Hose end diluters / feeders
Use-Author-Suppli...@127.1
Can anyone recommend one of these device? I recently bought the
MiracleGro Liquafeed one but am quite disappointed. It constantly
blocks, every few minutes. The concentrate in the bottle contains a
certain amount of un-dissolved sediment/precipitate despite vigourous
shaking before use. Despite being tiny crystals they block the
pinhole that sucks the concentrate from the bottle, every minute or so
;-(.
Although not intended to be reusable, I found the insert can be
removed from an empty bottle so that it can be reused with an
alternate fertiliser which works out much cheaper than buying new
MiracleGro bottles. After working out its dilution ratio I tried this
with Phostrogen powder (the general purpose / high 'K' one). The
problem is, just as with the original MiracleGro concentrate, there is
a certain amount of un-dissolved matter present which promptly blocks
the pinhole. Infuriating!
Can anyone recommend a better device which can be used with Phostrogen
powder or other solid feed-stuff?
Thanks
Tom Crane
Ps. The email address in the header is just a spam-trap.
--
Tom Crane, Dept. Physics, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill,
Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, England.
Email: T.Crane at rhul dot ac dot uk
Fax: +44 (0) 1784 472794
cineman
<Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote in message
news:i441l6$m74$1...@mklab.ph.rhul.ac.uk...
Make up the concentrate the day before use give time for all crystals to
dissolve, mix with warm water.
>
>
Jake
<Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
>Dear All,
> Can anyone recommend one of these device? I recently bought the
>MiracleGro Liquafeed one but am quite disappointed. It constantly
>blocks, every few minutes. The concentrate in the bottle contains a
>certain amount of un-dissolved sediment/precipitate despite vigourous
>shaking before use. Despite being tiny crystals they block the
>pinhole that sucks the concentrate from the bottle, every minute or so
>;-(.
>
>Although not intended to be reusable, I found the insert can be
>removed from an empty bottle so that it can be reused with an
>alternate fertiliser which works out much cheaper than buying new
>MiracleGro bottles. After working out its dilution ratio I tried this
>with Phostrogen powder (the general purpose / high 'K' one). The
>problem is, just as with the original MiracleGro concentrate, there is
>a certain amount of un-dissolved matter present which promptly blocks
>the pinhole. Infuriating!
>
>Can anyone recommend a better device which can be used with Phostrogen
>powder or other solid feed-stuff?
>
>Thanks
>Tom Crane
>
>Ps. The email address in the header is just a spam-trap.
Someone gave me one of these liquid feeders with a supply of the
bottles of liquid last year. Still unused but I've looked at the
bottles carefully (both plant and lawn food varieties) and I cannot
see any undissolved stuff in any of them. I doubt that my friend would
have given me one if they had encountered any problems with theirs.
Maybe you've got a duff bottle?
There's a Miracle Grow (granule type) hose end feeder on eBay at
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIRACLE-GRO-FEEDER-FREE-PLANT-FOOD-FEED-WATER-HOSE-GROW-/280376534645?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item4147be6675
among lots of other places. Phostrogen used to market one but I
haven't seen it anywhere for years.
Cheers
Jake
harry
Make the hole bigger.
Use-Author-Suppli...@127.1
: <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote in message
Thanks for the tip. I did try using hot water to increase the
solubility of the Phostrogen, but with limited effect. I suspect the
problem may be that certain of its constituents have a lower
solubility which is not a problem when applied by watering can.
Salts of Nitrates and Ammonium salts (ie. 'N') tend to be highly
soluble, as do Potassium salts (ie. 'K'). I am less sure about
phosphates (ie. 'P'), these might be much less soluble and salts of
some trace elements (eg. Ca & Mg) tend to be quite insoluble.
Regards
Tom Crane.
Use-Author-Suppli...@127.1
: On 13 Aug, 19:07, <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
: > Dear All,
: > MiracleGro Liquafeed one but am quite disappointed. ?It constantly
: > blocks, every few minutes. ?The concentrate in the bottle contains a
: > certain amount of un-dissolved sediment/precipitate despite vigourous
: > pinhole that sucks the concentrate from the bottle, every minute or so
: > ;-(.
: >
: > Although not intended to be reusable, I found the insert can be
: > removed from an empty bottle so that it can be reused with an
: > alternate fertiliser which works out much cheaper than buying new
: > with Phostrogen powder (the general purpose / high 'K' one). ?The
: > problem is, just as with the original MiracleGro concentrate, there is
: > a certain amount of un-dissolved matter present which promptly blocks
: >
: > Can anyone recommend a better device which can be used with Phostrogen
: > powder or other solid feed-stuff?
: >
: > Thanks
: > Tom Crane
: >
: > Ps. The email address in the header is just a spam-trap.
: > --
: > Tom Crane, Dept. Physics, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill,
: > Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, England.
: > Fax: ? ?+44 (0) 1784 472794
: Make the hole bigger.
If only life were that simple! The hole provides the dilution
mechanism. Unfortunately, enlarging it reduces the dilution factor,
making the device less effective.
Regards
Tom Crane.
Use-Author-Suppli...@127.1
: X-No-Archive:Yes
: On Aug 13, 7:07?pm, <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]>
: wrote:
: > Dear All,
: > ? Can anyone recommend one of these device? ?I recently bought the
: > MiracleGro Liquafeed one but am quite disappointed. ?It constantly
: > blocks, every few minutes. ?The concentrate in the bottle contains a
: > certain amount of un-dissolved sediment/precipitate despite vigourous
: > pinhole that sucks the concentrate from the bottle, every minute or so
: > ;-(.
