View Full Version : Making potash
momoese
08-21-2008, 07:05 PM
So I went and picked up this free Brinkman smoker that someone posted on freecycle.com and then dried some old spent leaves in the sun for 2 weeks. I added them to the smoker and put flame to them. Whoa.....huge fire!!! Word of warning, start with a few small pieces and keep adding as needed!
Thanks for the idea Richard! :woohoonaner:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12608&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12608&ppuser=42)
Dean W.
08-21-2008, 07:21 PM
Mitchel, is your soil acidic or alkaline? I've always heard ash makes soil more alkaline. Just what I've heard.
Richard
08-21-2008, 07:22 PM
Way to go, Mitchel !
If those were dried banana leafs, then the potassium content by weight will be:
about 1.5% if you have not been fortifying with potassium in the past year
about 3% if the plant has been receiving over 1 pound of potassium per year
Don't worry about overdose. You'd have to apply 50 lbs of banana leaf ash per plant per year for that! :D
momoese
08-21-2008, 07:48 PM
Mitchel, is your soil acidic or alkaline? I've always heard ash makes soil more alkaline. Just what I've heard.
My soil is pretty neutral, from 6.5 to 7.5 depending on the exact area you test. I have added coffee grounds around the blue berries and the spot where my AE AE used to live. I'm not too worried as I'm only adding a bit combined with my homemade compost.
griphuz
08-22-2008, 04:42 AM
Indeed, potash should make soil a little more alkaline, because it contains potassium carbonate (kind of baking soda). However, I think if you don't use really huge amounts the effects won't be really big though...
You could give it a test by dissolving the potash in some water, leaving it for a hour stirring, and have a look with a pH-paper.
Kind regards,
Remko.
modenacart
08-22-2008, 10:54 PM
Keep in mind the accuracy of pH paper varies widely. Its only an estimate.
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