Natural Insecticide
Insect killer
Dating back to 1947, several studies have been conducted showing the benefits from activated charcoals in protecting seeds, seedlings, and crops from some organic pesticides and from the effects of herbicides applied to the soil to inhibit weed growth.
One study demonstrated that, as an insecticide, powdered charcoal is a more potent deterrent to the Tribolium castenum beetle, than are powdered clays. Commonly known as the Red and Confused flour beetles, these pests attack stored grain products such as flour, cereals, meal, crackers, beans, spices, pasta, cake mix, dried pet food, dried flowers, chocolate, nuts, seeds, and even dried museum specimens.
In fact, these beetles are considered two of the most damaging pests of stored products in the home and in grocery stores. It is speculated that the superior bleaching and desiccating properties of powdered charcoals accounts for its success in killing these pests.
CharcoalRemedies.com p. 191
Other Gardening Tips
Seed Viability
In experiments to determine the effect of various containers, seed dressings and dessicants on the viability of Roselle (tropical African Hibiscus) seed, results showed that charcoal was a better desiccant than toasted rice and the former improved the viability and vigor of seeds stored in gourds and earthen pots.
G. Nyarko, H. Bayor, J. Craigon, I.A. Suleimana; The Effect of Container Types, Seed Dressings and Desiccants on the Viability and Vigour of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L. var. sabdariffa) Seeds, Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, Vol 9-4 p.593-597, 2006
Cane cuttings
Cut cane-like stems into sections containing one or two eyes, or nodes. Dust ends with fungicide or activated charcoal. Allow to dry several hours. Lay horizontally with about half of the cutting below the media surface, eye facing upward. Cane cuttings are usually potted when roots and new shoots appear, but new shoots from dracaena and croton are often cut off and rerooted in sand.
To learn more how charcoal can serve you in your garden or on your farm we recommend the book: CharcoalRemedies.com The Complete Handbook of Medicinal Charcoal & Its Applications.
