Soil Food Web Gardening with Compost Teas

[Rrog]

And I amended my soil before I mixed it so that there would be enough food to go around. And microbes die and or go dormant all that time. They're microbes. There's billions of billions of them beneath our plants, yet adding to that ecosystem somehow is unnecessary?

Exactly. There are trillions of microbes, and if there's a viable plant root system in there, the microbes will be very busy multiplying and doing their job. The microherd will quickly develop into the population the plant wants. Adding microbes to the ecosystem is unnecessary.

 

[Sincerely420]

If I'm making a tea, I'm introducing something new like enzymes, hormones and secondary metabolites. It's not like we're saying teas are bad.

There isn't a single thing that comes from AACT that I can't get by simply topdressing with the same compost. Speed of delivery is the only difference. So you could use ACT for 100% of your waterings. Apply it daily. No one said that would hurt the plants. Me- I'll just add that same compost and get the same nutrient payload and save the hassle.

Grass City is simply another stoner forum. I would expect every stoner forum to talk about AACT, as well as many other grow techniques unique to Weedville. If AACT was great in and of itself, then commercial growers would use it for produce and ornamental plants... and they don't. Is this because the world horticulture industry is behind the times? No. Why has AACT never been discussed at the global plant shows? Where is all the peer-reviewed data that shows AACT brings something truly unique to the table? There is none after all these years. Google it and see. See how many scientific papers you find on the topic.

Why? Because top dressing with compost gives you the same long-term payload delivery. AACT does not create any nutrients that were not already in the compost.

Yo...tell it ALL to MicrobeMan.
And tell me why you would ever topdress when an AACT works immediately? What's the point?
i top dressed every 2-3w just because. This with all my AACT use.
And did I say that you'd stated AACTs hurt the plants? I don't think so. Already I shouldn't have.

You keep saying only pot farmers use AACTs...do I need to provide you with some links so that you stop repeating that same shit?
Because that's a bold face lie.

I can't reply anymore to you lol it's pointless man. It that same old shit...just a different way.

 

[Sincerely420]

Exactly. There are trillions of microbes, and if there's a viable plant root system in there, the microbes will be very busy multiplying and doing their job. The microherd will quickly develop into the population the plant wants. Adding microbes to the ecosystem is unnecessary.

Microbes don't multiply in soil as fas as they do in water buddy.
Bacteria don't move around in soil very well and fungal strands grow but don't even come close to the amount of bacteria abound. And who said trillions of microbes are adequate and that trillions of microbes turn into more trillions of microbes in the soil alone??

 

[Rrog]

Sincerely420, as you've said, all of this has been discussed already. Nothing new to offer, as this just isn't that complex. Good luck with your brewing. This is clearly agitating you, and this is a mellow forum.

- Peace

 

[Rrog]

So... who here has a worm bin? I have a worm "bag" (Geopot) and have amended so far with kelp, biochar, cram shell, Neem. Feeding the worms Bokashi.

The volume and quality goes up daily. Everyone should make their own compost. Free / cheap and better than anything you can buy.

 

[Rising Moon]

Okay I'll put it this way.

AACT is like pouring gasoline on a fire. It gives a WHOLE lot of energy all at once.

Regular applications of compost and organic matter is like putting a thick, hardwood log onto the fire. Slow burning, steady heat for hours and hours.

Some people like a gas fire, but they sure as hell have to keep putting in on, otherwise the fire dies quickly.

But I like the idea, of a slow burning, continuous energy soarce. (top dressing, cover crops)

 

[Sincerely420]

Yeahh bro! It clearly agitates me how non-chalanty you say shit like it's fact when it's not, but I'm not sweating about it.
I just don't want everyone who comes across this thread to be turned of by what you saying becuase I know that If I didn't know the things that I did, and do the things that I do, and saw some of the things that you said, Id be confused as hell by the time I made it here from the OP.

 

[Sincerely420]

Okay I'll put it this way.

AACT is like pouring gasoline on a fire. It gives a WHOLE lot of energy all at once.


