Gunpowder for fertilizer?

Domino · December 27, 2006, 12:27 PM

I have a coworker that also reloads and he tells me that he sometimes will use gunpowder as fertilzer in his wifes garden and in trouble spots on his lawn. Does anyone else do this? I didn't think it could be done, fertilzer can be used as an explosive so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that gunpowder could be used as a fertilzer, if it actually does work anyways.

RevoRick · December 27, 2006, 12:36 PM

I use the stuff I clean up off my reloading bench to fertilize my houseplants. I have much greener plants with great growth. I think it would be cost prohibitive to use it as a general fertilizer. It contains a great amount of nitrogen which stimulates plant growth and greens up plants.

Over do it and your plants will die. Look at what happens when you drop a pile of lawn fertilizer in one place. Poof, instant death.

XD-Guy · December 27, 2006, 12:47 PM

How much for a house plant? Just a pinch every so often?

Jim Watson · December 27, 2006, 12:49 PM

I recall smokeless powder nitrocellulose is about 13% nitrogen. Applied as fertilizer it should act as a controlled release plant food because nitrocellulose is not water soluble and has to be broken down by soil conditions and microorganisms to become available to the plants.

Kind of an expensive fertilizer to buy, but RevoRick's idea of using sweepings should work. Or the partial can you get from the estate sale that you aren't sure is really what the can label says.

Edward429451 · December 27, 2006, 01:05 PM

Overuse bad? I doubt it. We had a so so rose bush and I bet I dropped ~ 8 lbs of old powder on it and the next year it went from so so to awesome and even gave us an additional color buds that it didn't have before, more blooms, different colors, momma happy.

armabill · December 27, 2006, 01:29 PM

Did you post a no smoking sign at the rose bush?

azredhawk44 · December 27, 2006, 02:08 PM

There's a guy here, Mike Irwin, who had in his sig line something about using the last of his Unique on his roses long ago... kinda funny way to knock a powder you don't like.

I was having problems with Unique being too sooty compared to another powder, so I dumped the rest of mine on the plants out back. I didn't notice a huge improvement in them. YMMV.

Edward429451 · December 27, 2006, 04:21 PM

No smoking sign?

Is that why their just twigs left now?

No seriously, I just put the sprinkler near it and wetted it all down real good and gave it a slight spading. No problemo.

**Mike Irwin** · December 29, 2006, 03:09 PM

"There's a guy here, Mike Irwin, who had in his sig line something about using the last of his Unique on his roses long ago... kinda funny way to knock a powder you don't like."

I don't remember putting that in my signature line...

WIN71 · January 1, 2007, 03:18 PM

Don't worry Mike, it happens to all of us. I can't remember half of what I said either.

rogn · January 1, 2007, 04:13 PM

What powder did you use and what laod for the roses.....Sorry must be the start of cabin fever.

Dave R · January 1, 2007, 07:41 PM

Hmmmm, a good load for roses...

I'm thinking 5gr of Unique per sq. in of garden should be safe. Just watch for pressure signs on the buds

skeeter1 · January 1, 2007, 09:36 PM

I had some very old Hercules Red Dot powder that had been sitting in the basement (read: humid) that I was afraid to reload with. I dumped it around the tomato plants in the garden that year, and they came up great. I didn't smoke while cutting the tomatoes, however.

December 27, 2006, 12:27 PM	#1
Domino Member Join Date: August 15, 2006 Posts: 57	Gunpowder for fertilizer? I have a coworker that also reloads and he tells me that he sometimes will use gunpowder as fertilzer in his wifes garden and in trouble spots on his lawn. Does anyone else do this? I didn't think it could be done, fertilzer can be used as an explosive so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that gunpowder could be used as a fertilzer, if it actually does work anyways.

December 27, 2006, 12:36 PM	#2
RevoRick Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 201	I use the stuff I clean up off my reloading bench to fertilize my houseplants. I have much greener plants with great growth. I think it would be cost prohibitive to use it as a general fertilizer. It contains a great amount of nitrogen which stimulates plant growth and greens up plants. Over do it and your plants will die. Look at what happens when you drop a pile of lawn fertilizer in one place. Poof, instant death. __________________ Criminals thrive on the indulgence of an understanding society DW 10mm CBOB, 10mm Experimental, .45 Pointman GD, .45 Patriot CCO. DW 744 VH .44 6", 715 VH .357 4". Fusion 10mm Longslide XM-10 Tactical Hunter. Glock 19c, Browning Buckmark, S&W 686 .357 4", 629 .44mag 8 3/8". Uberti Cattleman .45LC. http://www.1911auto.org/forum/index.php?referrerid=24

December 27, 2006, 01:05 PM	#5
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,457	Overuse bad? I doubt it. We had a so so rose bush and I bet I dropped ~ 8 lbs of old powder on it and the next year it went from so so to awesome and even gave us an additional color buds that it didn't have before, more blooms, different colors, momma happy. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

December 27, 2006, 04:21 PM	#8
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,457	No smoking sign? Is that why their just twigs left now? No seriously, I just put the sprinkler near it and wetted it all down real good and gave it a slight spading. No problemo. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

December 29, 2006, 03:09 PM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,145	"There's a guy here, Mike Irwin, who had in his sig line something about using the last of his Unique on his roses long ago... kinda funny way to knock a powder you don't like." I don't remember putting that in my signature line... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 27, 2006, 12:47 PM	#3
XD-Guy Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Posts: 102	How much for a house plant? Just a pinch every so often?

December 27, 2006, 12:49 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 9,674	I recall smokeless powder nitrocellulose is about 13% nitrogen. Applied as fertilizer it should act as a controlled release plant food because nitrocellulose is not water soluble and has to be broken down by soil conditions and microorganisms to become available to the plants. Kind of an expensive fertilizer to buy, but RevoRick's idea of using sweepings should work. Or the partial can you get from the estate sale that you aren't sure is really what the can label says.

December 27, 2006, 01:29 PM	#6
armabill Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2001 Location: Glenolden, Pa. USA Posts: 197	Did you post a no smoking sign at the rose bush?

December 27, 2006, 02:08 PM	#7
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	There's a guy here, Mike Irwin, who had in his sig line something about using the last of his Unique on his roses long ago... kinda funny way to knock a powder you don't like. I was having problems with Unique being too sooty compared to another powder, so I dumped the rest of mine on the plants out back. I didn't notice a huge improvement in them. YMMV.

January 1, 2007, 03:18 PM	#10
WIN71 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Posts: 626	Memory Don't worry Mike, it happens to all of us. I can't remember half of what I said either.

January 1, 2007, 04:13 PM	#11
rogn Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2005 Posts: 181	What powder and what load What powder did you use and what laod for the roses.....Sorry must be the start of cabin fever.

January 1, 2007, 07:41 PM	#12
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,068	Hmmmm, a good load for roses... I'm thinking 5gr of Unique per sq. in of garden should be safe. Just watch for pressure signs on the buds __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

January 1, 2007, 09:36 PM	#13
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	I had some very old Hercules Red Dot powder that had been sitting in the basement (read: humid) that I was afraid to reload with. I dumped it around the tomato plants in the garden that year, and they came up great. I didn't smoke while cutting the tomatoes, however.