MSN_091919

14 | September 19, 2019 | Malibu surfside news sound off
malibusurfsidenews.com
Don’t Panic, It’s Organic
Taking the proactive path to soil care
Andy Lopez
Invisible Gardener
Contributing Columnist
From early childhood,
we are taught that we
can take something
to make things better.
All we want is to feel
better for now, and, therefore,
we also want to control
a plant disease for now
or kill off those pesky ants
for now. All of these things
are temporary and do not
address the real cause.
They are the effects. We do
not know the law of cause
and effect, and so we see
things and then respond to
them — much like how we
only go to the dentist when
it hurts.
I heard about a study
that found that men only
bought new shoes when
their old shoes break. TV
advertisements say you can
continue eating whatever
you want as long as you
take these pills.
I have never been one to
follow the crowd. Whenever
I was told something,
I automatically questioned
it. I had many reasons for
doing so, but the main
reason was that what I was
told was usually wrong!
It was apparent to me as a
kid, and then when I got
out of the service, being
someone who likes to
make things grow, I asked
myself why they grow so
well. Each time I come
back to the soil.
Recently, a gardener
asked me what to spray a
hibiscus with for whiteflies.
He said he had tried
everything organic that he
could find, and still had
whiteflies, probably even
worse than before!
The usual response that
I give to such questions
is inquiring as to what is
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being used to fertilize the
plant. What are you doing
for the soil? Are you using
compost, and do you use
rock dust?
Most gardeners, such as
this one, would answer no
to both compost and rock
dust. Most would not even
remember what type of
organic fertilizer they were
using.
The hibiscus needs
a slightly acidic soil; it
grows best at 6.5 to 6.8
pH. That also happens to
be the best pH level for
certain types of microbial
life that the hibiscus needs
to process its mineral
requirements.
It is the microbials that
live on the root hairs of the
hibiscus and other plants
that process the available
trace minerals and turn it
into a nutritional resource.
This process of remineralization
of the soil takes
time. It was meant to take
time, just like the seasons
have their time, the microbial
life also has its time to
make this process happen.
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It takes time to dissolve the
various trace minerals. It
takes time to convert them
into a solvent that can then
be passed on to the plants
via root hairs. It takes time
for the minerals to travel
out and cover the whole
plant or tree body.
I try to teach that there
is always a short-term
solution and a long-term
solution. If you only deal
with the short term, while
you may get some immediate
gratification, it will not
last long.
In terms of pest and
disease control in plants
— say, like controlling
whiteflies on hibiscus — if
the short term is getting
shorter and shorter, it will
eventually not work at
all. That tells me that the
long-term solution needs
to begin. The long-term
solution to whitefly control
is healthy soil of the right
pH level, with the right
combination of microbial
life and trace minerals.
So, the first thing I would
do is make sure that the
hibiscus is getting all of its
minerals. Make sure it gets
all the necessary nutrients.
Poet’s Corner
This is best done via foliar
applications and not soil
applications. Any soil applications
will be a waste if it
is not addressing the proper
issue: that of microbial life
present in the soil.
The short-term solutions
should provide the trace
mineral along with proper
sources of nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium,
without further damaging
the soil and or the plant.
I do not prescribe to standard
methods of treatment.
So, for whiteflies, one can
use any number of shortterm
applications: garlic,
cold brew coffee, Safer
soap, tea and Dr. Bronner’s
soaps, to name a few. If appropriately
used, these will
kill any whitefly. I would
use small amounts.
Being proactive means
being involved. Reduce
and eliminate all toxins
being put into the soil. This
means chemical fertilizers,
which destroy all of the
beneficial microbials. What
this is all about is allowing
the microbials to live a full,
healthy, productive life.
What they do best is provide
all plants, trees, birds,
bees and insects with a living
environment in which
everything living beings
need to thrive is there.
Keeping this environment
healthy also benefits
us. Everything we eat and
touch affects us. The air
we breathe, the water we
drink, the food we eat —
all are dependent on this
healthy environment. As
a soil healer, I will do
whatever it takes to keep
my soil happy and healthy.
I understand that trees get
sick because the soil is
sick. All diseases start in
the soil.
Understanding this is
a major step in having
healthy beings living a full
life without diseases and
pests.
With our current climate
crisis, we are short on
time. The healing process
must be proactive. Start
in your own environment,
and it will affect the world.
Take the best care of your
soil that you can and she
will take care of you!
Any questions? Email me at
andylopez@invisiblegardener.
com.
How to make the world a better place
Jacqueline Craven, Malibu resident
Smile a lot and greet each day with joy
and thanks
Love a lot, hug and share the joy
Cherish the earth and know that soil is
not dirt,
but filled with life and nourishment
Give a lot of time and listening
Be here now, embrace each moment as
a gift
When life gets tough, accept the lesson
Learn from adversity and live with
love.
Want to submit a poem to the Surfside?
Email Editor Lauren Coughlin at lauren@
malibusurfsidenews.com.