Hey all, just wondering what everyone uses as an organic source of calcium and sulfur?

I see Gypsum is common but needs to be mixed into the soil?

Can Gypsum be brewed into a organic tea, or foliar fed?
If not, is there anything organic that can be?

Thank you.

You're right that Gypsum is an organic source of Calcium and Sulfur. It is used in gardening for lawns and trees as an amendment to improve drainage and as a source Ca and S.

However Cannabis needs Ca as a Minor nute and S is a Micronute which is available in compost and most fertilizers. Adding large amounts of Sulfur to your soil mix can lock out other nutes.

It improves the drainage by causing fine particles to clump together that have to be broken up by aeration. So adding it to a potted plant will cause the pot to turn into a lump.

Cannabis does need alot of Calcium and Magnesium which Dolomite lime is composed. I'd advise using D.Lime as a source of these minerals and it stabilizes the pH too!

[Pimpslapped]

Gypsum, if I remember right, also works as an anti-caking agent. So it can also benefit by keeping the surface of your soil from forming a hard, water repelling crust.

[Pimpslapped]

And very sorry smelltheflowers, completely ignored half your post there.

I don't use gypsum myself, no. So far I haven't found myself suffering noticeably from lack of sulfur. Or calcium, for that matter. I am using D. Lime in my soil, also use a bit of fish goo tea, which I believe does contain some trace sulfur... that seems to fit the bill.

I am going to be getting some gypsum next time I come across it... I think it would help improve my soil texture some.

[3BM]

We are missing something very important about Gypsum here, though I completely agree with what has been said already. Gypsum will acidify a mix over time. The Sulfur will combine to form sulfuric acid as it breaks down, which will lower the pH of your mix. Gypsum is used in clay soils to lower their commonly high pH and will act like a sand to loosen the clay particles. In door you should add it sparingly, and only if you really understand the ins and outs of hand crafted soil. Dolomitic lime is definitely a better source of Ca than gypsum, in general, since it maintains the proper Ca/Mg ratio.

Well, I am trying to stick to organics...

Going to try and use earth juice grow, bloom, and microblast.

But the microblast lacks sulfur and calcium.

What can I use as an organic source of sulfur and calcium? I want to make it into a tea

I know the epsom salts can be used for a mag boost, but need some of that calcium too

My tap water has calcium but is that enough?

[SilverSurfer_OG]

Fish emulsion has sulfur and Dolomite lime for calcium but not sure if it works well in a tes...

[PauliBhoy]

Originally Posted by 3BM

We are missing something very important about Gypsum here, though I completely agree with what has been said already. Gypsum will acidify a mix over time. The Sulfur will combine to form sulfuric acid as it breaks down, which will lower the pH of your mix. Gypsum is used in clay soils to lower their commonly high pH and will act like a sand to loosen the clay particles. In door you should add it sparingly, and only if you really understand the ins and outs of hand crafted soil. Dolomitic lime is definitely a better source of Ca than gypsum, in general, since it maintains the proper Ca/Mg ratio.

Gypsum will not acidify soil over time. The sulfate ion from gypsum will have zero effect on soil pH.

You're confusing elemental sulfur - S - with sulfate - SO4 - there is a big difference

[NWNR]

Originally Posted by Guest

What can I use as an organic source of sulfur and calcium? I want to make it into a tea

I know the epsom salts can be used for a mag boost, but need some of that calcium too

Lots of things have calcium in it. Bone meal, fish bone meal, crustacean shells (clam/oyster/shrimp/crab/snails etc.), egg shells, dolomite.

I personally save all my egg shells and grind them into a powder, store them, and use as needed. They definitely add up and you can get friends and family saving them for you as well. Better then throwing them away.

I have also foraged clam shells (and a few random other shells) along the coast if you are near those areas.


Organic calcium powder and trace minerals. Foraged clam shells from Seaside Oregon, twice washed, dried, crushed, then blended into powder via magic bullet (goodwill $7). It was a process, but ended with a great feeling and great product.

I would use these sources as top dressing or mixed in the soil, but if you are looking to make teas with it, the more fine the material is the better.

[truck]

Just found this information

Sulfate-Sulfur is the only form of S the plant can utilize.
Elemental S is dependent upon time, temperature and moisture to be available to the plant.
Sulfate-Sulfur will not acidify the soil...