Making potash
 

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:

Re: Making potash
 

Mitchel, is your soil acidic or alkaline? I've always heard ash makes soil more alkaline. Just what I've heard.

Re: Making potash
 

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

Re: Making potash
 

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.

Re: Making potash
 

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.

Re: Making potash
 

Keep in mind the accuracy of pH paper varies widely. Its only an estimate.