Using the Miracle-Gro® Liquafeed Universal Feeder and Modifications.

[AscPete]

I've seen them for years, but have always dismissed them due to the lack of micro-nutrients in the available refill bottles of fertilizers, their main use appears to be for in-ground plants which have access to the minerals in soils and my application is for container grown plants. In a discussion on the fig forum two members mentioned using this feeder, ross mentioned reusing the bottles filled with another granular water soluble fertilizer. After a search at M-G's website I found the mix ratio at the FAQ page,
http://www.miraclegro.com/smg/goART2...00004/12900004
http://www.miraclegro.com/smg/goprod...6?locale=en_US
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Miracle-G...1910/205563774

The fixed mix ratio of 1:325 means that the 16 oz bottle will make ~ 40 gallons (5,200 oz) of nutrient mix (16 x 325 / 128 = 40.625)

The regulator is an extremely simple (uncomplicated) mechanical design and can be used with many watering devices and variable water pressures (25-125 psi and flow rates ranging from 0.2-7.0 gpm) because the concentrate and water are mixed in an internal chamber, increased pressures and flow rates will mix the concentrates faster, but the nutrient solution will still remain at the fixed mix rate of 0.40 oz per gallon. Since this device has a fixed orifice to feed the concentrate there has been lots of documented negative feedback because the hole will sometimes get clogged, rinsing out the bottle's threaded connector, keeping it clean from mineral build up and occasionally clearing the opening with a pin or needle has been the recommended solutions. The orifice should not be enlarged / drilled out because this will only effectively increase and change the flow rate.
.

I'm currently testing this device with Miracle-Gro® All Purpose 24-8-16 fertilizer @ 1-1/4 cups and Epsom Salt @ 1/2 cup to create the 16 oz. concentrate, refilling the bottles following the directions posted on the web; www.pinterest.com/pin/71916925272365612/

Reusing Liquafeed bottles:
1. Unscrew the cap, with a butter knife pop off the top insert of the Liquafeed bottle
2. With a funnel add 8 tbsp Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food 24-8-16 into a 8-oz water bottle
3. Fill rest of bottle with warm water replace lid shake well until dissolved
4. With a funnel pour mixed solution through filter (permanent coffee type) into refill bottle replace top insert
5. Put in sprayer

The mix recipe of 1-1/4 cups is exactly 1/2 the full dose of M-G All Purpose and equivalent to the Liquafeed All Purpose 12-4-8, but includes most of the essential macro and micro nutrient less Calcium. Although I try to grow as organically as possible using Espoma-tone fertilizers to maintain healthy soils and potting mixes, my fertilizer inventory has always included Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Fertilizer and Epsom Salt. Almost any Organic, Chemical or Hydroponic water soluble fertilizer concentrate by any manufacturer could be used in the Liquafeed regulator / dispenser with the Knowledge of their mix ratio and using the known flow rate (16 oz concentrate / 40 gallons solution).

The next phase of testing is to see if the plastic and O-ring seals can withstand Battery Acid (33% Sulfuric Acid). The Liquafeed could then possible be used to acidify the water for my backyard Blueberry patch.

References:
1. Essential nutrients... http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...-feed-schedule
2. Liquafeed modifications.. http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...b4f4f3&t=40694
3. Discussions... http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discuss...on-for-my-pots

[CajunB]

Thanks Pete for the great info...........I use this system and works very well,now I have the correct ratio to refill the bottle .

[AscPete]

You're welcome, thanks for commenting on the feeder...

Revised...
As a note I've found that the thread on many soda bottles (1.,2 and 3 liter) will fit the connector, reusing the stopper / insert from the original bottle and a thin hose washer will make a snug fit.

The two grooves cut into the face (seat) of the bottle connector on either side of the orifice is to properly vent the Liquafeed bottles or bottles that use the Liquafeed stopper / insert which has a built-in venting valve. Without the original inserts the bottles will require a separate vent and sealant (Silicone gasket sealer) to block off the grooves under the washer.

[AscPete]

To make acidified water for blueberries, my water which has a pH of ~ 6.7 requires 1/4 tsp / gallon or ~ 3 Tbsp (1.5 oz) / 40 gallons of 33% Sulfuric Acid to reduce the pH to ~ 5.0. The "concentrated acid solution" that is required in the 16 oz (or 32 Tbsp) Liquafeed bottle is ~ 3.1% Sulfuric Acid solution resulting in 40 gallons of a 0.00954% Sulfuric Acid water solution applied to the soil.

