03/17/2010
Humic acid is the remains of broken down organic material. It is found naturally in peat bogs, compost piles, and anywhere else that microbial activity is decomposing organic material. While not technically a fertilizer, humic acid can help you to get the most out of your fertilizer through a variety of different actions it performs. If you are growing in soil this is definitely one amendment not to overlook!

One way that humic acid improves your soil is by helping to break down compacted soils as well as add organic matter (thus water retention capabilities) to your existing soil. In both of these situations you are bound to be left with increased root health due to better aeration in the root zone. A plant without healthy roots is bound to be less successful than possible, if it even lives! So take care of your roots!

Humic acid also helps to free chemically-bound nutrients that exist in the soil regardless of whether they are naturally occurring or added by human intervention. Whether the nutrients are mineral-based or organic-based doesn't matter - humic acid will help free them for your plants to take up. Humic acid also works to chelate micronutrients for more efficient uptake.

Humic acid also acts as a food source for beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizae. As discussed last month, these beneficial micro-organisms impart a wide range of benefits to plants.

Thanks & good luck with your growing!

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