Re: [CH] Pepper Spray Recipe V7 #331
Cameron Begg (begg.4@osu.edu)
Mon, 09 Apr 2001 09:21:41 -0400
Hi C-H's,
Erich Tucker asked:
>When you "rinse off"
>the plants after application, do you need to worry about the soap solution
>soaking into the soil around the plant?
Yes and no. Done infrequently, with very dilute soap solutions you
will be unlikely to have problems. Soaps are made from organic fatty
acids. You can make it yourself from sodium hydroxide (lye, caustic
soda) and animal or vegetable fat. This soap will ultimately cause a
build up of sodium ions in your soil. The sprays that they sell in
horticultural places contain soaps that are made from POTASSIUM
hydroxide. The potassium ions can be assimilated by the plants and
are much less harmful. Bear in mind also that these sprays are highly
alkaline and so will raise the soil pH. You could follow with a
dilute fertilizer designed for acid loving plants to correct this.
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Regards, Cameron.