(1/4 x 40) / 3 = 3.33 Tbsp.
33% / (32 / 3) = 3.1 %
3.1% / 325 = 0.009538 %

The regulator's plastic and exposed O-ring seems to have no problems with this concentration of acid, further testing is required and on-going. Liquid Fertilizer concentrates are also being tested to ensure that the powered ingredients remain properly suspended, several water soluble powered fertilizers have been pre-mixed into a liquid concentrate of approximately 1-1/4 cups of fertilizer powder and sufficient water to make 16 oz of liquid fertilizer.

The original 1-1/4 cup of M-G All purpose and 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt does not remain fully suspended, the addition of Epsom Salt may causes too much precipitation / crystallization in the concentrate.

[don_sanders]

I thought they looked interesting and they can even be gotten on clearance now. My concerns with it would be sediment in the liquid concentrates of the fertilizers that I use. Most of mine are pretty chunky. That and that I don't have an irrigation system setup but considering it.

[AscPete]

Yes, they were purchased on clearance @$3.00 each...
I usually purchase all my fertilizers @ discount at the end of the season, usually in September.

Straining out the chunks with a permanent coffee filter and funnel works quite well as does using warm water and shaking the mix in a bottle. Also the Universal Feeder makes it quite simple to setup simple irrigation "systems" with regular garden hoses, we'll see how this works in actual use next season.

[cjccmc]

I recently set up some drip irrigation to water plants while on vacation. I fertilize my potted plants with granular 10-10-10 about 1/month.

My first thought on this built in feeder is that I water potted plants about 3X as much in August as I do in May (we get no rain here in summer) but would not want to feed 3X more. Is there a simple way to adjust for this?

[AscPete]

Assuming your irrigation "zones" are on timers, the valve on the Universal feeder is placed in the "Water" position most of the time, the water bypasses the feeder and irrigates the potted plants when the timer is activated. When the Liquid Concentrate bottle is in the feeder and fertilization is required the valve is placed in the "Feed" position and the feeder will provide nutrient solution when the timer is activated.

My application is for occasional water soluble fertilizers, additives and acidification for the Blueberry bushes. My potted fig trees will also be on several zones that could be supplied thru the feeders and most of the time the Universal feeders (2) will be in the "water" or bypass position.

The Universal Feeder is an "in-line" device powered by water flow and can be bypassed or activated by turning the valve to water or feed respectively, any timers or controls reside upstream. Due to their flexibility and size they could conceivably be placed on individual zones or upstream of multiple zones with splitters. Their one minor drawback may be that each Universal Feeder is supplied with a built-in backflow preventer (on the water inlet) which causes "leakage" / pressure relief when it is working properly, when the pressures are higher on its down stream side.

[cjccmc]

Thanks for the reply Pete. I guess you could also just let the bottle empty and feed say once per week, however many days that takes depends on how much water the plants are getting.

[AscPete]

You're welcome. Yes, you could....

Another way is to create zones or areas that are covered by the maximum amount of each bottle. That way the bottle dictates the zone or area covered... since it appears that soda bottles could be used for the concentrate then the zones could theoretically be, 16 oz, 32 oz and 64 oz (Liquafeed bottle, 1 liter, and 2 liter) or 400 sq ft, 800 sq ft, 1600 sq ft per manufacturers recommendations of sq ft coverage.

[ross]

Another way of doing this is using a siphon: https://www.amazon.com/Jacks-Classic...r+siphon+mixer

Personally I think the miracle gro liquafeed is great. I hadn't thought of using it for ph adjustment. Cool stuff, Pete.

[AscPete]

Thanks for commenting...

The siphon and venturi type feeders work quite well and are extremely accurate when properly adjusted but require reasonably constant flow rates and moderate differential pressures to function properly and accurately, they do not work at lower flow rates and pressures. Some were discussed here, https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/bluebe...-acidification

My outdoor hydrant is supplied by gravity from a spring and only has ~ 10 psi maximum pressure @ 4 gpm, a hose siphon or venturi feeder will not work, but the Liquafeed Universal's works, due to its design and ability to also work at lower pressures and with lower water flows.

[CajunB]

Hello Pete,I have another blue berry question......using the MG feeder system,how much Ammonium Sulfate would you add to the 16 oz bottle to fertilize my BB?

[AscPete]

It depends on how much you currently use to fertilize them, the dosage per gallon of water. I don't use Ammonium Sulfate so have no personal info on dosage. If you know the dosage / gallon multiply by 40 to get the amount or dose needed to create 16 oz of the Liquafeed concentrate.

pppldj uses 1 Tbsp per 2-1/2 gallons of water

https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/blueberry-home/92430-young-blueberry-row

1 / 2.5 = 0.4
0.4 x 40 = 16
which is 16 Tbsp or 1 cup of Ammonium Sulfate to make 16 oz of Liquafeed concentrate for 40 gallons of water.