: >
: > Although not intended to be reusable, I found the insert can be
: > removed from an empty bottle so that it can be reused with an
: > alternate fertiliser which works out much cheaper than buying new
: > with Phostrogen powder (the general purpose / high 'K' one). ?The
: > problem is, just as with the original MiracleGro concentrate, there is
: > a certain amount of un-dissolved matter present which promptly blocks
: >
: > Can anyone recommend a better device which can be used with Phostrogen
: > powder or other solid feed-stuff?
: >
: > Thanks
: > Tom Crane
: >
: > Ps. The email address in the header is just a spam-trap.
: > --
: > Tom Crane, Dept. Physics, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill,
: > Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, England.
: > Fax: ? ?+44 (0) 1784 472794
: I have one and I haven't had a problem, yet. I am interested in your
: use of Phostrogen, can you give me the dilution, per empty bottle of
: Miracle Grow please?
Phostrogen powder use is specified at a concentration of 1 level
teaspoon / 2 gallons water.
Using a calibration procedure with some water (containing a dash of
food colouring) in the bottle I got a result of 9.5 level teaspoons of
Phostrogen powder per 475ml bottle, to get the same dilution as 1
level teaspoon in 2 gallons of water.
If you try it please let us know how you get on.
Regards
Use-Author-Suppli...@127.1
: On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:07:34 +0000 (UTC),
: <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
Yes. That might be right. I could try another bottle but they are
rather expensive for the amount of feed they contain...
: There's a Miracle Grow (granule type) hose end feeder on eBay at
: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIRACLE-GRO-FEEDER-FREE-PLANT-FOOD-FEED-WATER-HOSE-GROW-/280376534645?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item4147be6675
Thanks for the URL. I was not aware of these. I found some reviews
on http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000TAW92S/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending
most of which were pretty negative.
: among lots of other places. Phostrogen used to market one but I
: haven't seen it anywhere for years.
Interesting. Do you know what it was called? A second hand one
might just come up on Ebay...
Regards
Tom
Ps. The email address in the header is just a spam-trap.
Jake
<Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
>Jake <I.dont....@spam.thanks> wrote:
>
>: There's a Miracle Grow (granule type) hose end feeder on eBay at
>: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIRACLE-GRO-FEEDER-FREE-PLANT-FOOD-FEED-WATER-HOSE-GROW-/280376534645?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item4147be6675
>
>Thanks for the URL. I was not aware of these. I found some reviews
>on http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000TAW92S/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending
>most of which were pretty negative.
I've got one of the "old-type" Miracle Grow feeders and it's fine
though I use it with Phostrogen (don't like the Miracle Grow product).
I just assumed the new type feeder was ok.
>
>: among lots of other places. Phostrogen used to market one but I
>: haven't seen it anywhere for years.
>
>Interesting. Do you know what it was called? A second hand one
>might just come up on Ebay...
A quick web search reveals two old products, the Phostrogen "Handy
Feeder" and "Easy Feeder". They also did a "through feeder" that you
could screw to the wall - great as you could use it with a sprinkler.
You could try filtering the liquid through something like a coffee
filter paper to remove the non-soluble bits. The trick with another
feed is to work out the right strength of liquid to put in the feeder
good luck with that!
The only other hose end feeder I can find which might be suitable is
at http://www.gardenwizard.net/#/online-shop/4519662637. (I actually
use Plant Magic feed with a watering can but will get one of the hose
ends to try it - could save a lot of carrying!)
Jake
>
Dave Hill
> On Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:00:17 +0000 (UTC),
>
> <Use-Author-Supplied-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
>
> >: There's a Miracle Grow (granule type) hose end feeder on eBay at
>
> >Thanks for the URL. I was not aware of these. I found some reviews
> >most of which were pretty negative.
>
> I've got one of the "old-type" Miracle Grow feeders and it's fine
> though I use it with Phostrogen (don't like the Miracle Grow product).
> I just assumed the new type feeder was ok.
>
>
>
> >: among lots of other places. Phostrogen used to market one but I
> >: haven't seen it anywhere for years.
>
> >Interesting. Do you know what it was called? A second hand one
> >might just come up on Ebay...
>
> A quick web search reveals two old products, the Phostrogen "Handy
> Feeder" and "Easy Feeder". They also did a "through feeder" that you
> could screw to the wall - great as you could use it with a sprinkler.
>
> You could try filtering the liquid through something like a coffee
> filter paper to remove the non-soluble bits. The trick with another
> feed is to work out the right strength of liquid to put in the feeder
> good luck with that!
>
> The only other hose end feeder I can find which might be suitable is
> use Plant Magic feed with a watering can but will get one of the hose
> ends to try it - could save a lot of carrying!)
>
> Jake
>
>
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
You could try looking at this link
http://homeharvest.com/waterfertilizerinjectors.htm
It's now illegal to apply weedkillers through hose end diluters, I
don't know about feeds, they probably havn't got around to them yet.
In the US of A they are very popular amongst dahlia growers.
David Hill
Use-Author-Suppli...@127.1
[snipped]
: You could try looking at this link
: http://homeharvest.com/waterfertilizerinjectors.htm
: It's now illegal to apply weedkillers through hose end diluters, I
: don't know about feeds, they probably havn't got around to them yet.
: In the US of A they are very popular amongst dahlia growers.
: David Hill
My thanks to all on this thread for the URLs etc. Since doing a
couple of applications with the MiracleGro unit my Dahlia's have had a
big growth spurt, are now in full flower and look magnificent!
Presumably its the added fillip that a foliar feed gives over watering
the soil with Phostrogen using a watering can which is what I've done
in the past.
Cheers
Tom Crane.