Gypsum

Island Brah · 04-25-2017, 07:52 AM

Does any of you have any experience using gypsum or liquid gypsum in clay soil? I live just northeast of Atlanta.

I made a newly tilled flower bed and want to plant some Basjoos and elephant ears but the soil has really bad drainage. I dug a few nice size holes to fit some existing Basjoos and the soil was very muddy and full of chalky rock. It made me think to fill the holes with water before transplanting and the water literally hasn't drained out of the holes in over a week. VERY BAD and ruining my hard work and plans for a killer banana canopy following a sidewalk in the back yard.

I've been doing some research and found that gypsum or liquid gypsum is being used for this type of scenario to break down the clay enough for proper/better drainage.

I know to do the test with putting some of the clay-ish soil in in a mason jar with clean water to see if it clouds up after 24 hours but I was curious to see if any of you have had this scenario or used gypsum.

Thanks!!

a.hulva@coxinet.net · 04-25-2017, 09:15 PM

My experience is that the gypsum takes a really long time if ever to loosen clay soil. I have dug a huge deep hole. Take a post hole digger and dig as far down as you can stand. Fill hole with gravel. I also have put about two or three inches of coarse sand on the bed and till in. I have done both but tilling is a ton of sand alone has worked well. Sounds like you have a big problem.

Island Brah · 04-25-2017, 10:15 PM

Thank god it's not my main 2 areas I grow my naners but it still sucks.

I have the basic soil test going with the ball of clay in water now. I'll know by tomorrow afternoon if liquid gypsum will work. It's supposed to work after a rain.

I'm beginning to think is just so compacted from heavy equipment that was used when my house was under construction.

Kanana · 01-03-2018, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Brah

Thank god it's not my main 2 areas I grow my naners but it still sucks.

I have the basic soil test going with the ball of clay in water now. I'll know by tomorrow afternoon if liquid gypsum will work. It's supposed to work after a rain.

I'm beginning to think is just so compacted from heavy equipment that was used when my house was under construction.

Any update on this? Did the gypsum work?

Island Brah · 01-03-2018, 08:42 PM

I never tried it. I mixed a lot of organic material in the top foot and then put black mulch over that and it has softened up the clay so much. It usually takes a season or two for the organic material to break-down the clay-ish soil.

I figured I would put the gypsum but still have the clay which I don't want. I'm glad I took the time to do it this way instead of gypsum.

cincinnana · 01-06-2018, 10:53 PM

Gypsum works long term....

If I added it to my clay soil ....it would still be clay soil....for a long time.
If I added it to my soil for along time ... it will still be clay soil.

cincinnana · 01-20-2018, 07:47 PM

Just found an example of what I mean.
Pics are from a few years ago .

Untitled
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

a.hulva@coxinet.net · 01-21-2018, 10:13 AM

Nasty! Looks worse than mine.

04-25-2017, 07:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Island Brah Find me on the map! Zone: 7b & 8a Border Name: Island Brah Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 190 BananaBucks : 56,161 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 556 Times Was Thanked 345 Times in 117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 27 Times	Gypsum Does any of you have any experience using gypsum or liquid gypsum in clay soil? I live just northeast of Atlanta. I made a newly tilled flower bed and want to plant some Basjoos and elephant ears but the soil has really bad drainage. I dug a few nice size holes to fit some existing Basjoos and the soil was very muddy and full of chalky rock. It made me think to fill the holes with water before transplanting and the water literally hasn't drained out of the holes in over a week. VERY BAD and ruining my hard work and plans for a killer banana canopy following a sidewalk in the back yard. I've been doing some research and found that gypsum or liquid gypsum is being used for this type of scenario to break down the clay enough for proper/better drainage. I know to do the test with putting some of the clay-ish soil in in a mason jar with clean water to see if it clouds up after 24 hours but I was curious to see if any of you have had this scenario or used gypsum. Thanks!! __________________ Growing: Basjoo, Blue Java (The Real One), FHIA-01 American Goldfinger, Manzano, Tall Orinoco, Raja Puri (USDA TARS), Veinte Cohol (USDA TARS), Patupi, & SH-3640 High Noon (USDA TARS)

04-25-2017, 09:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
a.hulva@coxinet.net Location: Edmond, OK Zone: 73034 Name: Al Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 456 BananaBucks : 48,242 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3,695 Times Was Thanked 779 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 437 Times	Re: Gypsum My experience is that the gypsum takes a really long time if ever to loosen clay soil. I have dug a huge deep hole. Take a post hole digger and dig as far down as you can stand. Fill hole with gravel. I also have put about two or three inches of coarse sand on the bed and till in. I have done both but tilling is a ton of sand alone has worked well. Sounds like you have a big problem.

04-25-2017, 10:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Island Brah Find me on the map! Zone: 7b & 8a Border Name: Island Brah Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 190 BananaBucks : 56,161 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 556 Times Was Thanked 345 Times in 117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 27 Times	Re: Gypsum Thank god it's not my main 2 areas I grow my naners but it still sucks. I have the basic soil test going with the ball of clay in water now. I'll know by tomorrow afternoon if liquid gypsum will work. It's supposed to work after a rain. I'm beginning to think is just so compacted from heavy equipment that was used when my house was under construction. __________________ Growing: Basjoo, Blue Java (The Real One), FHIA-01 American Goldfinger, Manzano, Tall Orinoco, Raja Puri (USDA TARS), Veinte Cohol (USDA TARS), Patupi, & SH-3640 High Noon (USDA TARS) Last edited by Island Brah : 04-25-2017 at 10:19 PM.

01-03-2018, 08:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Island Brah Find me on the map! Zone: 7b & 8a Border Name: Island Brah Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 190 BananaBucks : 56,161 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 556 Times Was Thanked 345 Times in 117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 27 Times	Re: Gypsum I never tried it. I mixed a lot of organic material in the top foot and then put black mulch over that and it has softened up the clay so much. It usually takes a season or two for the organic material to break-down the clay-ish soil. I figured I would put the gypsum but still have the clay which I don't want. I'm glad I took the time to do it this way instead of gypsum. __________________ Growing: Basjoo, Blue Java (The Real One), FHIA-01 American Goldfinger, Manzano, Tall Orinoco, Raja Puri (USDA TARS), Veinte Cohol (USDA TARS), Patupi, & SH-3640 High Noon (USDA TARS)

01-06-2018, 10:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,782 BananaBucks : 584 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Gypsum Gypsum works long term.... If I added it to my clay soil ....it would still be clay soil....for a long time. If I added it to my soil for along time ... it will still be clay soil. __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 01-06-2018 at 10:58 PM.

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01-20-2018, 07:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,782 BananaBucks : 584 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Gypsum Just found an example of what I mean. Pics are from a few years ago . Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

01-21-2018, 10:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
a.hulva@coxinet.net Location: Edmond, OK Zone: 73034 Name: Al Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 456 BananaBucks : 48,242 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3,695 Times Was Thanked 779 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 437 Times	Re: Gypsum Nasty! Looks worse than mine.

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