Bananas.org - Rock Dust

Bananas.org (http://www.bananas.org/)

- Banana Plant Soil, Additives, and Fertilizer (http://www.bananas.org/f312/)

- - Rock Dust (http://www.bananas.org/f312/rock-dust-14937.html)

Besides Azomite, Dolomite and Green sand, what other types of rock dust might be out there? I have been searching for an alternative to Azomite because it is hard to find around here.

ive also seen "granite dust" for sale on ebay.. cheapest is
buying in a 40 or 50# bag..
i use greensand in my seedling soil.. i'll probably use the rest
where i put nanners in..

Quote:

...it is hard to find around here.

It's no farther away than your front porch!
When I want to play the "Mad Scientist" I get a some of my trace & micro nutrients from the ebay seller "kelp4less".

Some of our forum members here could quite possibly be able to supply some though, too.
:bananas_b

I get my Azomite from Peaceful Valley ----- groworganic.com

And Brix Mix for the Muscadines, et al.

And Kelp puree.

Fish emulsion from Walmart.

Cottonseed meal from a cow feed store in Palm City. Acid forming fert for the blueberries.

They all help.

Oh yeah, found a new source for worm castings -- Nelson's in Ft Pierce.

In recent decades, soil manufacturers stopped putting fine gravels and sands in their products because it added to much to the shipping weight. However, plants depend upon them both structurally and as a substrate for soil interactions. Thus, you should include them in any soil mix for plants -- especially perennials that are native to terrestrial soils. Your best choice are fine gravels, which contain a suitable amount of dust -- not rock dust itself. However, if you are simply providing a supplement to outdoor soil, it is extremely rare to ever need additional fine rock materials.

Rock dust is not considered a plant nutrient -- regardless of what a company or over-zealous journalist might write. The typical time for "rock dust" products to break down and provide mineral source to plants is 7 to 10 years. The quantity they provide is extremely minuscule. Rock dust is a way for quarries to sell "crusher dust" that they would otherwise have to pay a fee to dump. If you want free rock dust, just locate the local sand-and-gravel quarry in your area, take a bucket with you and ask for a scoop of "crusher dust".

You can also try a place that engraves (sandblasts) headstones.
Greg

Does anyone know if crushed limestone is good for plants? I'm buying 20 acres and it has TONS of limestone outcroppings and plenty of free crushed limestone. I haven't taken the time to look it up been too busy, so thought I would ask!