For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Don’t Fertilize – Remineralize
Around this time of year, I know that the soil will start looking for sources of minerals to process. As an Organic Gardener, I have learned that one should apply minerals several times per year for the soil to have the minerals available to them. The microbes process minerals that will be available to the plants the following season. So any minerals processed during the water will be available in the spring. I have learned that it is not the same as applying minerals in the winter and having that same mineral available in the fall. Instead, the minerals that the microbes use have to undergo a process by the bacteria the previous year. Yes, it takes a full year for the microbes to pre-process sources of minerals. That mineral(s) is then ready for the final process and conversion and transformation into a liquid form that is then transferred through the fine root hairs in the plant’s root. This fine root hairs have a different army of microbes that take the preprocessed minerals and then processes it one more time, converting it into a liquid form that is transferred to plants. The plants absorb the liquid minerals and transfer to the entire plant.
Minerals are one of the most critical resources that plants need for proper healthy disease and pest free growth. Without the proper minerals, plants will have a low Brix level. While Brix relates to sugar levels in plants, it also refers to mineral levels in plants. Water is another vital resource. Without water, plants will not be able to transfer the minerals to the whole plant. Basically, it is the same with humans and animals and all living things as well. They do not only need minerals but water to transfer it.
What is happening to the soil is one of misuse and miss management. Chemical fertilizers come with high nitrogen levels not found in nature. They cause stress in both the soiled plants. High Nitrogen inhibits the proper absorption of minerals. So a plant that is grown from chemical fertilizers, while looking great on the outside, will be lacking many minerals and will be attacked by pests and diseases.
One reason while folks who want to change over to growing organically find it hard to do is that the soil sided from over chemical use and must be brought back to life-slowly.
Most places are not organic. Most places, their gardeners are nonorganic and use whatever chemical fertilizers, they want to use. These places will not work if they switched over to only using organic fertilizers, etc.
Why, Because the organic fertilizers require microbial activity to convert into food. Therefore, you should always begin with properly made compost. This will slowly start to bring the microbial life back into the soil. Then, by using organic fertilizers that also have microbial life added will helping the soils recovery.
But the most important thing to remember is that rock dust will break down over time and start to provide for continuous sources of the minerals. One must also help the microbes by applying Bio-Char. This is an excellent source of carbon that is needed by the microbes for their work. If they have carbon already in the fine in a fine enough mix, the microbes will then be able to take in more carbon from the air, and other sources and further bind it in the process of converting the minerals. Bio-Char is more and more available to the folks in the west. A good source is bamboo bio-char. I also use BioChar in my tree vents. That makes for a beautiful reservoir of microbes and minerals. Once this works, any tree near it will benefit. This is the key to protecting your trees from pest such as bark beetles.
So, by now you should have either finished applying, rock dust, compost, and mulch or is well on your way to completing. It is always best to apply these before any rain so that it can get soaked into the soil. But don’t worry because you should do this several times per year. Having fruit trees, you should be applying a good layer of rock dust, then covering that with a nice azalea/gardenia mix.
Your roses and any flowering plants will love it and will show it come spring.
In your vegetable garden, you should have turned over any beds and mixed in new compost and rock dust, biochar, etc. If you make your own compost and add rock dust and or BioChar while making it, then you do not have to add it again. I think it is best to add the rock dust, biochar or whatever else, to the composting process. This will result in a better compost.
There are also other sources of minerals and microbes that you can and should use. If you are thinking of changing over to organics, I suggest that you take it in slow steps. Most gardeners are happy to switch over for you. There are many organic sources around. These days, I am never too far from earthworm castings, bamboo wood vinegar, compost, compost tea, mycorrhiza, Brix molasses, rock dust and more! You merely have to do some Googling (is that a word?) to locate locale sources.
I would apply compost etc., minerals, microbes, several times per year in small amounts and then apply the same via liquid forms as a foliar spray. You can spray the leaves of trees and plants with a microbial and mineral-rich liquid (compost tea). This will be absorbed by the plants and in turn, help the plants to recover. This is provided you are also taking care of the soil. The soil recovery will take time, probably years and during that time, you should be foliar spraying.
By the way, my new book is here! Email me and mention Malibu Surfside News and I will email you back the pdf version!
Any questions?
andy Lopez
Invisible Gardener
andylopez@invisiblegardener.com