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24-Mar-2005
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
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Foliar Spraying
Hello, this is my first post, Whoopee!
I spray the leaves of my trees with several different concoctions that I have come up with over the years. I was wondering if others do the same and what you guys use, I love to hear new ideas and I can't wait to try out other people’s mixtures. I use one particular spray most often; I call it my "tonic". Here is the recipe to the "tonic" You have to say it with a loud and boisterous voice, come on! THE TONIC!! 1gal. Eleanor’s VF-11 4oz. Superthrive 2tblsp Epsom Salt (Not sodium) 2tblsp Tide Laundry Detergent 2tblsp Lysol All Purpose Cleaner 2tblsp Baking Soda Here is a breakdown of the ingredients with their major functions highlighted. Eleanor’s VF-11, micronutrients Superthrive, de-stressor Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate, Which breaks down to a readily available source of sulfur, which means you'll have greener leaves. Tide Laundry Detergent, looks like soap acts like soap, but it isn't soap, detergent isn't soap. No worries about your plants dying, yay! It messes with the surface tension of water so fungus and rot can't overthrow your tree, go easy, your tree relies on a symbiotic relationship with bacteria and algae to grow. Here is and article supporting the use of detergtent Here is an article that is against the use of detergents You decide! Lysol, this is an anti bacterial, degreaser, again be careful of the dosing, you can kill your tree if you use too much. Baking Soda, This acts as a fungicide I have been using this for some time and I haven't had any problems with any "bugs", insect or other. The trees love it, which is what means the most. When I spray my trees I wet the leaves, you want as little as possible to soak into the soil, as this may interfere with the roots functions. I mix in the ingredients in the same order they are shown, first is the VF-11 and last is the Baking Soda If you decide to mix up some for yourself, be careful when you add the Baking soda because the mix will start to bubble up, similar to when you add vinegar to baking soda. The bubbling comes from mixing an acid with a base, the bubbles are the reaction, actually your creating combustion, pressure, and Tide is a detergent so it bubbles up with the friction caused by the combustion. You should mix it up in a 2.5gal or larger bucket and let it sit for two days, to be on the safe side, you dont want your bottles to burst, Imagine that mess! On the third day pour some into the 16oz bottle the Vitamin B-1 came in and close the bottle, shake it up, if the bottle swells up like a soda would if shaken, then you need to let it sit for a few more days. The liquid isn't acidic, nor will it burn you. Keep in mind that a chemical burn from a base can do as much damage as an acid burn. Im telling you this to inform you, not to scare you. Ok, the chemistry lesson over. The liquid looks like lemon juice and smells like musty tide, earthy but clean, your mom would approve. Just a side note if you want to green up your grass put a hand full of epsom salt into a miracle-gro sprayer and water as usual. You can also throw the epsom salt out onto your lawn just before your sprinklers turn on. I’m not sure of the dosing this way, however I have never burned anything using it in the sprayer. The sulfur from the epsom salt will make your grass the envy of the neighborhood. Just for old time sake, one more time, say it with me, THE TONIC!! I love to make fun of life, what is the fun of life if it isn't any fun. Sorry for the large post, let me know what you think |
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25-Mar-2005
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
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I haven't tried any foliar tonics though I have heard good things about using minute doses of acetylsalicylic acid and seaweed extract.
The acetylsalicylic acid mimics salicin and acts as a signal for the plant to boost it's immune response (SAR). I've also heard that seaweed extract can assist with cold tolerance. Cheers, Jim |
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26-Mar-2005
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#4 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
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Hello,
Thank you Malhomme and Bonsainut. I will look into using aspirin (in small dosages) on my trees. I wonder if you added this to a cutting sealant if the salicylic acid would help the tree heal faster? Aspirin readliy dissolves in water so depending on the type of cut seal you use it could be added to the sealant or the cut could be dusted, then the seal could be applied. It's worth looking into. I had no idea who Jerry Baker was, so I did a search on his name and he's a tonic user too!, unfortunately, he also seems to be a fanatic, I may have come on a little creepy with my cultish chant of "the tonic." I will however take your comparison as a compliment. As far as the ammonia (weak acetic acid), the aspirin contians acetic acid (CH3COOH), the Acetyl portion of the salicylic acid. I don't know of anything that can compare to a good beer (there aren't many good beers in my opinion). I look forward to boosting my trees immune systems. This Idea could relieve a lot of headaches when it comes to those who have issues with bugs. Thank you again I appreciate the comments. |
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26-Mar-2005
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#6 |
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bonsaiTALK Master
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 Weak acetic acid is vinegar with a pH of ~2.6; ammonia has a pH of ~11.6. Knowing a little bit of chemistry can be dangerous. |
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28-Mar-2005
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#7 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
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The aspirin tonic can (supposedly) be toxic so it is applied only once per season. The ratio is one Bayer aspirin to one gallon of water, applied as a foliar spray. I first heard of this from the Avant Gardener.
Cheers, Jim Last edited by malhomme : 28-Mar-2005 at 02:36 AM. Reason: To add link |
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28-Mar-2005
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#8 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
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Do'oh!
Thank you for pointing this out. A mix-up like this could be dangerous. I was tired and I should not have posted a response. It's one of those "I should have known better" moments. I went to sleep after I finished the post, the next day I realized my mistake, I should have made time to get to a computer and edit this mistake. I received an Email from BonsaiTalk that Heymikey had responded to my post and also caught my mistake. The result is what you are reading now. This is my excuse and I’m sticking to it! Ammonia and acetic acid are totally different chemicals. Unlike isopropyl alcohol and acetone which are derivatives of acetic acid. High school chemistry students (should) know this stuff. To make this sort mistake is absent-minded on my part. I would like to apologize, this was a rookie mistake and I deserve any negative comments you can dish out. Thank you again Heymikey for pointing this out. If any harm had come of my actions, I would not know how to deal with such negligence. |
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4-May-2005
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#9 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
 
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You hear some wondrous stuff on this forum I must say.
This may sound like I'm kidding, but I'm really not. - "One Bayer Asprin per Gallon of Water, apply once per season." Do you just grind one up? I usually use the Bayer ones anyway - on myself, that is until now. But I only have the dissolvable ones with the Vitamin C complement. Which got met to thinking, and since the term "high school chemistry" had already entered the post... Aspirin = Salicylic Acid ~ Ca(OOCC6H4OCOCH3)2 Vitamin C = Ascorbic Acid ~ C6H8O6 Vitamin C is a known antioxidant as well. Don't really know the PH level in a glass of water in which you've just dissolved your aspirin... But how much can it be when dissolved in one gallon of water. Otherwise I've got no clue, just thinking if your looking for an acidic agent... Am I completely beyond the Pale here?
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Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform. - Mark Twain Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. - Isaak Asimov The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. - Bertrand Russell |
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