Editor’s note: “JT potency” (Jenichen /Tichavsky) is a centesimal dilution followed by 500 succussions or five hundred continuous turns with a wooden stick to the right and 500 turns to the left (if handling larger volumes). The JT potency frequently has a better reaction in plants and it is very important in preparation of live bionosodes.
Hi Dr Tichavsky,
I would like to know if there are healthier substitutes for these fertilizer ingredients.:
Urea, DAP, Potash, Sulphur, Zinc,
Thank you
Ratan Singh Tanwar
Dr. Radko Tichavsky:
Dear Ratan
Thank you for your evocative question. Urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP), potash (a combination of potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, and potassium carbonate), sulfur, and zinc are often applied in conventional agriculture at excessive rates and may cause toxicity in crops and in the wider environment.
Although substitution can be a useful strategy, the healthiest replacements for urea are organic nitrogen sources such as blood meal, feather meal, vermicompost, or well-composted manure. DAP can be replaced with natural phosphate sources such as ground phosphate rock, bone meal, or phosphatic guano.
Potash (synthetic potassium chloride or sulfate) may be replaced by healthier alternatives such as wood ash, used carefully and without excess, or seaweed meal (kelp). Sulfur may be supplied through garlic and onion ferments. Zinc may be contributed by rock flour, especially basaltic or granitic rock flour, seaweed compost, or mustard meal.
Homeopathy neither replaces nor intends to replace plant nutrition. Applying homeopathic Phosphorus or Kalium to plants may stimulate metabolic processes, but it does not substitute for nutrition.
It is therefore important to stimulate and cultivate other ways of producing plant nutrients. Since approximately 78% of the atmosphere is nitrogen, many bacteria can transform atmospheric dinitrogen into nitrate and nitrite forms that nourish plants.
These include cyanobacteria such as Anabaena and Nostoc, free-living bacteria, and other bacteria associated with leguminous plants such as lentils and beans. There are likewise potassium- and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria that can generate large amounts of available nutrients when stimulated through homeopathic applications.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
| Category | Representative genera |
| Free-living in soil | Azotobacter (aerobic) Azospirillum (microaerophilic, associative) Beijerinckia (aerobic) Clostridium (anaerobic) Klebsiella (facultative anaerobic) Bacillus (aerobic / facultative anaerobic) Photosynthetic cyanobacteria such as Anabaena and Nostoc |
| Legume symbionts | Rhizobium (alphaproteobacteria) Bradyrhizobium (alphaproteobacteria) Ensifer (formerly Sinorhizobium) Mesorhizobium (alphaproteobacteria) Azorhizobium (alphaproteobacteria) Neorhizobium (alphaproteobacteria) Paraburkholderia (betaproteobacteria) Cupriavidus (betaproteobacteria) |
Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria
| Genus | Representative species |
| Bacillus | B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. cereus |
| Pseudomonas | P. fluorescens, P. putida |
| Rhizobium | R. radiobacter, R. phaseoli |
| Burkholderia | B. cepacia, B. cenocepacia |
| Enterobacter | E. aerogenes, E. cloacae |
| Pantoea | P. agglomerans, P. rodasii |
| Serratia | S. marcescens, S. plymuthica |
| Acinetobacter | A. pittii, A. baumannii |
| Arthrobacter | A. ureafaciens |
| Other genera | Agrobacterium, Azotobacter, Cupriavidus, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, Rhodococcus, Streptomyces, Variovorax |
Potassium-solubilizing bacteria
| Genus | Example species or strains |
| Bacillus | B. edaphicus; B. mucilaginosus |
| Paenibacillus | Paenibacillus sp. SKL51 |
| Pseudomonas | Pseudomonas putida; Pseudomonas spp. |
| Enterobacter | E. hormaechei; E. wuhouensis; E. quasihormaechei; E. chuandaensis |
| Burkholderia | Burkholderia spp. |
| Pantoea | Pantoea agglomerans |
| Citrobacter | Citrobacter braakii |
| Klebsiella | Klebsiella oxytoca |
| Providencia | Providencia vermicola |
All three groups of nutrient-solubilizing bacteria may be stimulated. For example, applying a preparation made from the root of Portulaca oleracea at 3 JT may stimulate potassium-solubilizing bacteria. A homeopathic preparation of the roots of maize, sugarcane, rice, wheat, sorghum, or grasses at 3 JT may attract different free-living diazotrophic, nitrogen-fixing bacteria. A 3 JT homeopathic application prepared from the roots of Cajanus cajan may invite phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria to collaborate.
