The Dons' Organic Garden

greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
anzohaze said:
No I have not but it's similar to @greasemonkeymann he may shed a lil more insight
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nah, not done a side by side, I use it more for the added aeration and microbial "housing" also it's helpful to control ph as well.
At this point, since the last soil mix was just about perfect, i'm not planning on ever changing anything.
But all I do really is add compost every third run, and that's it, haven't made any new soil in a long time.
just re-mix.
biochar is some good shit, but I don't know if it's something that you'd see a visual difference on though..
BUT, that being said, i'd do a side by side test for a bagged soil vs my soil...
I haven't but, that is something you'd see a visual difference in, for sure.
 
ShLUbY

ShLUbY

Well-Known Member
greasemonkeymann said:
nah, not done a side by side, I use it more for the added aeration and microbial "housing" also it's helpful to control ph as well.
At this point, since the last soil mix was just about perfect, i'm not planning on ever changing anything.
But all I do really is add compost every third run, and that's it, haven't made any new soil in a long time.
just re-mix.
biochar is some good shit, but I don't know if it's something that you'd see a visual difference on though..
BUT, that being said, i'd do a side by side test for a bagged soil vs my soil...
I haven't but, that is something you'd see a visual difference in, for sure.
Click to expand...
i have two 20 gal no till with the exact same soil recipe, except one has char that i charged, and one does not. around 6-8% char iirc. I'll will be doing the biochar no-till challenge! I expect the results to be similar at first... and the char mix will get better with age. that is my hypothesis anyway. it's a starter biochar challenge. my next biochar challenge will be compost made with biochar in it, and compost without, and doing the same soil recipe except the different composts. that will be the ultimate test i think! i'll be sure to make a post when i get them started. they're done cooking i just need to get my veg space finished :wall:
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
ShLUbY said:
i have two 20 gal no till with the exact same soil recipe, except one has char that i charged, and one does not. around 6-8% char iirc. I'll will be doing the biochar no-till challenge! I expect the results to be similar at first... and the char mix will get better with age. that is my hypothesis anyway. it's a starter biochar challenge. my next biochar challenge will be compost made with biochar in it, and compost without, and doing the same soil recipe except the different composts. that will be the ultimate test i think! i'll be sure to make a post when i get them started. they're done cooking i just need to get my veg space finished :wall:
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nice, admirable.
I used to do so many tests when I was younger, at this point, growing herb has sorta slipped into the "backseat" as I have my hands full with my shop, dog, the ladies I date (all certifiably nutso), writing (i'm an author), lifting weights, working on my project Nissan...
I just need a 40hr day, instead of 24...
Anyways, here is my thoughts on biochar..
it's advantages are good, but not groundbreaking..
for example.
It's ability to hold nitrogen is helpful, BUT not something you'd visibly see unless the soil was depleted of nitrogen to start.
It's ability to house billions of microbes, again, like the first point, you won't VISIBLY see that as a difference unless your plants/soil are quite sick to begin with.
So, my thoughts are, if you have it dialed in, then you won't see a difference.
Now, I am a HUGE fan of biochar, I won't have a soil mix without it, but I seriously doubt you'ss see a difference in an otherwise healthy soil mix.
See my thoughts on that?
I look at biochar as a fancy aeration, and a slight ph controlling additive.
That's all
 
ShLUbY

ShLUbY

Well-Known Member
greasemonkeymann said:
nice, admirable.
I used to do so many tests when I was younger, at this point, growing herb has sorta slipped into the "backseat" as I have my hands full with my shop, dog, the ladies I date (all certifiably nutso), writing (i'm an author), lifting weights, working on my project Nissan...
I just need a 40hr day, instead of 24...
Anyways, here is my thoughts on biochar..
it's advantages are good, but not groundbreaking..
for example.
It's ability to hold nitrogen is helpful, BUT not something you'd visibly see unless the soil was depleted of nitrogen to start.
It's ability to house billions of microbes, again, like the first point, you won't VISIBLY see that as a difference unless your plants/soil are quite sick to begin with.
So, my thoughts are, if you have it dialed in, then you won't see a difference.
Now, I am a HUGE fan of biochar, I won't have a soil mix without it, but I seriously doubt you'ss see a difference in an otherwise healthy soil mix.
See my thoughts on that?
I look at biochar as a fancy aeration, and a slight ph controlling additive.
That's all
Click to expand...
i agree with your statements. also, the drainage material that is used should be of one with good cec anyway... which is the point of biochar.... but we are still performing cec lol. so my pumice does the same thing as the char essentially.

i think biochar is gonna be more of a beneficial addition to a nutrient poor soil, and not so much as a nutrient rich one like what we create with our mixes. totally agree with you man.

where in the world is DonTesla???
 
A

anzohaze

Well-Known Member
greasemonkeymann said:
nice, admirable.
I used to do so many tests when I was younger, at this point, growing herb has sorta slipped into the "backseat" as I have my hands full with my shop, dog, the ladies I date (all certifiably nutso), writing (i'm an author), lifting weights, working on my project Nissan...
I just need a 40hr day, instead of 24...
Anyways, here is my thoughts on biochar..
it's advantages are good, but not groundbreaking..
for example.
It's ability to hold nitrogen is helpful, BUT not something you'd visibly see unless the soil was depleted of nitrogen to start.
It's ability to house billions of microbes, again, like the first point, you won't VISIBLY see that as a difference unless your plants/soil are quite sick to begin with.
So, my thoughts are, if you have it dialed in, then you won't see a difference.
Now, I am a HUGE fan of biochar, I won't have a soil mix without it, but I seriously doubt you'ss see a difference in an otherwise healthy soil mix.
See my thoughts on that?
I look at biochar as a fancy aeration, and a slight ph controlling additive.
That's all
Click to expand...
Certified nutso a its funny I have the same problem... mechanic problems
 
DonPetro

DonPetro

Well-Known Member
ShLUbY said:
i agree with your statements. also, the drainage material that is used should be of one with good cec anyway... which is the point of biochar.... but we are still performing cec lol. so my pumice does the same thing as the char essentially.

i think biochar is gonna be more of a beneficial addition to a nutrient poor soil, and not so much as a nutrient rich one like what we create with our mixes. totally agree with you man.

where in the world is DonTesla???
Click to expand...
Yea he is starting to upset me.
 
DonPetro

DonPetro

Well-Known Member
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