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Labs for testing plant teas

Posted by Mike Biltonen 
Labs for testing plant teas
May 11, 2022 04:33PM
I am planning to run a series of nutrient tests this year where we making a number of plant teas (fresh and fermented) from a variety of medicinal herbs for use on plants. I am seeking a reliable lab that can conduct these kinds of tests (on the tea itself, not an extract per se or plant sap analysis). So, has anyone ever done this? What labs can folks recommend? Are there any pitfalls or things to look out for in choosing a lab? I am essentially asking the questions of what do we suspect, what do we know, and what can we prove. thanks in advance. PS I called Logan Lab and they do not do this type of testing. I haven't called others, but Midwest, Primus, Crop Health, and others are on the to-call list today. Also interested in plant phytochemical tests for specific compounds in specific plants.

Mike Biltonen, Know Your Roots
Zone 5b in New York
Re: Labs for testing plant teas
May 11, 2022 08:19PM
Tho I’m all for scientific “proof” my experience with using the Biodynamic fermented sprays in my orchard has resulted in fruit that has soul and very healthy trees. Perhaps the proof is in the pudding. Research away, it’s what Rudy would’ve done
Re: Labs for testing plant teas
May 12, 2022 06:07PM
I don't have any labs to recommend personally, but I'm pretty sure Michael had found one to use at least sporadically for testing his ferment mixes. I remember seeing some actual nutrient analysis from his calcium and/or silica brews at some point somewhere (it stuck out because we are hoping to experiment with making silica brews from bamboo at some point, but would definitely want to see nutrient analysis results to hone some sort of recipe; I remember thinking that it would be good to compare whatever we eventually do with what Michael had found with his results). I thought it might be in the Secret Tattoo, but not seeing it there. Anyway, I was hoping I could find the reference and that it might mention the lab he'd used. I'm not finding it in my email either, but probably not searching for whatever tangential thing it might have been in relation to. I'll keep an eye out.

Kordick Family Farm
Westfield, NC
Zone 7a
Re: Labs for testing plant teas
May 12, 2022 06:12PM
Brittany-
Silica brew was from fermented equisetum and calcium was from fermented comfrey. Both separate and for 14 days stirring daily to bring in oxygen. Maybe that might help with search words
Alan
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