Copper in plants

Hi all,

I am a graphic design student working on a project for the museum of garden history. Myself and a work partner have been working on plans for a new donations box for the museum - but our idea all hinges on one critical factor: how copper reacts with plants.

We know that copper sulphate is used as a funghicide, and helps seedlings in the early stages of growth by protecting them from damping off. But we need to know what happen if there was a high copper content in the soil where a normal plant grows. We are planning to use Bux for the project, so we would appreciate it very much if anyone can tell us how Bux copes in a copper rich soil.

Any other information on the matter would be massively appreciated.

Thanks

Charlie

 

Hi Charlie - I'm assuming you mean Box.

English Box (Latin name Buxus sempervirens) is a small native British tree, it thrives naturally on chalk downland or limestone soil. Slow growing and small leaved it is particularly usefull for topiary or formal hedges. There are also golden leaved varieties.

I cant find anything relating to copper contamination and Box but if your structures are properly stabilised and not subject to sulpherous fumes you shouldn't get too much copper leaching into the soil. Otherwize go for bronze, (Typically 60%Copper/40%tin alloy or thereby, possibly with some other additions to aid casting and working) that will not corode but will develop a rich patina over time and really compliment the greens of the foliage.

Yes, bronze alloy is more expensive than copper but will outlast copper and if it's investment cast it can reproduce the finest of details.