Keyanna Bowen
21.07.2023 - 22:54 / awaytogarden.com
READER DAVID wrote in to ask: “What do you consider a chemical? Is copper sulfate one?”SO IS COPPER SULFATE a chemical? I am not a chemist, but a gardener, so here is what I know with help from more expert sources:
Pure copper sulfate is an inorganic compound that does occur naturally, but is more commonly man-made from natural components–copper and sulfur. With restrictions, some products containing it are allowed in certified organic agriculture.
Note that I’m not using the -organic part of the word inorganic as in “labeled for organic use.” By inorganic I mean that it does not derive from living or formerly living material (like plant-based rotenone, or azadirachta, the insecticide derived from neem, do). Instead, copper sulfate is of mineral origin–from a geological system, not a biological one.
The compound is found in products with a wide variety of intended applications, including as a fungicide, algaecide, molluscicide, root killer, antimicrobial, and antibacterial. Products containing copper sulfate vary widely in formulation, and the “signal words” on their labels reflect that, ranging from Caution to Danger (get a pdf explaining signal words). Not all are approved for organic use.
Despite being natural, rather than synthetic, copper is dangerous if allowed to build up in the soil, and dangerous to inhale, or get on your skin. It is also somewhat toxic for birds and highly to very highly toxic for aquatic life. There are no registered indoor uses for copper sulfate, says the National Pesticide Information Center.
Read about it.
Because a chemical compound contains natural ingredients doesn’t mean it’s safe–as expert Jeff Gillman agrees (remember?). Many organic farmers and organic gardeners, including me, don’t use
Keyanna Bowen
Target
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