Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Cultivation => Composts => Topic started by: Giles on July 23, 2011, 08:03:09 PM

Title: Iodine as a compost additive.
Post by: Giles on July 23, 2011, 08:03:09 PM: Has anyone come across the use of iodine in potting compost?
I came across this Japanese web page when trying to find out more about Primula sieboldii.
It's a poor google translation, making little sense, and I haven't been able to find anything more about it elsewhere.

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%25E3%2582%25B5%25E3%2582%25AF%25E3%2583%25A9%25E3%2582%25BD%25E3%2582%25A6%25E3%2581%25AE%25E7%25A8%25AE%25E9%25A1%259E%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1R2ADFA_enGB436%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D762%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=ja&u=http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~aac-kuma/sakuraso/youdo.html&usg=ALkJrhggKeuj_RgO2JXcwnCRff6GIqpdDw
Title: Re: Iodine as a compost additive.
Post by: Maggi Young on July 23, 2011, 08:24:41 PM: Well, seaweed is rich in iodine ( some types more than others) and seaweed is well known as a soil additive. Seaweed, dried and extracts thereof are commercially available and contain all manner of valuable trace elements as well as iodine, so I can see that iodine might well be a usefull additive to potting compost.

Just wondering if the Japanese translation of iodine might not refer to a seaweed or seaweed product, rich in iodine, rather than "straight" iodine ?
Title: Re: Iodine as a compost additive.
Post by: KK-Ann Arbor on August 03, 2011, 11:29:18 PM: Giles,

It seems that the web translation was trying to give you detailed composition of mediums suited for primula and gotten confused with the Japanese term for Iodine (yodo - ヨード) and the planting medium (yodo - 用土).
上記 2 や 3 に腐葉土または堆肥を配合した用土-> translated to "Iodine mixed with humus or compost to 2 or 3 above ".
Better translation will be "planting medium (Yodo in Japanese) is composed of (2) or (3) above with humus or compost added". Not mentioning any use of Iodine.

Koko
Title: Re: Iodine as a compost additive.
Post by: Giles on August 04, 2011, 07:49:32 PM: Thankyou :)
Title: Re: Iodine as a compost additive.
Post by: Maggi Young on August 04, 2011, 08:44:56 PM: Aha! We have the answer - thanks Koko - there's nothing like having an expert at hand. 8) :-*