Calcium Bentonite preparation

Bentonite is just a form of clay. It is used in the oil and gas drilling fields for making drilling mud. Store it in a dry place. Mix it in the soil while it is damp. If it is too wet the bentonite will hydrate and for clumps. Be careful not to over apply, unless you want a sticky mess the consistency of stiff oatmeal.

It is a slow release element that binds with the soil and is not really a "problem fixer". I have used bentonite for a number of years now and add it to my soil mix before planting. Blood/bone meal is another great organic product that will help solve calcium issues, as does oyster shell flour, both of which I also use. Results will only appear 2-3 weeks after application, as it takes this long for the transition between the application to the soil and the use of it by the plant in its new growth. Adding some mycorrihzae to the soil will also boost your plants incredibly. "Mykos" from Xtreme Gardening is what I use, it might be a bit expensive, but it is worth every cent. Since discovering this product a few years ago, there is now no way that I would ever grow without it again, so impressed am I with its results, all this from someone who has been growing for 35+ years, I just wish I had tried it years ago! Initially I thought it was just a "gimmick", but after trying it one year recently, I am now convinced of its benefits - less feeding, improved vigor, increased growth, no health issues, more effective feeding, better yields etc - everything it claims to do, it does! It can be added to the soil at any time of the plants life, but the earlier the better obviously. Another great health booster is malted barley, either ground into flour or steeped in water and applied as a tea. It contains plenty of growth enhancers and promotes cell division. It can also be added to the soil whole as a slow release amendmant, but works best and fastest as either flour or as a tea. Hope this helps, Organoman.

If you like adding in calcium bentonite clay to your soil for your plants, you should do it as a top up every two to three weeks and mix it into the medium before planting. Be careful not to add to much as there are other things in it then just calcium. [(OH)4Si8Al4O20·nH2O] this is montmorillonite the main thing in bentonite clay. check out the composition report on whats in bentonite clay. Not as much calcium as you may think, But an excellent amount of silicon. and a large amount of aluminium. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wilson-Gitari-2/publication/276149845/figure/tbl1/AS:667667396558858@1536195720906/Chemical-composition-of-raw-and-modified-bentonite-clay.png Just release that some clay's are made with sodium vs calcium and their are other options for a full plant supplement of calcium. Ground oyster shell power, Egg shell powder, Diatomaceous Earth. are just a few options. I feel your plants would benefit from a bit of clay and some oyster shells. to keep it natural :) Best of luck and Happy Growing!