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Water Retentive Products by Lorraine Cavanagh. Published November 2012
There are three products:
1. Bio Humus: A substrate composed of 90% organic material and 10% natural silicates with a very high natural mineral content. It enhances the long-term growth of the roots and allows the plant to absorb 90% of the water given by irrigation/rain, reducing losses by evaporation and rapid absorption into hot, dry ground. At the same time it channels better absorption of nutrients. It is extremely beneficial in dry soils, nutrient poor soils, and in desert-like climates. It even enables growth in saline conditions.
Bio Humus is applied once only for new plantings. Dry it resembles dark compost and becomes gel-like when wet. It is sediment extracted from glacial lakes, formed over thousands of years by the decomposition of algae, plankton and reeds with extraordinary water retentive properties. These same lakes are silting up because of an abundance of the material, so removing it is, in fact, beneficial to the environment and gives us gardeners a remarkable material too. Where dredging has taken place, native fish are returned to the new increased depth of water to restore the natural balance.
It is available in 25 litre sacks which will retail at €25 but that is sufficient for planting 12 trees; thus approx. €2 a tree – a one-off application that will carry on functioning in the soil for up to 10 years. The saving in water is generally 50%. Work it out!
This important product is currently in use on mango trees in the south of Spain.
2. Humate Extract: a 100% organic liquid concentrate derived from Bio Humus. It stimulates the development of beneficial fungi and root growth to such an extent that the plants become much more self-sufficient. It can be applied to new/existing plantings either by foliar spray or through radicular irrigation. It complements Bio-Humus.
It is available in 2 litre pots, priced at €70 but – wait for this – the dilution rate is 1:1000 applied by foliar spray or 1:10,000 in the water system. Now also available in 50 ml.botles retailing at €12. It will achieve results at least as good as those of chemical fertilisers but at much less cost and no contamination of crops or soil. It need only be applied once a month.
3. Mycor Glomus: 100% organic material based on six strains of fungi. These fungi live on the roots of plants forming a symbiotic relationship, one that is mutually beneficial; if the plant thrives, the fungi thrive so they look after each other. They have been shown to increase root growth up to seven times, thus reducing the watering and feeding requirements significantly. Ground tests in Kuwait have been so successful that a production plant is being opened up in the Arab Emirates to meet demand. The huge increase in root growth makes this product eminently suitable for anti-erosion plantings and ground stabilising.
It comes in a powder form to be sprinkled onto the roots before planting or it can be injected, in paste form, into the roots of existing plantings.
It is available in 2 litre pots, priced at €70 , 40ml. per tree. A one-off application. Now also available in pots of 200 ml,
sufficient for 5 trees - ideal for gardeners.
So why haven’t you heard of these new products? Simply because we are the first Garden Centre to carry them and proud to be so. Saving you money and saving our earth. Call and see us for more information.
We now have these important products available in smaller packaging designed for gardeners.
At the Garden Centre, we are constantly searching out new and different plants for you but, also, exciting new products and, especially, organic ones. We think we’ve found a gem!
For Andalucian gardeners, water is always the biggest problem – the hours we have to spend watering and the cost of it. Sadly it isn’t going to get better – desertification is with us. But we have three new products that are going to cut down on watering time and costs and give you improved crops too. Let me explain.
These organic and ecological products enhance the performance of plants but consume fewer natural resources. Water consumption is reduced by, at least, 50%; the use of fertiliser is reduced by 50%; there is a 15% - 25% improvement in yields – fruit, veg or flowers - and the mortality rate of plants and trees is reduced. All this with minimal irrigation. You might think it sounds too good to be true but field tests in Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait and currently in Morocco and Spain are bringing in confirmation of these claims on all fronts.