Surround WP- kaolin

[RanchoDeluxe]

At the grow shop the other day and came across a bag of this stuff the active ingredient is kaolin. It's OMRI and Washington State Department of AG and....certified. Seems like its designed to take care of any bad critters in the soil.

Anyone ever use this stuff? More curious than anything.

 

[supermanlives]

never heard of it . bet cc does tho. bump

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

In some of the especially nice parts of the town I live in, they sell Kaolin in gas stations to use as a cutting agent for some sort of product or another.

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

Ooops. Apparently that's not what it's used for according to wiki:

"Kaolin is eaten for pleasure or to suppress hunger,[9] a practice known as geophagy. Consumption is greater among women, especially during pregnancy.[17] This practice has also been observed within a small population of African-American women in the Southern United States, especially Georgia.[18] There, the kaolin is called white dirt, chalk or white clay.[18]"

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

Ive not had a chance to use it yet but have been reading a bit about it for disease suppression.

http://web.pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/resourceguide/mfs/07kaolin.php

This material has several modes of activity (Stanley 1998). Kaolin acts as a physical barrier preventing insects from reaching vulnerable plant tissue. It acts as a repellent by creating an unsuitable surface for feeding or egg-laying. The uniform white film may also disrupt the insect’s host finding capability by masking the color of the plant tissue. Furthermore, particles of kaolin act as an irritant to the insect. After landing on a treated surface, particles of kaolin break off and attach to the insect’s body triggering an excessive grooming response that distracts the pest.

Kaolin formulations have also been shown to suppress diseases in greenhouse and field studies (Haggag 2002, Puterka et al. 2000, Glenn et al. 1999), and to kill insects in stored grain (Mostafa and Al Moajel 1991). Labeled products for these purposes are not currently available in the US.
The use of Surround® (a trade name for kaolin clay) can increase overall fruit yields in regions with high light and temperature levels (Puterka et al. 2000). In these situations, it can act as an anti-transpirant, reducing stress on the plant.

Surround® has caused both yield increases and decreases in vegetable trials (Maletta et al. unpublished). In eggplant, it reduced marketable yields and plant growth, while in potato it increased yields of ‘Superior’ but not ‘Norland’ variety, even though it had no effect on potato leafhopper levels.

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Anyone ever use this stuff? More curious than anything

It's widely sold and used by apple & pear growers on the other side of the Cascades. A group of pathogenic fungi collectively called Black Scab (aka Scab Mold, Black Mold, et al) is the bane for orchardists it has to be dealt with and Kaolin clay is a standard material used against these molds.

It is an aluminum silicate so wearing a mask would be a good idea.

The other thing to consider is that it is a clay and if you're familiar with the structure and properties of clay then you probably wouldn't want to spray it anywhere near the flowers that you intend to harvest or process. It's not like a plant-based compound that degrades. Apples & pears go through a water bath prior to packing so it's not an issue.

The specific product you looked at runs $38.00 per 25# for a price comparison.

CC

 

[SeaMaiden]

I use it to protect my plants from scorching, as it's been a very hot summer. As long as it doesn't rain (not much chance of that here) you don't have to continually reapply. I've also used it to help with a difficult cabbage aphid infestation, but have found that insecticidal soap is more effective. I haven't experienced anything with my cannabis for which I think Surround would be an appropriate treatment, including scorch. Hell, when it got *really* hot they all took off like mad, especially those crazy-ass African Sativas I've got going.

Kaolin clay is used for many things, including make-up and paper.

What's the grow-shop guy saying you should use it for?

 

[RanchoDeluxe]

Great info everyone. Since it is a clay I wonder if it would work great as 5% of my soil mix...that dang ole aversion to water that peat provides even at 20% of my mix.

Finally, got myself situated in a new house, my current plants have experienced everything from thrips, low light levels to too much heat. Temps are finally cooling off and it looks as though I'll pay the bills without having to hustle too much. Less than 10% humidity for weeks now is hurting my cloning process. Looks like I should be spraying the inside of the dome a couple few times a day.

The grow shop guy gave me a "huh" and read the back of the bag. I wonder if it would have helped with the high temps. By next summer my rooms will be dialed in and it wont matter. Guessing it must be at the store more for apple and potato growers in my area. One of the best things about my store is that it's not cannabis specific so it's a little easier on my constitution to stop in.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Surround has to be physically washed off vegetables, so I would not use it once bud begins to set. Only on cannabis in vegetative phase.

My cannabis experienced no ill effects from the high heat that other crops, such as cole and some cucurbits, showed, mostly scorching of fruit and leaves. That's where I use Surround, instead of shade cloth.

 

[Morcheeba*]

Bump

Bump

...Since it is a clay I wonder if it would work great as 5% of my soil mix...

me too.........bump


peace

 

[moses wellfleet]

I am wondering if kaolin could be used like bentonite?