secret of healthy soil: carbon hoarding

[MynameisSolo]

Here EWC from my 7 worm farms millions of eggs in them

 

[Rasta Roy]

Here EWC from my 7 worm farms millions of eggs in them View attachment 3819761

Mother nature appreciates you repurposing those plastic bags!

 

[MynameisSolo]

i am pretty good at re purposing bags and everything else once i empty bags i fold them up till next time i need a bag ..
Where did Buck go was waiting on his garden pictures ???

 

[coughphee.connoiseur]

I run 1500ppm but I stop supplementation the last two weeks. I used to run it right to the end but I would get more foxtails and delayed ripening so now I don't. There is some science behind it but Im a bad source! The plants let off some gas when they're ripening and co2 supplementation can hinder or delay it somehow. Again I'm not a good source for that particular bit of science. I just know I don't have any foxtails on this round.

Oh fi sure, i know all about that.... thats why i asked if you ran to end because i was going to suggest maybe not doing so .... but didn't want to assume you did and or come off all pushy and shit.

I don't even run 1500ppms anymore i try to match it with the ppfd/umol... really not running co2 at all right now because everyone out here burns wood or coal at night... the co2 levels at night out here are like 1000-1200 ppm flux which is right around the ppfd of the canopy so if it aint broke don't fix it.

I liked to run it after the 2/2.5 weeks and or soon as i see some bud growth till around week 6.

 

[coughphee.connoiseur]

Why brew at all?

Coot did an experiment a couple years back and found that malted barley powder applied as a top dress and just watered in worked just as well as the brews, with no mess.

A $12 electric coffee grinder does great for powdering the malted barley. We mainly use it as a spice grinder, but the MB adds no taste's to it.

Haven't done a 'brew' of any sorts in years.

Wet

Oh fi sure... tru i do remember reading that from cootz .... i stopped bubbling awhile ago just soak for some fermentation... i just wanted to try it with the grokashi one time ...

 

[Chunky Stool]

Tomorrow I'll snap a pic of my big Durban Poison that's in a hillbilly air pot. She's a beast!

I normally grow em shorter for the tent. The "Durb" was started outside & took WAY longer to finish than I anticipated.

She's a scraggly girl, but the buds look decent.

 

[greasemonkeymann]

Very cool! I've been wondering if I should bother adding any additional aeration when I recycle my soil. Or if my soil being well worked and full of castings and compost would be enough. A friend's veggie garden was my initial inspiration to experiment, yours is even more encouragement. Keep up the good work friend!

I always encourage more aeration at reamendment, especially since you have a good compost going.
if yours are like mine, you'll see the compost almost disappearing after each run.
I usually do a 2/1 ratio of compost to aeration
if it's castings I do an even 1/1

 

[Rasta Roy]

I always encourage more aeration at reamendment, especially since you have a good compost going.
if yours are like mine, you'll see the compost almost disappearing after each run.
I usually do a 2/1 ratio of compost to aeration
if it's castings I do an even 1/1

Ive been doing something similar, my soil mixes tend to have a healthy amount of perlite. But I'm wondering if I'm overdoing it. I got to see a few different gardens this summer, all doing raised bed set ups. All using home-made compost, worm castings, mulch and no other fertilizers. And all of them had much less aeration in their soil than what I had expected to find. They did have some...but it didn't seem like shit compared tovwhat I do in my containers. Got me thinking about doing bigger containers and a less perlite dominated soil...I just want to see if I can get away with not adding as many additional amendments if i try to simulate their soil consistency. Cause they don't, and their plants don't seem to want for anything.

 

[greasemonkeymann]

Ive been doing something similar, my soil mixes tend to have a healthy amount of perlite. But I'm wondering if I'm overdoing it. I got to see a few different gardens this summer, all doing raised bed set ups. All using home-made compost, worm castings, mulch and no other fertilizers. And all of them had much less aeration in their soil than what I had expected to find. They did have some...but it didn't seem like shit compared tovwhat I do in my containers. Got me thinking about doing bigger containers and a less perlite dominated soil...I just want to see if I can get away with not adding as many additional amendments if i try to simulate their soil consistency. Cause they don't, and their plants don't seem to want for anything.

I reaaaally like volcanic rock, vermiculite, rotted tree log chunks and biochar as my aeration over perlite.

 

[Rasta Roy]

I reaaaally like volcanic rock, vermiculite, rotted tree log chunks and biochar as my aeration over perlite.

I have lots of access to rotted log chunks but I was concerned about them robbing nitrogen from the soil. You haven't had any problems though I take it? Volcanic rock and biochar are things I've been wanting in my soil for a while but I haven't been able to get an affordable local source. I might have to finally splurge for the volcanic rock. Im gonna have to hunt for that biochar tho.