As an example; If the the usual dosage is 1 tsp / gallon then the amount required in the 16 oz bottle of liquid concentrate for 40 gallons of nutrient solution would be...

@ 1 tsp / gallon (x 40) = 40 tsp or 13.3 Tbsp or 0.83 cups (slightly more than 3/4 cups) for the 16 oz bottle of concentrate.
@ 1-1/2 tsp / gallon (x 40) = 60 tsp or 20 Tbsp or 1.25 cups (1-1/4 cups) for the 16 oz bottle of concentrate.

[AscPete]

I've Currently connected my test Liquafeed regulator to a 5 gallon bucket. It can now dispense 5 gallons of Fertilizer or Acid concentrate to any location when connected on the new drip irrigation system that's being installed. The pictured irrigation parts are sufficient for 150 containers up to 100 feet (100' of 1/2" tubing) from the head-end faucet connection, https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-h...632#post117632

The 5 gallon feeder consists of:
1 - 5 gallon bucket with lid
1 - 1/2" Grommet
1 - 1/2" Barbed irrigation valve

3' - 1/2" tubing
1 - 1/2 mpt x 1/2 barb irrigation fitting (Apollo)
1 - 3/4" fht x 1/2" fpt irrigation fitting (Apollo)
1 - 3/4" mht garden hose quick connect adapter (Orbit)

1 - Bottle neck (2-liter soda bottle) with 1/2 mpt x 1/2 barb fitting (Apollo) glued in

If a quick connect is placed at the buckets multiple 5 gallon buckets with different concentrates can be used for a single feeder.

[CajunB]

Thanks again Pete for info,thats what I was looking for and your system is awesome ........so what do you use to fertilize BB?

[AscPete]

You're welcome, the device appears to be quite useful and adaptable especially for its price.

I've been using Espoma Holly-tone and an occasional dose of Miracle-Gro All Purpose.

I will be trying Ammonium Sulfate this season since its been recommended by several members growing Blueberries and it should provide the higher nitrogen rations recommended and used by commercial growers, a 5-1-2 NPK ratio along with micro-nutrients.

BTW, It will be used to supplement the Holly-tone or base fertilizer.

[LandR]

AscPete dredging up an old post as i recently bought a liquafeed system from costco a few weeks ago. How did your 2016/2017 fertigation season go using this?

[AscPete]

It went well, but I also provide granular fertilizers for all my plants and use the Liquafeed only as supplemental fertigation... The combination of Espoma "-Tone" type fertilizers (Dr. Earth, Jobes Organics, etc) and water soluble fertilizers has always produced good (better) results compared to either alone.

[grasshopper]

In addition to the liquid feed, Miracle gro has another garden feeder that let you fill with dry fertilizer. Has anyone used the garden feeder and how would it compare with the liquid feeder?

[WIFigger]

AscPete thanks for the 5 gallon bucket modification idea. I got mine completed this weekend. Picked up a bunch of the feeders on sale last fall.

[AscPete]

You're welcome.
Looking Good...

[grasshopper]

Does anyone try to use Alaska Fish Fertilizer with the liquidfeed? It is quite thick but yet not concentrate enough it seems.

[MsFiggie]

grasshopper I know TheMillennialGardener uses AFF. I follow most of his fertilizing program, except for this because it really attracts critters. I use Raddi's Ironite and Tomato Tone instead. Sometimes a dash of rock dust.

[grasshopper]

Does he use the liquid feeder? I am used to having critters. Just caught a groundhog today. I don't think that is the end though because that is just a baby.

[WIFigger]

AscPete do you have a recommendation on the appropriate ppm for a continuous feed would be for figs? I'm still experimenting with this system and it seems to be working well. Did you continue using it for blueberries and did it old up to the acid?

[AscPete]

WIFigger ,
I don’t have any info on ppm for figs but the ppm for Tomato plants would be a good start because they have similar nutrient requirements.

I still use the same feeders and they continue to work with the dilute battery acid solution, simply run bottle / bucket of clean water to “rinse” the internal working parts, during regular irrigation.

[WIFigger]

AscPete - thank you that'll give me a good place to start. It seems they've discontinued them? I've been looking for them in the stores and can't find them anymore. Just the ones that go on the hose end. I'm glad I bought an extra one when they were on sale.

I did make a change to the bucket design. I used a bulkhead fitting in the bottom so it all drains out. For the stand I put it inside another bucket with a slot cut out for the hose. It's held up by a piece of wood inside.

[AscPete]

WIFigger ,
You’re welcome. Thanks for that info on the bottom (instead of side) mounted fitting, have lots of old bottom draining buckets that could be used as stands...

I also got several extra feeders at the reduced close out cost, they are still in the packaging.