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Fruit & Orchards

20 Mule Borax cleaner

13 years ago

I just got a box from this from a neighbour who went down to the states and bought it from "TOPS". Ingredients in it says: "Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate"

Is this Borax 20 mule team suitable for garden applications?

I know Boron can be toxic if over applied, I just want to know if it the same ingredient of Borax you would find at a Fertilizer Farm outlet?

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Comments (9)

gonebananas_gw
13 years ago
I've always heard borax is fine in VERY small amounts, say for treating boron deficiency in apples. I did overapply it once though by carelessness. Fortunately it is leachable.
farmerdilla
13 years ago
I use 20 mule team when I need a boron boost. As gonebananas stated, a couple of table spoons goes a long way. Identify a boron deficiency before you add borax.
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Check the labels of household cleaning and laundry products and you're sure to find some kind of hazard warning. Check the ingredients list, most are toxic to one degree or another - depending on exposure and use. There's also going to be warnings on these products - harmful if swallowed, inhaled, contact with skin/eyes, what amounts are toxic/deadly, etc... What to do in case of eye contact or swallowed, etc... So even "your people friendly, elf friendly, planet friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate-free, never tested on reindeer" METHOD dishwashing product has a warning to KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN and what to do in case of eye contact or if swallowed. Generally speaking, for it's intended use, Borax is safe to use. Avoid using it around food, which is true of all non-food products that could accidently be accidently consumed. With a little research, you'll find there are "risks" associated with all cleaning products, whether they are natural or man-made. FYI, borax is a natural product with chemical properties that contribute to cleaning power. I use steam for much of my general cleaning anymore to avoid toxic chemicals and perfumes. But even steam can be hazardous if used incorrectly. -Grainlady
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kokos
Original Author
13 years ago
Is the 20 Mule Borax cleaner suitable for soil application or for foliar sprays?

It is not crystal granules like regular boron fertilizer: "Fertibor" is from the co-op stores. The one from the grocery store they sell as a cleaner is more of powdery look.

Did the "20 Mule Borax" (from the grocery store) show positive results in your plants when you used it in your gardens, how do you know it worked?
farmerdilla
13 years ago
Same chemical, Boron deficiency is relatively rare and only becomes apparent on specific plants. I am primarily a vegetable grower and have used borax only on brassicas.
alan haigh
13 years ago
Boron deficiency apparently is not so rare in fruit production as it is one of the most common micros to be included in a maintenance fertilization program in the east. Solubor is used regularly by many commercial growers.
kokos
Original Author
13 years ago
Ok but does anyone know if:
the 20 Mule Borax cleaner is also suitable for foliar sprays?
kokos
Original Author
13 years ago
If you look up Boron fertilizers such as "Fertibor" or "Granubor" they are called: "Sodium Tetraborate Pentahydrate"
and the "Borax" cleaning product you find in grocery stores is: "sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate"

I know they are very similar but the "Borax" cleaner has 10 water molecules hence its chemical description (decahydrate)
and the Fertilzer grade bought in co-op stores is "pentahydrate" meaning 5 water molecules.

Is it a big deal?
olpea
13 years ago
20 Mule borax is suitable for ground applications, as it's the exact same thing as the old "agricultural borax" that was applied as a micronutrient.

However, 20 Mule is different from foliar applied products. It's possible foliar products like Solubor are formulated to minimize leaf burn. If you're going to try 20 Mule as a foliar, I'd recommend testing it on a small portion of foliage.
kokos
Original Author
13 years ago
OLPEA, that is the answer I was looking for. Thanks!
thanks to everyone.

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