 

[Fastslappy]

Try DryStalll sold at feed stores and at horse supply & tack
100% pumice no attatives $12.oo around here 40lb bag
Used to keep horses from slipping on wet hard surfaces
1/4-3\8" screened with fines

 

[Chunky Stool]

I reaaaally like volcanic rock, vermiculite, rotted tree log chunks and biochar as my aeration over perlite.

I reaaaally like calcined clay over perlite. RM3 turned me onto it & all of my plants dig it. Heavier than perlite but lighter than large-particle sand, it's the shit. I love the fact that it doesn't float!

 

[Fastslappy]

If one has insect infestation do still use the leaf & stem material in compost \ top dress \ worm's food ?

 

[coughphee.connoiseur]

I have lots of access to rotted log chunks but I was concerned about them robbing nitrogen from the soil. You haven't had any problems though I take it? Volcanic rock and biochar are things I've been wanting in my soil for a while but I haven't been able to get an affordable local source. I might have to finally splurge for the volcanic rock. Im gonna have to hunt for that biochar tho.

B.A.S. will send you some... if you can't find anyway i had to go through them at 1 point. If your close to GV its few sources there for both and great product. Or Sac town has a place.

 

[greasemonkeymann]

I have lots of access to rotted log chunks but I was concerned about them robbing nitrogen from the soil. You haven't had any problems though I take it? Volcanic rock and biochar are things I've been wanting in my soil for a while but I haven't been able to get an affordable local source. I might have to finally splurge for the volcanic rock. Im gonna have to hunt for that biochar tho.

oh, they'll TOTALLY rob your soil, but not like uncomposted wood does, only in the way that biochar does if it's not charged.
if charged rotted tree log chunks are awesome, especially in the summer time when you want a lil extra moisture in your soil
anything high in nitrogen works to charge them
alfalfa meal, comfrey, diluted urine, bat guano, etc.
I've personally used a dandelion/comfrey ferment
and also diluted urine, honestly the diluted urine is probably the best "charge" you can use for anything.
but some frown on it, for unfounded reasons really...

 

[greasemonkeymann]

If one has insect infestation do still use the leaf & stem material in compost \ top dress \ worm's food ?

depends on the infestation, probably not the best thing for fungus gnats, as it just gives them more food and places to lay their larvae

 

[greasemonkeymann]

I have lots of access to rotted log chunks but I was concerned about them robbing nitrogen from the soil. You haven't had any problems though I take it? Volcanic rock and biochar are things I've been wanting in my soil for a while but I haven't been able to get an affordable local source. I might have to finally splurge for the volcanic rock. Im gonna have to hunt for that biochar tho.

don't you have a trader joes or whole foods or even some big grocery stores have the hardwood charcoal for grilling
that's what you want
saaaaame stuff, only ya gotta bust it up first
also same to be said for landscaping volcanic rock man
you can get a bag of that and bust that up too.
and there ya have it
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0-5-cu-ft-Decorative-Stone-Red-Lava-Rock-440897/100427379


oh and @Chunky Stool is totally right on
heres a good link too
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-50-l-ViaStone-Hydroponic-Gardening-Medium-Grow-Rock-VS50-GROW-ROCKS/202985175

 

[Chunky Stool]

Not sure if viagrow is the same thing. I use special kitty all natural cat litter from wal-mart. $4 for 25 lbs.
I believe it's also marketed as Turface.

 

[Rasta Roy]

don't you have a trader joes or whole foods or even some big grocery stores have the hardwood charcoal for grilling
that's what you want
saaaaame stuff, only ya gotta bust it up first
also same to be said for landscaping volcanic rock man
you can get a bag of that and bust that up too.
and there ya have it
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0-5-cu-ft-Decorative-Stone-Red-Lava-Rock-440897/100427379
View attachment 3820960

oh and @Chunky Stool is totally right on
heres a good link too
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-50-l-ViaStone-Hydroponic-Gardening-Medium-Grow-Rock-VS50-GROW-ROCKS/202985175

I got some red lava rocks in my shed lol. I knew I could use them...did not connect the dots that they're the same thing. Do they need to be rinsed first?

I gotta charge that biochar if I go that route tho wouldn't I?

 

[Rasta Roy]

Not sure if viagrow is the same thing. I use special kitty all natural cat litter from wal-mart. $4 for 25 lbs.
I believe it's also marketed as Turface.

I don't support Wal-Mart. I'm actually banned from one Wal-Mart in my area for handing out pro union paper work lol. Granted we were calling it the local 420...