Re: copperas/Acidifying soil (was Re: Microsoft alert (Humor))


LMann76543@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 96-09-24 11:02:10 EDT, you write:
> 
> >I checked at the local nursery and the stuff often goes by the name of
> >"Copperas", unless I'm mistaken. Odd, because it has nothing to do with
> >copper as far as I can tell.
> 
> Copperas - sulfates of copper, iron etc, originally 'copper water'.
>   'Copper' was also used to mean a vessel for heating water, in later usage,
> a 'copper' used to heat water might be made of iron...  From Onions'
> dictionary of etymology.
> 
> Linda Mann lmann76543@aol.com

There is no copper in "Copperas" as available from Hi-Yield.  It is
ferrous sulfate.  That is iron chemically bound to sulfur and oxygen
molecules as a salt of iron (like iron "rust").  It is 11% sulfur and
19% iron.  It will acidify the soil as well as add iron to it to help
chlorosis.
I buy it in 15 pound bags. My soil is very alkaline--pH 8 or so.  That's
why we cannot grow Japanese Iris here.  But I have!  Got them from
Ensata Gardens, too.
Hope this is helpful.
-- 
=========================================
Mike Jones    (jonesmic@mail.stlukes.org)
Sioux City, Iowa http://www.siouxlan.com/
U.S.A.        USDA Zone 4b
**************************
     The Loess Hills
"Where IA, NE, & SD Meet"
**************************



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