Bas alt flour - application in horticulture

Bas alt flouris a natural product made by grinding bas alt rock. Traditionally, it is used as a fertilizer for various types of crops, both for ornamental, fruit and vegetable plants. However, not everyone knows thatbas alt meal is a great ecological way to treat aphids , snails and plant diseases. It is also worth addingbas alt flour to the compostto improve its properties and speed up composting. Learn about 3 interestingbas alt flour applicationsthat every gardener should know about!

Bas alt meal for aphids, snails, lawn moss and compost

Information on the possibility of using bas alt flour in gardening has been prepared for you by Rafał Okułowicz, the publisher of PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl and an avid promoter of ecological and natural methods of growing plants. See how much you can gain by using ordinary flour!

What is bas alt flour and what is its composition?

Bas alt flour is made by grinding bas alt rock , which in its composition contains a number of necessary macro- and microelements necessary for plants to live. It is therefore a product of natural origin and can be used in organic farming.
The most important component of bas alt flour is silicon oxide(SiO₂), the bas alt flour of which contains 40 to 50%.Silicon has a very positive effect on plants, strengthening them and making them resistant to diseases(for the same reason, horsetail preparations are recommended for use in the garden, which are also a source of silicon).

Otherimportant ingredients of bas alt flour are : magnesium oxide (MgO) and calcium oxide (CaO), the flour may contain from about 8-18% and potassium oxide (K₂O) , of which we can find about 2% in the meal. All these oxides contribute toalkaline pH of bas alt flour
Depending on the origin, bas alt flour may also contain aluminum and potassium oxides.In addition to the most important ingredients of bas alt flour, you should also pay attention to the we alth of microelements , such as: manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), boron ( B), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se). Hardly any fertilizer has such a rich composition of micronutrients, which is extremely helpful in fertilizing heavily exploited and infertile soils.If your plants grow poorly and often get sick, and you have not used bas alt flour so far, do it. You will see a huge difference in the quality of the crops and the size of the harvested crop!

Note!
Bas alt meals may differ in composition depending on their source of origin.Therefore, make sure thecomposition of the flour you buyis, and in particular whether it does not contain too much heavy metals. It is good if the meal producer presents test results confirming the low content of heavy metals.

Since bas alt flour has such a rich composition, it is worth learning how to use it in the garden to bring the most benefits to our plants!

Bas alt flour as fertilizer

The use of bas alt flour as a fertilizeris very versatile. It is suitable for fertilizing ornamental plants, fruit trees and shrubs, and vegetables. It can be used in fields, in the garden, in greenhouse crops, as well as for fertilizing potted plants. Usually it is applied by sprinkling and mixing it with the top layer of earth.Bas alt flour can also be added to other fertilizers , in particular compost, manure and slurry, which we'll cover in more detail in a moment.
What is very important,when using bas alt flour, there is no risk of over-fertilization , because the minerals from the flour are released very slowly, naturally and only when the plants need them. However, we can count on quick soil fertilization, improvement of its structure and development of beneficial soil microorganisms.
As it does not contain nitrogen,bas alt flour is an excellent autumn fertilizerThe silica, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium contained in the bas alt flour will strengthen the plants and help them prepare for winter, and they will also increase their frost resistance. At the same time, the lack of nitrogen will prevent plants from being unnecessarily stimulated to grow in autumn. Young, this year's branches of trees and shrubs will become lignified and the plants will go into winter dormancy according to the rhythm of nature.

Bas alt flour is a great addition to garden soil

It is worth knowing, however, thatbas alt flour has a slightly alkaline pH , so it has a slightly deacidifying effect on the soil.Therefore, it should not be used for extremely acidophilic plants, such as blueberry or rhododendrons. On the other hand,bas alt flour will be perfect for fertilizing lawns with moss , because the most common reason for the appearance of moss on the lawn is too acidic soil. Bas alt flour with a slightly alkaline pH will therefore supportdeacidification of the ground under the lawnand removal of moss.

