A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Organically Speaking... Fireplace ash

My neighbor has a fireplace and keeps his fireplace ash. That is potash isn't it? Could I add some of this to my compost as it is breaking down? I noticed where I added compost to the garden I'm getting great green growth but not so much root growth. Is that what the potash is for the roots?

To make proper potash you would take a gallon jug fill it a quarter of the way the ash then fill the jug with water.Let it set for two days and you see the stuff you dont want rise to the top.Then you remove the stuff from top,and then the stuff on the bottom is what you want its pure pot ash.The easy way to use it is to let the remaining ash dry then mix with your soil.Its super for AVs.

I think, striclty speaking, it all depends on what he was burning in his fire! Potash is a general name for any potassium containing mineral, usually potassium carbonate or potassium hydroxide. In the old days it was made by roasting plants to ashes in earthen pots. Nowadays, the potash that you buy for fertiliser is generally got from the mineral sylvite (pot. chloride).

hey littlelizard that's cool information. I will definitely do that with some. I have an av so now I'll know some of the good stuff it wants in it's soil. About how much of this would you add to say an 8 inch pot? I'm thinking about a teaspoon, maybe less?

I'm not sure how much for a single plant I make a lot because I do my entire garden with it.But I would use very little for a single plant it's very potent.

Maybe this is a crazy question, but can the ashes left from the charcoal BBQ be good, or are we talking poison if it comes in contact with our lovely plants? :)

Most briquettes(sp) are made with chemicals to make them easy to light and other stuff to make them stick together in the briquette form so it's not considered real good. But maybe if you sift it as mentioned above it would be ok? Maybe try it in a pot with a plant that would be easy to replace and see how it does?

Ok stupid question, new to board and blonde, lol, what is AV? Aloe Vera?

Uni

Hi Uni. There are no stupid questions here unless they are unasked ones. AV= African Violet.

The best to use is what people use in there fire places as long as the don't burn newspapers or trash in it.If they only burn word then your good to go.After your fermentation is finished mix with potting soil ,it will lessen the chance of burning your plants.

Throw bones in the fire too.
Their ash is a source of Phosphorous.

Good idea.