Vulgo enim dicitur: Iucunde acti labores.

I had a lil play a couple of weeks back where I wanted to understand what gets the old waxy stuff shifting and did some initial variants which then intrigued me enough to do it again but under a more controlled methodology....
So... source was the last of the most hydrophobic soil sample I had from a well known West London Poa Paradise...
Originally taken early March and split into 3 horizons, this is last from top 60mm

From this 1 base sample it was split into 6 equal sub samples of 60mls each.




First is to remain Air Dried as is as the Control, next one to be flushed with just water, then a Citric Acid flush, a Chlorine Flush and the ol Brake Cleaner again to recheck its effect. Last one was a 'spare' so I just observed how it interacted with water.

60mls of soil in each one, 10mls of Citric Acid and Chlorine Shock in 100mls of water each.
Stage 1 - Each sample wetted up and stirred for 5 minutes until soil fully coated and soaked then placed on a gauze in a funnel to be flushed through with 400ml of water.

So here is just some neat 100% H2O

 Next we have the ol Citric Acid, 10mls dissolved into 100mls of solution

 Then we had the Chlorine Shock again, 10mls into 100mls of Flush

 And finally the Brake Cleaner, OK it wasn't 100mls soak, much more difficult to get an even initial volume so just soaked it and stirred until all cover before the 'flush'

 So this is them Flushed out, stage 2 is to let them naturally Air Dry then repeat the Timed Droplet Test

H2O

 Citric Acid

 Chlorine

 Solvent

A noticeable amount of flush for all bar the solvent... interestingly this actually seems it glues more smoother tight than it shifts... Hhhmmmmm I wonder...

And finally the 'spare' sample, a crap video of it being wetted and then agitated to show how much this stuff loves water... not

Here's the wet

And the agitate

OK my apologies.... it the seems that the

Failed  on this occasion... Tsk another call to Customer Services...

Right..... See you when they are dry...

Festina lente.

A little catch up with our 'friends'

Again as totally 'bad science' dictates I am 'evolving' the method slightly mainly because I am hitting these so hard on OD I do not think I will have any cores left in 6 weeks to compare... time for a little rethink


















So this week they are getting a little R & R, a spruce up and just monitoring their moisture take up rather than another 'jack'
When you get a close up of a couple of them you will understand why....

Just H2O:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Just doing its thang...

Tate & Lyles Finest:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Not gone well this one.....

Week 3

Still stinks just a bit of Sugar in excess
Smells of 'spilt milk' with a gag factor of 10

May struggle to get this one back even though it is insignificant other than to show 'excess' I will miss it!

Gypsum:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Looking well considering Gypsum strips all goodness out of the soil apparently !!

I am amazed at the lack of knowledge

A Leading Penetrant:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

This is an 'Old Skool' straight up 'Penetrative' Wetter, I thought that was the point of all of them?
This could potentially cause dispersion of clays.

Oxygen Booster:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Love this stuff! Its gone mental! Green as and growing like mad, highest volume of cuttings, If it weren't so dear you would do well perking your grass with this, better than liquid N... Oh hang on.. thats all part of it is.....

Basic Liquid Feed:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Going well a good 'boost' given the N factor be good to see how lush this can go

Sulfate of Iron:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Call a doctor time.....


















The ol Fe gone an blackened  it bad... Just hope it will be fine, its only iron.

Special Request - Marmite:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Quite happy sat there, an unusual 'musty' aroma...

Its got that.... 'Fungi anyone?' smell

20:10:10 Granular:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Another quite happy one but oh so on the edge

if I don't keep it moist after OD

Branded Coated Fertiliser:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Starting to wonder who makes this stuff!!!


















Disappointed with this one perception is these are 'safe' but that don't look like you would want to put any on the old boy would you......

Worm Suppresant:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

One of the 'leaner' ones which is a bit odd as you wouldn't think it would knock or hold back growth

Curative Wetting Agent:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Again this one is looking a little 'lighter' than even just water.. hmmmmm

Combination A:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

Yes its just the N pushing it on, I know
Nice lil thought though isn't it.....

Combination B:

Week 1

Weekend 2

Week 3

So this is all the 'usual' stuff all bunged on at OD rates lets see how long she goes.



So a final review of them all after a little trim up

Right I am out of here......................

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