Gardening with Wally Richards: Replacing lost minerals and elements

There are 114 natural minerals and elements known to our scientists and these are found in perfect balance in the non polluted blue waters of our oceans.

In the beginning times of our planet, Earth, the first plants to evolve had an abundance of minerals to aid their growth making for a mass mat of vegetation and to grow to heights far greater than their modern relations. (Plus the atmosphere had very high levels of CO2 which is growth fertiliser for plants.)

Much of this massive plant life formed the bases of our fossil Coal of today.

(Oil is not a fossil fuel named incorrectly on purpose and it is being created constantly in the Earth’s mantel…If you don’t believe me do a little research.)

Ice ages in the past added fresh minerals to the earth by the actions of the glaciers grinding rocks to dust.

Over time minerals and elements are used up by plants and erosion taking the rich minerals away from the soil and out to sea.

For plants to be healthy each species requires a range of minerals and elements starting with Nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus as the main three (NPK), then we add in the other important ones such as calcium, sulphur, magnesium, sodium, boron etc.

The best man made fertilisers have about 16 elements which is far short of the possible 114.

I have read that a tomato plant would like 56 different minerals and elements, I don’t know which ones but thats about 40 more than our best man made plant foods.

If we give our plants a large range of minerals and elements into the soil or growing medium then the plant can take up the ones it wants and discards the others it does not need.

One of the fundamental reasons for companion planting is that one plant will use x, y, z elements where its companion uses u, v, w elements while they share the NPK plus other minerals.

When a plant needs a certain element that is not in the soil it will endeavoru, in its internal chemical lab, to convert available elements into substitutes for its needs.

Also in a healthy soil life teeming with all parts/members of the Soil Food Web we find microbes also creating minerals and elements which are then made available to the plants.

One of the great benefits of this process is the creation of Humus.

Humus which can store its own weight in moisture plus carbon and minerals.

Plants growing in a humus rich soil will be very healthy and even weeds will be worthy specimens in your garden.

Chemicals and acids from man made fertilisers, sprays, weed killers and chlorine from tap water; kills soil life making it difficult for plants to live healthy.

Unhealthy plants attract diseases and pests which are really Nature?s cleaners removing the weak.

We keep the sick plants and crops alive by spraying them with chemicals to protect and control the problems.

The plants are fed high doses of fertiliser to force growth while a chemical cocktail is soaked over them.

Then the sick plants lacking in nutritional value (only about 20% of what they should have) are eaten by us or our farm animals.

We and the unfortunate animals that have to consume these sick, chemically saturated plants/grasses also become sick through lack of minerals and elements.

Its even worse for humans as we eat the meat and produce of the sick farm animals.

Ever wondered why our general health has deteriorated over the last 50 odd years?

A point to consider also that as far as I am aware none of the existing horticulture chemical sprays existed 50 years ago.

It was only the beginnings of superphosphate back then.

Buying organic or spray free produce will be of better value to your health than conventional grown food and dairy, but there is even a better way and that is growing as much as you can of your own produce.

By placing the minerals into your soil or growing medium, the food crops you grow will be healthier and far better taste than what you buy.

Just follow the rules, little or no chemical fertilisers, sprays, weed killers or chlorinated water from the tap.

Instead apply the minerals from the Ocean called Ocean Solids; the minerals from prehistoric times called Magic Botanic Liquid (MBL) and the minerals from rocks called Wallys Unlocking your Soil.

Your food crops will be healthier and your roses/plants will be better than ever.

Ocean solids is only applied once a year or at planting time. MBL can be applied once or twice a year as a soil drench and once a fortnight as a spray.

Wallys Unlocking your Soil can be applied in the spring and autumn as a general application and also some every time you plant.

Wallys Unlocking your Soil contains about 80 minerals and elements and is specially selected for its natural energy (paramagnetism), this energy is what gives the soil it’s vitality assisting in the nutrient uptake of plants.

The high silica content (43%) helps in plant formation.

Wallys Unlocking your Soil is blended with Organic 100 liquid fertiliser concentrate made from fish and seaweed, which contributes a further array of minerals, together with microbial stimulates.

These organisms being necessary to hold soil balance, regulate nutrient to the plants, build humus and help detoxify the soil.

Wallys Unlocking your Soil is used at 100 grams per square metre for new plantings.(Note scoop provided is approx 50 grams when filled level.)

Alternatively about a level teaspoon into each planting hole for seedlings or a sprinkling along a row of seeds, with the seeds at planting time.

Larger plants about a level tablespoon in the planting hole.

For existing gardens with plants 100 grams per square metre twice a year (spring and Autumn) for fruit trees, shrubs, vegetable and flower gardens and lawns.

Roses, an application of one to two teaspoons per rose spring and autumn. I have great success using Wallys Unlocking your Soil and would not plant anything without it.

Many gardeners feel the same way and also use MBL regularly reporting that their gardens have never been so good.

If you are not doing so then try it this season, it makes sense to mineralise your gardens.

Extra… Here is an interesting thing I saw in social media you might like to try:

Place a handful of rice into a litre of water then add a tablespoon of baking soda and then a few drops of white vinegar then stir.

The baking soda and vinegar will cause a chemical reaction which likely sheds some goodness off the rice.

Spray the concoction on plants that are a bit poorly to help revive them.

I don’t know where you use white or brown rice and presume brown rice would be the better of the two.

I haven’t tried it but if you have a play with this home made remedy let me know how you got on.

Image credit: Markus Spiske

Products mentioned are from Wallys Range of products and can be found in some garden shops or by Mail Order on www.0800466464.co.nz

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