Hi Dell-- I use it mixed in with potting mixes--I use a form from Texas. Regards, Debbie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Narad (Richard Eggenberger)" <narad@alltel.net> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 7:14 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Greensand > Dell, > > In Rodale's 1978 Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening he writes to > following: > > "Glauconite greensand or greensand marl is an iron potassium silicate > that imparts a green color to the minerals in which it occurs. Being > an undersea deposit, greensand contains traces of many if not all the > elements which occur in seawater. It has been used for more than a > hundred years and is a fine source of potash. > > Greensand is commonly called a glauconite potash mineral, because it > contains from 5 t0 6 percent of available potash. The best deposits > contain, in addition to the potash, 50 percent silica, 18 to 23 > percent magnesia, small amounts of lime and phosphoric acid, and > traces of 30 or more other elements, most of which are important in > the nutrition of the higher plants. > > Factors underlying the immediate response of grasses to greensand seem > to be greensand's ability to absorb and hold large amounts of water in > the surface layer of the soil where the plant roots feed and to slowly > release, over a long period of time, the potassium to stimulate > photosynthesis. In addition it contains the trace elements which may > be deficient in the soil or in the surface layer of the soil in which > the grass roots feed. > > Greensand is so fine that it may be used in its natural form with no > processing except drying if the material is to pass through a > fertilizer drill. An application consists of about 1/4 pound of > greensand per square foot of soil, but you may want to spread it > thinner. It may be applied at any time spring or fall without danger > of injuring plants, but , since greensand contains aluminum, do not > over apply. It may be applied on the surface in sheet composting, or > used in the compost heap to stimulate bacterial action and enrich the > compost. > > Hope this may be of some use. > > Richard Eggenberger (Narad) > > > On 29, Sep 2008, at 6:44 PM, Dell Sherk wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> >> >> I would like to know about the wisdom of using greensand in potting >> mixes or >> as a top dressing as a source of potassium and trace minerals. I >> read that >> it weathers quickly making the various minerals easily available to >> plants. >> I have used it in the vegetable garden for some years, especially on >> root >> crops, with success that cannot be directly related to greensand. I >> think >> that it is a good, "kind" source of potassium, but I am wondering to >> what >> extent the trace elements are available. >> >> >> >> Dell, in SE Pennsylvania, USA, Zone 6/7 >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >> http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/