This fine stimulation mechanism disappears almost completely if we fall into the temptation of “helping” the holon by applying any form of nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus, whether synthetic or natural, in large quantities. Some of the bacteria disappear from the soil, while others shift from nutrient production to passive consumption of the excesses. When soil is overloaded with ponderal nutrients, the ecological need that sustained microbial collaboration is deactivated, and the functional intelligence of the holon is weakened.
Dear Dr. Tichavsky
I have a Valley Oak Tree in Northern California that is really suffering from leaf miners. The pest leaves lacy appearance to damaged leaves and severely reduced ability to photosynthesize. Nymphs eat the leaf tissues leaving tunnels. Would be grateful for help. Environment and weather: Central valley of California, suburban development soil, wet, moderate winter and dry hot summer. It’s Sacramento CA and the Zipcode is 95670.
Thank you
Carrie Ann Calay
Dr. Radko Tichavsky:
Dear Carrie,
I understand that seeing your Valley oak in that condition is concerning. Leaf miners can create a striking visual effect, and it is entirely understandable that you want to help the tree. However, the first and most important information I can share, supported by the University of California Integrated Pest Management program, is that no control is recommended to protect the health of mature oaks. Although the damage may look unsightly, in a healthy tree it is usually not a serious threat, and periodic defoliation is part of the life of a healthy Quercus.
So that you can make an informed decision, I will explain why. If you decide the damage is intolerable, I will also outline one possible intervention. The true control of this pest is exerted by its natural predators, especially small parasitoid wasps.
These may be invited toward the tree by preparing a mother tincture from the leaf miner and spraying a dynamized preparation in water at 6 CH around, not directly on, the tree. In this way the parasitoid wasps may oviposit inside the miners, and their larvae consume them from within.
Many miners are also consumed by spiders, beetles, and ants. In this way, nutrients are not lost; they simply move through another pathway, while soil microbiota are strengthened. This is one of the most intriguing mechanisms of the forest: self-fertilization without the need for externally applied fertilizer.
Cycle:
– Death of the insect inside the leaf or on its surface.
– Enzymatic and microbial decomposition of soft tissues.
– Fragmentation by detritivores or consumption by other organisms.
– Mineralization of N, P, S, and other elements.
– Incorporation into litter and soil.
– Reabsorption by the oak roots and its rhizospheric microbiota.
Dead leaf miners do become fertility, but not in the form of a direct, soluble fertilizer with immediate effect. They become recycled microfertility mediated by fungi, bacteria, detritivores, and the decomposition process of the leaf itself. It is a slow, localized, biological, distributed, and remarkably sophisticated form of fertilization.
If the damage seems intolerable, Bacillus thuringiensis at 2 JT may be sprayed on the tree, and the decomposition cycle will shorten. For parasitoids, however, this may reduce success when the susceptible host larva consumes Bacillus thuringiensis and dies before the parasitoid completes development, or when host quality deteriorates.
In summary, I openly favor not obstructing nature, and this case is an excellent example of why leaving nature room to regulate itself may be the better course.
Dear Dr. Tichavsky,
This past summer we had a problem with aphids in our blueberries. We are in Abbotsford City, British Columbia (V2R 5J4). Abbotsford has a temperate oceanic climate (marine west coast) with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Summers are dry and sunny. Annual rainfall averages 1,483 mm, with roughly 55 cm of yearly snowfall. We would welcome any suggestions!
Thank you
Theresa
Dr. Radko Tichavsky:
Dear Theresa,
I am sorry to hear that aphids have been a problem in your blueberries. It is a common nuisance, but fortunately there are many strategies that may help control them effectively.
Lady beetles, lacewings, parasitoid wasps, and hoverflies are excellent biological controllers. The brown lacewing, Micromus variegatus, is a nocturnal species. Simply leaving a light on near the crop at night may attract it, encouraging oviposition and predation on aphids.
Another way to repel aphids is to apply Araneus diadematus 6 CH, or Coccinella septempunctata or Harmonia axyridis at 3 JT, or the corresponding Micromus variegatus preparation at 3 JT, sprayed around the crop. In the case of a heavy infestation, Cinnamomum ceylanicum tea dynamized to 3 JT may be applied to repel ants, which tend and defend aphids in exchange for honeydew.
It is also useful to limit nitrogen fertilizers of any kind, because excess nitrogen creates soft tissues that favor aphid activity and attraction. Foliar application of Calcarea carbonica 6 CH may help harden the plant cuticle and provide protection against aphids.
