Homemade potash for a tropical organic garden (molasses)

Many of the ordinarily lush green leaves of my pommecythere plant were turning yellow with burnt-looking tips at an alarming rate. Without much online information on pommecythere and knowing that I had not yet replenished the compost, I decided the discolorations were symptomatic of a potassium deficiency.


Potassium deficiency on my dwarf pommecythere plant

Potassium Deficiency
Potassium deficiency is identifiable by yellowing of the leaves (called chlorosis) and brown scorching and curling of leaf tips. To remedy this organically, I used blackstrap molasses (unsulphered) in water. (Molasses is also a greate ingredient in compost teas).


Ingredients for making organic potash:

• 1 to 3 tbsp  blackstrap molasses (unsulphered) from sugar canes

The molasses must be unsulphered. Outside of being a rich source of potash (a term for fertiliser forms of potassium), molasses encourages beneficial microbial activity in the soil. However, sulphur is added to some forms of molasses as a preservative. As a preservative, sulphur kills microorganisms that are useful in a tropical organic garden.

• 1 gallon water

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Instructions for using organic molasses fertilizer:

1. Mix the ingredients and drench the soil.
2. If molasses is used in a compost tea, the compost tea may be either sprayed directly onto the leaves or into the soil.
3. If you have banana peels, you can combine the molasses with blended banana peels.

Other benefits of molasses as an organic fertilizer:
Apart from being a rich source of potassium for a tropical organic garden, molasses also offers the following benefits.

• iron
• micronutrients that include many trace minerals from the original sugar cane
• increases beneficial microbial activity
• increases resistence to pest attack and disease

Other natural forms of potash for my tropical organic garden:

• Banana peels

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Homemade potash for a tropical organic garden (banana peels)

Uses & Benefits:
To resolve potassium deficiencies in a tropical organic garden. Potassium stimulates plant growth, increases protein production, increases the efficient use of water and increases resistance to disease and insects.

What you need to make potash with banana peels:

• Banana peels
• a plastic bag
• a freezer (optional)
• a blender

Instructions for making potash with banana peels:

1. If you want to make a large batch, collect banana peels in a plastic bag in a freezer until you are satisfied with the volume.
2. Blend the banana peels with water at a ratio of 1 part banana peels to 2-3 parts water
3. You may combine this recipe with the homemade molasses potash recipe (Molasses is another natural rich source of potassium)
4. Pour the mixture over the soil

Observations:
I have found that the lazy approach of tossing banana peels around the roots can attract rats. However, this method has not created such problems. I also find myself trying to work the potash into the soil very gently. BTW, I am generally a no-till gardener and will work in the mixture only very gently to avoid disruption to the soil's ecosystem.



Potassium deficiency (see what healthy leaves look like below)

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Healthy green leaves before potassium deficiency