. I'm not at all surprised at your results using mustard cake as opposed to synthetic fertilizers.

 

[sash_007]

The Mustard plant has many attributes...among them is it serves as a great cover crop to control weeds and build soil nutrients. I'm not at all surprised at your results using mustard cake as opposed to synthetic fertilizers.

yes indeed..i used to look at your tagline when i was new to this forum ..thinking what this guy thinks 'NO NPK REQUIRED' haha...
but now i know that organic is the best way to go for long term..that conditions your soil ..i myself lost some plants due to npk over dose but you can barely go wrong with vermicompost or mustard cake or anything organic

the only bad thing about this is tho after fermentation it smells really bad so if you are allergic to that need to wear a mask ..

 

[oneeye]

The importaint thing when using any kind of fertilizer is knowing what the ppm or EC the soil-less potting mix needs are, and maintaining it. Running a steady EC for the type of plant without any fluctuations is the goal. If you use a steady low ppm with every watering then the plants will do well.

 

[sash_007]

The importaint thing when using any kind of fertilizer is knowing what the ppm or EC the soil-less potting mix needs are, and maintaining it. Running a steady EC for the type of plant without any fluctuations is the goal. If you use a steady low ppm with every watering then the plants will do well.

yes you are right always better to start with low concentration dose and see how your plant respond ,to see if tweaking the dose is needed