Greetings Dr. Tichavsky,
In one of our fields Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is taking over. It’s a very competitive plant. I’d appreciate any suggestions for dealing with it. We live in Mason City, Iowa (zip 50401). It has a continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. We get around 31inches of rain and 38 inches of snow.
Thank you
Leon
Dr. Radko Tichavsky:
Dear Leon,
Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii, is a highly aggressive invader and represents a real problem for biodiversity in your field in Mason City. Its success is linked to the fact that it is among the first plants to leaf out in spring and among the last to lose its leaves in autumn, which allows it to cast shade and displace native plants.
There is no homeopathic control for this shrub. Pulling small seedlings with the entire root and repeatedly cutting mature plants gradually exhausts its reserves. Stems should be cut flush with the ground.
The principal defensive weapon of this shrub is its microbiota, dominated chiefly by Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria, with a notable presence of Burkholderia-related groups. Rhizobiaceae and other Proteobacteria clades are also present, and the shrub significantly alters the bacterial structure of the soil.
The removal of young plants by the root and the repeated cutting of adult plants every two weeks may be accompanied by a mixture of three ingredients: a hydroalcoholic mother tincture of Larrea tridentata leaves, an oleate of Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon), and essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum (clove), dynamized to 2 JT and sprayed on the stumps and on the surrounding soil.
Hello Dr. Tichavsky,
I am on half an acre with a 5-acre field and pond behind the house. The town has planted a strip through the field of native flowers, and my pool is surrounded by a 6′ strip of mostly native flowers.
Since the town put in the pollinator garden, the chiggers have moved into my pool area. They make weeding and deadheading my flowers almost impossible. From June to early Sept, I am covered with 30+ bites. Do you have any recommendations for how to get rid of them without bothering the other, beneficial, insects?
Thank you,
Paulena
Dr. Radko Tichavsky:
Dear Paulena,
I am sorry to hear that the native flowers around your home seem to attract chiggers, but in reality it is not the flowers themselves. Rather, it is the shift in moisture conditions that facilitates the proliferation of chiggers, (Trombicula alfreddugesi), also referred to more recently as Eutrombicula alfreddugesi, whose larvae cause the bites.
Adult mites are harmless to humans, but the larvae cause local itching and irritation, known as trombiculiasis. The reaction is usually mild and self-limited, although bites may transmit disease or lead to secondary bacterial infection. Essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) may be applied to the bite area to calm the irritation and help prevent bacterial infection of the skin.
For control in the garden, the key is to modify the microclimate. This is the most important step. By making the environment less favorable, the mites tend to leave on their own, without the need to eliminate other insects. Remove the surface layer of leaf litter, straw, grass clippings, and organic mulch around the pool.
Rake thoroughly to expose the soil more directly to sunlight and air. Prune the lower portions of dense shrubs and plants. The objective is to ventilate the area and increase sunlight at the soil surface, thereby drying it.
A dry barrier may also be created by marking a perimeter of about 50 cm around the pool and the affected areas with gravel, crushed stone, or coarse pine bark. A light application of diatomaceous earth may also be used. Mites tend to avoid crossing these dry, warm surfaces.
As a defense against the larvae, clothing may be sprayed with alcoholic extracts of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium flowers, dynamized in water at 3 JT. A hydroalcoholic mother tincture of Ruta graveolens at 2 to 3 JT may also be used, as it contains 2-undecanone, a compound with repellent action against the larvae. Oregano essential oil, as well as mother tinctures of Piper nigrum (black pepper) and Syzygium aromaticum (clove), at 2 to 3 JT, may also repel the larvae.
BOOKS ON HOLOHOMEOPATHY
Many readers asked about Dr. Radko Tichavsky’s books. Below is a list and a photo of them. They are available in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. For ordering or information: [email protected]
Books by Dr. Radko Tichavsky
These books have been published in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
“Manual of Agrohomeopathy” (2007), “Homeopathy for Plants” (2009), and the
“Homeopathy for Plants” (2009): A book dedicated to the application of homeopathy for plant care.
“Organon of Holohomeopathy” (2018). This book covers homeopathic interventions in agriculture from a holistic view, introducing the novel concept of metabolic similarity among different species.
“Foundations of Agrohomeopathy” (2018): This title is also available in Italian under the name Fondamenti di agro-omeopatia.
Holohomeopathy Manual for Poultry (2018): A specific manual addressing the application of holohomeopathy in poultry farming.
“Advanced Agrohomeopathy” (2021): A more recent publication exploring advanced techniques and concepts in the field.
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