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!

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!

momoese · 08-21-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean W.

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.

08-21-2008, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 450 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	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!

08-21-2008, 07:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 241,311 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: Making potash Mitchel, is your soil acidic or alkaline? I've always heard ash makes soil more alkaline. Just what I've heard. __________________

08-21-2008, 07:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 556,308 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	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! __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

08-22-2008, 04:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
griphuz Cold-tolerant collector griphuz's Photo Gallery Location: Netherlands Find me on the map! Zone: 7 - 8a Name: Remko Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 295 BananaBucks : 84,633 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 317 Times Was Thanked 290 Times in 114 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 827 Times	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.

08-22-2008, 10:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
modenacart Senior Member modenacart's Photo Gallery Location: NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 475 BananaBucks : 77,277 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 26 Times Was Thanked 77 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Making potash Keep in mind the accuracy of pH paper varies widely. Its only an estimate.

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