Bas alt flour
Fig. depositphotos.com

How to use bas alt flour? Recommended dosage

The recommended dosage of bas alt flourdepends on the quality of the soil and the type of crop.
During the first application, especially on poorly fertile soils,is recommended dosage of bas alt flourin the amount of 1.5 - 3 kg per 10m². It is mixed with the topsoil before planting the plants. In the same amount, it is worth using bas alt flour before setting up a lawn.
When planting fruit trees and shrubs,bas alt flour can be used to cover the holes for planted fruit plantsFor this purpose, mix the soil dug out of the hole with bas alt flour and cover the hole with the planted plant with this mixture .
In fertile soils or annually fertilized with bas alt flour, the amount of flour used can be reduced to as little as 2-3 kg per 100m². Ifis used to fertilize the already growingplants, it should be sprinkled on the ground between the plants and rake in order to mix it shallowly with the soil. Some plants, such as strawberries, can be sprinkled entirely with bas alt flour.
When planting potted plants,you can put one heaped tablespoon ofbas alt flour into a medium-sized pot and mix it with the soil. Such an enriched substrate will be perfect for the cultivation of balcony flowers!

Remember!
1.Rock meal minerals release very slowly.Thereforethere is no risk of over-fertilization when using bas alt flour
2.An important advantage of bas alt flour isno toxicity to humans , animals and aquatic organismsWe can therefore use it in the garden without any worries.
3.Bas alt flouris not subject to leaching by groundwaterThanks to this, fertilizing plants with bas alt flour does not harm the environment.

Bas alt meal for compost and slurries

Bas alt flour as a fertilizer of natural originis recommended especially in ecological crops, as well as for use in amateur crops in home gardens and allotments. It perfectly complements organic fertilizers such as: biohumus, manure or compost, interacting with the beneficial microorganisms present in these fertilizers. And sobas alt flour added to manure or liquid manureneutralizes the unpleasant smell of these fertilizers by binding ammonia, and at the same time deacidifies them and enriches them with minerals.That is why it is worth adding a small amount of bas alt flour, e.g. to the nettle slurry.Bas alt flour added to the compoststimulates the growth of aerobic microorganisms. In this way, it supports the composting process and aerates the compost.
AHow much bas alt flour should be added to the compost ? The doses recommended in ecological gardening guides are usually 5-7 kg of bas alt flour per 100 kg of compost.

Bas alt flour is a great addition to liquid manure
Fig. depositphotos.com

Bas alt meal for aphids

The use of bas alt flour as a fertilizer is the best known and widely practiced. However, it is worth knowing thatbas alt flour also helps in combating plant pests!
Here we come to the information that inspired me to write a whole article on bas alt flour. Well, one of the readers of our guide, Ms Agata, wrote an e-mail to me in which she stated this method for aphids:
"I sprinkle the tops of the plants gently with bas alt flour. The aphids suffocate and fall. The flour also contains silicon which strengthens the plants. I recommend this method of getting rid of pests!

"

Sprinkling vegetables with bas alt flour prevents pest attacks
Fig. depositphotos.com

And indeed -bas alt meal is an excellent method for aphids , non-toxic to plants and safe for humans. Dust from the meal clogs the air passages on the skin of insects and causes them to suffocate. In the case of potted and balcony plants, it is enough to gently sprinkle them. In the case of garden crops,plants are sprinkled with bas alt flourin the amount of 1-2 kg of flour per 100m² of cultivation.
In the period of high pest risk and the likelihood of further aphid raids,bas alt flour dusting can be repeated once a week .

Good to knowPlants are best dusted with bas alt flour in the morning, when they are damp with dew (then the flour adheres better to the leaves).However, you should avoid windy days and rainfall, which will quickly wash the flour off the plants. Be sure to wear a dust mask when dusting.

Althoughdusting plants with bas alt flour against pestsis considered an ecological method, but it has one drawback - beneficial insects can also die from the flour. Therefore, this procedure should be carried out carefully and only in periods when there are no bees on the plants.

