SirSmokeAlot419

just been lookin around and found how bad it is to use a 10-50-10 fert cus of the low K. i saw some threads about how hardwood ash is a good source of K but can make the ph in soil rise a lot. can i just mix the ash in with my water and ph adjust the water before i water my plants? also what is a good ratio to add the ash with the 10-50-10? and whats the difference between softwood and hardwood ash? any help would be much appreciated. thanks

Pepperpot

Hard wood ashes: Very fast acting and highly alkaline (usually used to raise pH). Contains many micronutrients. NPK ratio of roughly 0-1.5-7. When mixing into soil approx 1/4 cup per gallon, if mixing a tea, to water into the soil after adjusting the PH, I would use the same amount and try the mixture to see results and maybe increase the ratio over time. Kelp can also be used but takes a lot to increase the K levels.

The plants will love the extra K that you can give them.

PP

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SirSmokeAlot419

thanks PP. what about softwood ash though? i have a fireplace and wood burning stove that i burned a lot of wood in last winter but am not sure as to if its hardwood/softwood. being a lazy stoner i still havent cleaned them out yet and i figure i can just use those ashes?

Pepperpot

The benefits of hardwood out weigh the softwood in preformance.

U of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension:

“Average wood ash is approximately equivalent to 0-1-3 (N-P-K), but since wood ash is derived from plant material, it also contains most of the other essential nutrients the soil must supply for plant growth. Of course, chemical makeup varies with the type of wood burned, with hardwoods producing 3 times as much as per cord and 5 times as many nutrients per cord as softwoods. When a cord of typical firewood is burned, between 0.2 and 1.0 percent of the combusted fuel becomes ash. Therefore, one would expect 8-40 lbs. from a dry cord of wood with 20 lbs. per cord as a rule of thumb. Bark and leaves produce more ash and are considered more nutrient rich than wood ash alone, so do not hesitate to burn them in moderation if you find them in your woodpile.

The nutrients that make up most of wood ash are calcium and potassium, both of which are essential for plant growth. Calcium is needed for root development, strong cell walls, and for protein formation in the plant. In the soil calcium counteracts acidity, aids in the development of N-fixing bacteria and can reduce the toxicity of certain compounds. Potassium is an important catalyst in photosynthesis and is essential for starch formation, movement of sugars, seed formation, protein synthesis and nitrogen utilization in plants. In root crops it helps form stiff stems and strong tubers and roots. Because most soil-bound potassium is in a form that is difficult for plants to use, the higher amounts of soluble potassium in wood ash are an important benefit.”

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Oregon State University Extension Office:

“The fertilizer value of wood ash depends on the type of wood you burn. As a general rule, hardwoods such as oak weigh more per cord and yield more ash per pound of wood burned. Hardwood ash contains a higher percentage of nutrients than ash from softwoods such as Douglas-fir or pine.

"Hardwoods produce approximately three times as much ash per cord and five times as many nutrients per cord as softwoods," said Sullivan.”

PP

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Compost Teas for Healthy Plants ~ A Brief Intro to Composting ~How ocean plants help our garden plants ~Homemade Fish/Seaweed Emulsion ~ Humate Benefits ~ The Correct definition of Organic Gardening ~ Worm Bins
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Pepperpot #2....SOG
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