4 responses
Elf starts with ... Potash. I keep reading about it here and am very interested. What is it Why do I want it What will it do for my plants Why is it so expensive I really do plan on buying some, but I need more info. I was going to ask where do I get it, but I found it in Big W in my travels there. I could buy 50 litres of cow manure and a mars bars for the same price, so it must be good. Thanks for your help | About the Author Elf Albury 7th November 2009 6:54pm #UserID: 2913 |
Zarra Ridge says... Hi Elf, Potash in essence is a source of potassium (element K). Potassiums main attribute to to increase overall plant health. It assists in protecting plants from stress and disease. It is associated with water use and conservation, and moves nutrients and sugars through the plant. It will assist your plants accessing nutrient in your soil to do it more efficiently. Very important for heavy feeders such as citrus and corn. Its expensive because there are different forms of Potash. They range in the % of potash contained. The 3 main types are Muriate of Potash, Sulfate of Potash and Wood Ash. Wood ash is easily accessible by anyone with a wood stove/oven or burn pit. It contains approx 35%. Burning any organic source however with fibre will contain ample potash for any fertilizer. Sulphate of Potash is a 45-50% potash fertilizer readily distributed. Its the expensive one but less harmful to plant roots and soil bacteria than muriate. Muriate of potash is potassium chloride prob the highest source of potash but harmful to beneficial bacteria. If you have room to compost getting the right carbon mix in your heap/turner and adding woodash is fine. Applying K in your humus is far better than in liquid or soluble form and is far cheaper. A healthy balance of nutrient is essential and Potassium is no exception. Hope the above helps :) | About the Author Zarra Ridge Whian Whian 8th November 2009 10:43am #UserID: 2342 |
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| About the Author Elf Albury 8th November 2009 2:16pm #UserID: 2913 |
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| About the Author Julie Roleystone WA 8th November 2009 5:50pm #UserID: 0 |
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MR says... Hi, Elf, Seems you need it to actually get Fruit !! A friend of ours in another area planted passionfruit the same time as we did last October (08). He got loads of fruit, we got one. "Potassium - it's a lack of patassium" he said. Sulphate of Potash seems expensive, but you don't use much, about 10gr/sq mtr., perhaps repeat a couple of times. You can also dissolve 10g to watering can, and foliar spray leaves and fruit, that gives a quicker response. We have treated our fruit trees, vegies, with it as a priority, but are waiting the results of a mineral analysis test on untreated soil from our block. And, we are waiting to see how our passionfruit respond after this! Seasol is a source, and foliar spraying supposed to be good for plant health. (Little N or P in Seasol) Seems this vegie / fruit gardening is all a learning process, eh? | About the Author MR 8th November 2009 6:30pm #UserID: 1969 |