Mineral Matrix: Apothecary Shot (500gm)

Mineral Matrix: Apothecary Shot — 500g of Pharmacist-Grade Volcanic Rock Dust

The Mineral Matrix Apothecary Shot is the bottle our most discerning customers reach for when they want to feel like they are dispensing care, not fertiliser. Half a kilogram of finely milled Deccan basalt rock dust, packed with the precision of a botanical apothecary, this size sits at the sweet spot between curiosity and commitment — enough to amend an entire indoor jungle, gentle enough on the shelf and the wallet to become a recurring ritual.

The Apothecary Philosophy

Traditional apothecaries did not throw handfuls of unknown substances at problems. They measured, observed, and built treatments from a small library of trusted ingredients. The Apothecary Shot brings that mindset to indoor horticulture. Rather than chasing fast green-up with synthetic NPK blends, you are dosing your soil with a slow, broad-spectrum mineral reservoir — the kind of input that builds resilience over months, not days. It is the difference between a multivitamin and a sugar rush.

What's Inside

Each 500g jar contains 100% micronised basalt rock dust from verified Deccan Trap quarries in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh — a region geologically gifted with some of the most mineral-rich basalt on Earth. The material is milled to a strict 100–200 mesh (75–150 micron) particle size, sieved for uniformity, and dried before packing. There are no additives, no synthetic boosters, no compost extenders. Just clean, finely powdered volcanic stone.

Typical Mineral Profile

• Silica (SiO₂): 42–50% — reinforces cell walls, supports stomatal regulation, and helps plants tolerate the abiotic stresses of indoor life.
• Alumina (Al₂O₃): 12–16% — contributes to soil buffering and structural stability.
• Iron Oxide (Fe₂O₃): 10–15% — essential for chlorophyll synthesis and electron transport in photosynthesis.
• Calcium Oxide (CaO): 8–12% — critical for cell division and the structural skeleton of leaves and stems.
• Magnesium Oxide (MgO): 5–10% — the central atom of every chlorophyll molecule.
• Trace Elements: 1–2% — the catalytic spectrum that drives enzymatic reactions and natural plant immunity.

This typical profile reflects standard Deccan basalt and is offered as a slow-release mineral reservoir, not a quick-acting fertiliser.

Why 500g Is the Most Practical Size

Five hundred grams will treat approximately 20–30 medium pots as a top-dress, or amend up to 30–40 litres of fresh potting mix at the recommended blend ratio. For a typical urban plant parent with a balcony shelf, an indoor jungle corner and a few hanging planters, that is six months to a year of mineral support in a single jar. The Apothecary Shot is sized to be the practical centrepiece of a real plant care routine — not so small you finish it before learning to use it, not so large that it becomes a chore.

Why Indoor Plants Need Rock Dust

An indoor pot is a closed system. Soil in a forest floor is constantly being replenished by weathering bedrock, fallen leaves and the slow churn of soil fauna. Soil in a pot is on its own. Within months of repotting, the trace minerals in any commercial mix begin to deplete. Plants compensate by mining their own older leaves — which is why so many houseplants quietly turn pale, drop lower foliage, or develop weaker new growth a year after repotting. Mineral Matrix restores that mineral bank account, gently and slowly, exactly the way nature intended.

The Silica Advantage

Silica is the unsung hero of basalt. While not classified as a primary nutrient, contemporary research highlights silica's role as a botanical bodyguard — reinforcing cell walls, regulating stomatal closure under stress, and improving water-use efficiency. For collectors of variegated aroids, where chlorophyll-poor white sectors are structurally fragile, silica's reinforcement is particularly valuable. Plants supplemented with silica often show stiffer petioles, glossier leaves, and improved tolerance to dry indoor air.

How to Use the Apothecary Shot

1. Top-Dress (maintenance): Sprinkle 1–2 teaspoons per 6–8 inch pot on the soil surface. Water in. Repeat every 2–3 months.
2. Repotting Blend (best results): Mix 1–2 tablespoons per litre of potting mix when repotting. Stir thoroughly.
3. Foliar Feed (advanced): Stir 1 teaspoon into 1 litre of water, let settle for 30 minutes, and use the upper liquid as a gentle root drench. Not a true foliar spray — the particles are too large for leaf application.
4. Compost & Worm Bin Boost: Add a tablespoon to each compost or worm bin layer to enrich the finished castings.

Mineral Matrix is non-burning and pH-neutral to mildly basic. It cannot be over-applied in the way synthetic fertilisers can, and it is fully compatible with your existing liquid feed routine.

Best For

• Aroids: Monstera, Philodendron, Anthurium, Alocasia, Syngonium, Scindapsus
• Hoyas, Dischidia, and other epiphytes
• Ficus, Calatheas, Marantas, and tropical foliage
• Variegated specimens (Albo, Thai Constellation, variegata Philos)
• Edible balcony gardens — tomatoes, chillies, herbs, leafy greens
• Bonsai, succulents, caudiciforms (in lower doses)

Living Soil: Rock Dust + Biology

Mineral Matrix performs best in the company of soil biology. Microbes, mycorrhizae and earthworms produce organic acids that slowly etch minerals out of basalt particles, releasing iron, magnesium and calcium in plant-available forms. If you already use vermicompost, worm castings, or biological inoculants, the Apothecary Shot completes your loop — it becomes the reservoir that feeds the microbes that feed your plants.

Sourcing, Processing & Compliance

Every batch is sourced from verified Deccan basalt quarries, milled on calibrated equipment to 100–200 mesh, sieved for uniformity, and dried before packing. The product is screened for foreign matter and is produced in line with India's Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) framework for soil conditioners and mineral amendments, including limits on Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Mercury and Lead.

Handling & Safety

Mineral Matrix is a fine mineral powder. Please avoid inhaling the dust during application — wear a simple dust mask if you are mixing larger volumes, work in a ventilated area or outdoors, and wash hands after use. Once incorporated into soil, the product is non-toxic and safe around pets and children.

Pack Details

• Net Weight: 500 g
• Particle Size: 100–200 mesh (approx. 75–150 microns)
• Origin: Deccan Traps, India
• Ingredients: 100% micronised basalt rock dust. No additives.
• Coverage: 20–30 medium pots (top-dress) or 30–40 L of substrate (blend)
• Shelf Life: Indefinite when stored dry and sealed.

The Lithic Edit Difference

India sits on one of the planet's great mineral inheritances, but for too long urban plant parents had a choice between cheap quarry sweepings and expensive imported rock dusts. The Apothecary Shot is our middle path: standardised, lab-aware, beautifully presented Indian basalt, sized for the realities of urban gardening. It is the bottle that earns a permanent place on your potting shelf.