Rock Dust

very good points ... I will feed 3 with the compost brew, 2 with miracle gro slow release granules and one with nothing except tap water

I will bump this thread when I start ... does not help starting now, as it has to be done in spring/summer during the growing season

I will also try with several of the same tomato plants and see what happens

 

Hiya *dim*.

I wasn't suggesting it doesn't work. All I was saying was that it makes a big difference if one can provide an environment for a plant to flourish. Light and warmth must be huge factors, I think. I'm a 'traditional' gardener, that is to say, plenty of muck and water. So, far, it's worked well for me, indeed I've often been surprised by my produce. Obviously, to produce world beating plants requires a LOT of knowledge and experience, both of which I lack. It's just that I find it hard to believe that there's this 'miracle' to producing outstanding results. If Rock Dust is so good, why isn't everyone using it by now?
Anyway, I haven't tried it, so I can't knock it. I'll be VERY interested to know how you get on with it. Interesting thread....

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Dim - I would be most interested in your experiment. I feel that it is one of the things that this forum should be doing. viz collaborating and exchanging info on growing.

I am very tempted to try the rock dust myself. Did you get yours from the link you gave - I can't see how much the postage was. But I see Harrod are selling 20kg for £14.95 + £4.95 p&p. ie £20 including postage. That's not an unreasonable sum even if it doesn't work. Many people will pay that for a plant that will probably be dead within a couple of months. :D

However, as I don't grow veg, I would want to use it in pots growing Cannas or Echiums, ie plants that benefit by being large. I would welcome Jim's comments on how to use it in pots, which are being heavily fed.

 

Surely then, it follows that you should not praise something until you have bothered to try it too?

That aside, I'm fairly certain that feed of any sort is better than none at all, but what does confuse me is one bloke in alaska is selling revolutionary plant food whilst the multi million pound plant food companies we all know appear to be just sitting back and doing nothing. Surely these companies are under threat from the Alaskan guy?

I'm NOT knocking the guy (or anyone for that matter) or the company in Scotland that sells the rock dust either, but like others here I'm confused why the rock dust or alaskan tea is not more widespread..or indeed why the large plant food companies are not marketing it too.

I too make my own simple brews just by steeping in water things like nettles, comfrey and manure in sacks...and with good results too. And I'm also conducting my own research into fertilising, although that is in a very heath robinson way at present and mostly educational.

I'll keep an open mind about it and await your results from testing.

Steve...

 

we have just spotted rock dust in B&Q called Verve for £6 (10kg)

 

Thats bittersweet.

 

In symphony with the thread too

 

I can change, but i'm here in my mode

 

Anyway, back to the thread,

Spotted Rockdust eh Joolz, nice one

 

I think verve is a branding name, I was in B&Q today and verve was flashed on lots of products.

Steve...

 

went to B&Q this morning .... bought a few bags of the Verve Rockdust (£5.98/10 kg bag)

also managed o get a Sarcocca confucis (a fairly good size for £5.98) .... had a close look at the other plants/shrubs and there was not much else that interested me

a few small Trachycarpus fortunei and Chamaerops Humilis palms for 1/2 price (worked out to approx £5 each, but gave that a miss, as I thought I'd nip over to Homebase and see what was available

the Homebase in Cambridge has closed the garden centre as they are doing some renovations .... (glass doors were shut) there was nothing happening, so asked the manager if I could have a quick look and perhaps buy one or 2 items ....

he said no, as there was a forklift in the garden centre .... told him that the forklift was switched off and there was no-one in the garden centre .... he gave me a blank stare, so I said no probs

 

i swear i miss posts the first time round on some threads
it was only by chance i was reading this thread the night before i spotted it in B&Q so with no further posts i thought id mention it x ....let me know if its worth buying some :D x

 

You could have asked for the keys and had a mobile browse dim:yess:

 

added some rockdust to some shrubs/plants yesterday .... will wait and see if it makes any difference

several huechera are in the garden .... they were all planted at the same time, and are the same species and same size .... I have added some rockdust to some, and not to the others (that are in the exact same location) .... I will not add any other fertilizer to these and will water the exact same amount

will report back in a few weeks with photos if it does indeed make any difference

searched google, and seems that many cannabis growers speak very highly of rockdust on their forums and many have tested for several months

found these clips on youtube:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=163n2n7Bm5I[/url]

 

Interesting vids Dim . It sounds like amazing stuff - you just have to try it don't you