Humic, Fulvic & Ulmic Acid. All Keys to living soil.
Purest form of natural organic carbon
Boost crop production
Strengthen root development
Improves soil quality
What is it?
Humates also called Leonardite.
It comes in multiple sizes. Source 11, Source Coarse & Source X are often referred to as this (like 22A, we know as Driveway Mix, even though it's actually the size).
A soft, dark colored, mineraloid (essentially, but not technically a mineral) that contains high concentrations of the active humic acid (>65%) and fulvic acid (apx 4%). Does humic and fulvic sound familiar to anyone?
Fulvic helps plants absorb. Humic helps plants retain.
So Humates has both those qualities, absorbing and retaining. Like Elemental Sulfur, Humates has a long term effect but not fast acting. For fast acting we would use the liquids.
As a soil amendment, Humates is a great option for adding organic matter to lower quality or tired soils and will improve the texture, moisture holding capacity as well as some ability to neutralize pH levels. So you would not use this in a soil you're trying to keep acidic, like for blueberries or azaleas.
How it apply it?
Use 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet of garden or 3 to 10 pounds per 1000 square feet of lawn.
Top dress or mix into the root zone, and water well.
For potted plants, use 2 tablespoons per cubic foot of potting mix or water in by mixing 2 teaspoons per gallon every six to eight weeks.