Bas alt meal for snails

In addition to fighting aphids, it is also worth usingbas alt flour to protect against snailsFor this purpose, the flower beds are sprinkled with flour around, creating a barrier that is difficult for snails to overcome. Snails avoid such a barrier, because the dusty flour sticks to their bodies and makes it difficult for them to move. The copper content in the bas alt flour is probably also important. Well-known ecological method against snails is to create barriers of copper tape, because snails stay away from copper.
You can alsoagainst snails sprinkle individual plants or rows of plants with flourUnfortunately, similarly to building barriers around plants with flour, it is effective only until the next rainfall. But even when it rains, nothing is lost! The flour will soak up the ground and provide it with valuable minerals: -)

Sprinkling plants with bas alt flour against aphids and snails
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl

Bas alt flour in plant protection against diseases

As in the fight against pests,bas alt flour helps to limit the development of plant diseasesAgainst fungal diseases, bas alt flour is sprayed on plants in the same way as against pests. The silica contained in the flour immunizes plants, helping to fight diseases such as: potato blight, gray mold, powdery and downy mildew and many other fungal diseases.

Bas alt flour for seed treatment

Bas alt flour can also be used to treat seeds, bulbs and roots of transplanted biennial and perennial plants (useful e.g. when planting seedlings). The seeds are coated in flour a few days before sowing. Used in this waybas alt flour is an excellent natural seed dressing , protecting crops against diseases and pests. It is also an excellent starter fertilizer for germinating seedlings.

What bas alt flour to buy?

Along with the growing popularity of the use of bas alt flour in gardens, shops have appeareddifferent versions of bas alt flourThis is mainly due to the fact that some gardeners do not like dust when fertilizing, stains hands and clothes. Fortunately, there are solutions to this!

1. Traditional Bas alt Flour

It is a ground bas alt rock sold in plastic bags. It is a dusty form of flour, the most universal, suitable for all the applications described in this article.

2. Bas alt flour in a s alt shaker

" It is a traditional, dusty bas alt flour sold in a convenient package in the form of a s alt shaker. To use the flour, simply fold back the lid and sprinkle the flour directly from the packaging. Appropriately sized holes ensure convenient sprinkling of bas alt flour on the ground or plants. This form is ideal for fertilizing small areas (e.g. potted plants, balcony plants, single vegetable beds), sprinkling soil around plants against snails and dusting plants against pests. On the website of our store you can see photos of how sprinkling s alt from a s alt shaker looks like. "

3. Granulated bas alt flour

This flour looks like other granular fertilizers. It is ideal for fertilizing vegetable beds, flower beds, lawn and larger areas of the garden.The granular form ensures that the flour does not dust and is not blown away by the wind. It can be fertilized with a fertilizer drill or scattered by hand. However, the granulate is not suitable for sprinkling against snails or sprinkling plants against pests.

I hope that thebenefits of bas alt flour and the multitude of its usesin horticulture presented in this article will convince even the greatest skeptics to use the potential of this fertilizer. In my opinion, bas alt flour, known mainly to fans of organic farming, is one of the most underrated products for fertilization and plant protection. Meanwhile, it is relatively cheap, which allows even the most frugal gardeners to take advantage of its advantages.

More proven recipes!

If you are interested in this articleand want to use natural methods of garden care, read our e-book DO IT DIFFERENTLY! Smart solutions from Mother Nature, which have saved many gardener, whom wehave prepared for people like you !
You will find in itlots of recipes for organic fertilizers and spraying , prepared on the basis of simple substances available in every home, as well as weeds and herbs.

• Sometimes it is enough to add some baking soda, vinegar or gray soap to the water to prepare a perfect spray against pests in less than a minuteon plants;
• If you have garlic or onion in your kitchen,you can spray against plant diseases in a few moments ;
• By using unwanted weeds you can gethuge amounts of fertilizer for free .

This e-book will show you how to care for your garden in a natural way, while saving time and money: -)