Hi Charlie, what can your setup do that can'not be done in a bucket with just a simple air stone???           Patrick

I think if you read the instructions it's pretty much explained.

Very nice looking.

This may or may not be common knowledge among those of you who have grown sugarcane for awhile but it's all new to me. I'm reading, watching and learning a lot.

I've learned different terms for things that are called something different on other plants.

Such as in sugarcane, the early lateral canes are called Tillers, while late season ones are called Suckers.  Tillers are desirable to such an extent as they form full canes by the end of growing season.  Too many tillers are not so good and some practice thinning of them to have a manageable plant that will best utilize growing conditions and practices.

Suckers are not desirable at all, so it would seem by my reading.  They form late due to various factors and are said to reduce sugar levels in the main canes and only add extra fiber and difficulty in processing.

In the following video, I'm guessing what this man is describing to be a sucker, starting about 1:45.  He describes and shaving it off next to the cane and shows putting it in water to root, thus creating another sugarcane plant...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmggNLdb6WM

I posted a comment on his video, asking if there appeared to be any damage to the cane either above or below, thinking that perhaps removal of that portion of "skin" might affect nutrient or water channels in the skin, if such straight, vertical channels exist in sugarcane or will the spot simply dry over and the cane continue it's business until harvest?

So basically I'm asking if any of you do it or know if it would damage the cane?

Edited to add, pay close attention to the video starting at 2:00, notice the length of the internode of the sucker from roots to leaves on the end.  I read in one paper that the suckers grow different than seed plants.  Is not a long internode length desirable for juicing?  Seems the fewer internodes would make for better eating and juicing.   

This device may be of use to you and can be scaled to whatever size and material to conform to standards.  It will make an organic liquid compost in concentration, not the same as compost tea, you can dilute and foliar spray.  It takes up way less space than traditional composting too.  I would think about adding a healthy dose of worm castings which contains substances that kills bugs dead.  I think it's called chitenase if memory serves.

https://liquidcompost.blogspot.com/

Here's a blog post on this concept.  I hope anyone enjoys it and maybe gets it to work for their good use.  I will not be able to try it for many months.

https://diysugarcane.blogspot.com/2018/02/sugarcane-propagation-charlies.html

Photo preview...

P incarnata grows everywhere here.  I love the fall fruits but never tried leaves in tea.  Smoked a few awhile back but nothing special to report from that. 

My tea favorite from yard specimens is Persimmon leaf.  I prefer the fall leaves that have lost chlorophyll and appear reddish orange but young new leaves that have been dried aren't too bad with honey to sweeten.  It is also quite healthy if you care to search it up. 

I just finished reading this old thread on sugarcane juicing and joining the forum and decided it might be best to post a new topic since the other was old and I'm not sure how you all like old topics being woke up.

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=827.125

I'm curious if the manual press from GPF is still doing well?

Has anybody ever tried a hydraulic jack press like they use in tincture pressing.  I've seen a few small ones being made and used now on you tube but they are pre-processing or grinding-pulping the fruit prior to pressing.

I don't know why.  It seems anything you put in one of those 5-ton presses would be totally smashed dry.