Samgoody Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Hi Can someone advise me where I can buy some substrate ferts - like Jobe or any other brand? And, What should I look for on the label? I guess Jobe's substrate ferts should be a lot cheaper than the Seachem Flourish tabs, right?? The other question is: I noticed most of my stem plants are growing plenty of side roots and I wonder why?? thanks, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Jobe's are great for Macronutrients - NPK. You can pick them up just about anywhere - Home Depot, Wal Mart, Nursery. Flourish Tabs are great for Micronutrients. I use a combination of the two. Roots on stem plants is normal. If you don't like them, you can just trim them off, or plant the stem on it's side and watch it send up new plant stems at each node. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 You can pick them up just about anywhere - Home Depot, Wal Mart, Nursery Actually i went and looked for them at home depot and they didn't carry them. I asked the girl and she said they only carry the large jobes sticks for trees. All the smaller sticks were miracle grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Hmmm.... I'm sure that's where I got my last pack. I big double pack, too! Maybe it was Wal Mart, then. I know I used to get them at HD all the time. Most Garden centres will carry what you need. It doesn't have to be Jobe's, just something with a lower NPK level - with P being the lowest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgmac Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I have the Jobes for ferns and palms, which is the one that everyone seems to be recommending. Do you use them for all your plants or just certain ones? I still haven't added them but would like to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I break 'em in 3rds, and place them under the plants. 1/3 for a big feeder like most swords. 1/3 at each end of a large stand of Crypts or Valisneria, pygmy sword. Basically just space them out amongst your root feeders. Don't worry about stem plants or ferns; however, Anubias love to have their roots fed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garhan Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Be carefull with Jobe's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I've actually never had a problem with Jobes(causing algae oubreaks) but then again i dont' tend to poke around in the gravel once its in there. If you do need to move the plant or will be moving around the gravel where you put the jobe stick keep your gravel vac close by and quickly suck up any bits of the stick that might go into the water. By doing this i haven't had any algae problems from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfnut Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 I got Jobes at Walmart, but eventually I didn't need to use them. Just PMMD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 PMDD is great for most plants, but I'd still recommend feeding the roots of your swords and Crypts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Jobe sticks to my knowledge have a small percentage of N in the form of urea, so I would assume you would have to bury them well into the substrate to avoid leaching into the water column. Never used them myself, but would be interested to know if anyone has encountered any problems with this? Secondly, does anyone know how to make your own substrate ferts (slow release)out of KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4 ... Perhaps mixing them dry with some clay or something else ...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 I've never done it myself, but there are a number of articles online about making clayballs - I think there's and article at The Krib. If not, try Googling Steve Pituch (or Pitush/Pitusch) - he wrote an article on it, and I believe he lives/lived in Vancouver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.