[TRS71]

Hi, I'm looking to duplicate or brew a close facsimile of a gardening supply of Liquid Bone Meal- from Nectar for The Gods Herculean Harvest.

I can buy bulk bonemeal for under $1 a pound, the store-bought liquid is $40 a gallon. I know I'm paying $39 for water. If I was using 1/2 a cup that's one thing, but according to their feed chart, I'd need over a 1/2 gallon weekly!

  In the video, they mention how they make it. I pulverized the meal to a bag of dust, but then they add an acid, hydrolyze it, and add a protein-At the least.
 
 How do I do that at home?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44rGNoT_2Ik&t=4m12s


 Can someone give me the info on how to make a liquid bone meal and doses for my Hydroponic garden? TIA!! 

[pcm81]

You are mixing things up.
Bone meal is slow source of calcium for use in the soil.
Liquid bone meal is a fast source of calcium in the soil.

Hydroponics solutions like from General Hydroponics are special mixtures that do not rely on bacteria to digest the calcium phosphate. Calcium phosphate is not soluble in water (very little solubility) so you cant use raw calcium phosphate in hydroponics.

[TRS71]

 I know it doesnt disolve, thats why I mentiomed hydrolise it, add acid, etc. how do i make it?

[Orcio_87]

@TRS71

You will need strong acid like 35 % HCl to dissolve calcium phosphorate:

Ca₃(PO₄)₂ + 6 HCl ----> 3 CaCl₂ + 2 H₃PO₄

This will yield an easy source of calcium and phosphorus for plants, besides lowering pH of the soil (it will harm plants).

You will need the "protein" which you wrote earlier, as it probably is used to bind H₃PO₄ and prevent formation of residue.

[Borek]

This will yield an easy source of calcium and phosphorus for plants, besides lowering pH of the soil (it will harm plants).

You will get the precipitate back the moment you dilute or neutralize the solution.

[TRS71]

@TRS71

You will need strong acid like 35 % HCl to dissolve calcium phosphorate:

Ca₃(PO₄)₂ + 6 HCl ----> 3 CaCl₂ + 2 H₃PO₄

This will yield an easy source of calcium and phosphorus for plants, besides lowering pH of the soil (it will harm plants).

You will need the "protein" which you wrote earlier, as it probably is used to bind H₃PO₄ and prevent formation of residue.

Cool, I can buy a gallon of 35% no problem~What do I do for the binding protein?

Also whats the ratio of bone meal to a gallon.

I've had no chemistry in 25 years, and I blew through those cells an eon ago...
If I get a "recipe" for liquid bonemeal, I know a LOT of people will be overjoyed! THANKS!

[Orcio_87]

I found that "CaCl(H₂PO₄) is higly soluble in the water".

Bone meal cointains Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ and Ca₃(PO₄)₂:

Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ + 14 HCl ----> 6 Ca(H₂PO₄)Cl + 4 CaCl₂ + 2 H₂O

Ca₃(PO₄)₂ + 4 HCl ---> 2 Ca(H₂PO₄)Cl + CaCl₂

This means you will need from 115 to 124 ml 35 % HCl for every 100 g of bone meal.

But in practice (H₂PO₄)- is stable around ph about 5, so you need to bring pH to that level.

I suggest using bromothymol blue or bromocresol purple as they turns yellow at pH below 6.


Is Ca(H₂PO₄)Cl really that soluble - I don't know, beacause formation of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ is also possible.

About binding calcium or phospate with a protein - I don't know what protein they are using. Maybe some of the milk proteins ?

[TRS71]

 Any recommendations on a protein? I don't need a 1:1 exact copy, just a working mix.

 Im not sure what the protein is added for even. Stopping the formation of residue sounds feasible, even store-bought liquid meal leaves a sludge.

 I can leave it in a "brew bag" so it won't gum up the pump. I just need the plants to be able to "drink" it... There are going to be a LOT of happy hydo farmers if I get one correct mix down.

 There are recipes just boiling bones, but I doubt their actual effectiveness.,

[TRS71]

 Oh yea. Also, they say to have to water at 6.0 ph exactly before adding herculean harvest bone meal. 1st time I saw directions that exact. Must have to do with absorption?

[Orcio_87]

Any recommendations on a protein? I don't need a 1:1 exact copy, just a working mix.

I suggest using milk proteins (milk) as it has some ability to bind calcium phosphates.

Oh yea. Also, they say to have to water at 6.0 ph exactly before adding herculean harvest bone meal. 1st time I saw directions that exact. Must have to do with absorption?

pH is needed to maintain H₂PO₄-, not HPO₄^2- or something else (Ca(H₂PO₄)Cl is said to be so soluble).

[TRS71]

Will milk protein have an odor at all? Or if I use milk, how much are we talking in 125 gal of water? 2 weeks max before change.

[Orcio_87]

@TRS71 Fresh milk doesn't stink, but will go bad in 1- 2 days in 20 C.

As of proportion - you must deduce for yourself - does it even help in dissolving.

[TRS71]

How about powdered milk? Will that go bad?

[Orcio_87]

Yes, it will go bad same as the normal milk.

[TRS71]

 Well is there something besides milk that won't rot? I'm thinking milk-type proteins out, and not sure what the heck it's for even?

What about an amino acid protein fertilizer? https://smile.amazon.com/Safer-Brand-Truamino-Nutrient-Solution/dp/B01CKLLOQU?sa-no-redirect=1


  I'll see if I can find out why it is included - Thanks for the help so far...