Regular applications of compost and organic matter is like putting a thick, hardwood log onto the fire. Slow burning, steady heat for hours and hours.

Some people like a gas fire, but they sure as hell have to keep putting in on, otherwise the fire dies quickly.

But I like the idea, of a slow burning, continuous energy soarce.

"Not all of that energy is used right away right?! So how is it adding fuel to fire?

 

[Rrog]

Sincerely420- I think you'd enjoy reading Teaming With Microbes. Vermiculture Technology by Clive Edwards, et al is another amazing read.

 

[Rising Moon]

Yo...tell it ALL to MicrobeMan.
And tell me why you would ever topdress when an AACT works immediately? What's the point?

To BUILD soil organic matter.

You can use AACT every day for years and never build anything.

When you spray teas on a soiless medium what happens to the medium, nothing really.

When you top dress compost on a soiless medium what happens, the compost becomes a part of the medium.

The difference is building something (organic matter) vs. feeding something. (AACT)

 

[Sincerely420]

Ohh I've got it boss. And I've shared it with like 10 ppl here...Along with like 30+ other cannabis related books, documents, spreadsheets and slideshows.
Sound like you would enjoy reading that again based on what you telling me about AACTs

 

[Sincerely420]

To BUILD soil organic matter.

You can use AACT every day for years and never build anything.

When you spray teas on a soiless medium what happens to the medium, nothing really.

When you top dress compost on a soiless medium what happens, the compost becomes a part of the medium.

The difference is building something (organic matter) vs. feeding something. (AACT)

What kind of AACT can you use for years and never build anything?
I'm growing in soil. Not soilless.

And AACTs are meant to feel the plant indirectly. I don't apply them for nutrional value, other than N when I use the Neptunes Harvest. My goal is to add as many bennies as I can. The plant will pick and choose with it's exudates. Having too much life in your soil..is that possible?

GOOD QUESTIONS! Thanks haha maybe I'm getting somewhere

 

[Rrog]

I have a 4 year degree in Biochem. I've read TWM twice. I think I'm OK here.

You are not understanding soil biology. If you'd like to discuss what's happening, that's what this forum is for. You are asserting non-science. Sorry to have to say this. There's a block in your logic that you are defending.

 

[Sincerely420]

I have a 4 year degree in Biochem. I've read TWM twice. I think I'm OK here.

You are not understanding soil biology. If you'd like to discuss what's happening, that's what this forum is for. You are asserting non-science. Sorry to have to say this. There's a block in your logic that you are defending.

Just block me and keep it moving.

 

[Rising Moon]

Taken from New Organic Grower by Elliot Coleman:

"there are a number of "natural"'products on the market (liquid seaweed or fish emulsion are examples) that claim to offer plant stimulation without producing an imbalance. These products appeal to our human inclination to look for the "magic bullet", a secret potion that will make everything work better. In my opinion these products have mostly a phychological benefit. They make the grower feel more secure because something has been done whether it was necessary or not. Unquestionably, they can be helpful at times when things go wrong despite your best efforts. But I encourage you to use them as an occasional tool, not as a continual crutch. In most cases, a grower would be better off spending that money to build up long-term soil fertility. "

 

[Rrog]

Rising Moon, you have a worm bin, no?

 

[Sincerely420]

Taken from New Organic Grower by Elliot Coleman:

"there are a number of "natural"'products on the market (liquid seaweed or fish emulsion are examples) that claim to offer plant stimulation without producing an imbalance. These products appeal to our human inclination to look for the "magic bullet", a secret potion that will make everything work better. In my opinion these products have mostly a phychological benefit. They make the grower feel more secure because something has been done whether it was necessary or not. Unquestionably, they can be helpful at times when things go wrong despite your best efforts. But I encourage you to use them as an occasional tool, not as a continual crutch. In most cases, a grower would be better off spending that money to build up long-term soil fertility. "

But I use such a small amount of all these things....I don't feel like the Neptunes Harvest Liquid Fish is a magic bullet. I use 1/2tsp per gallon in my AACTs. And not for the N. For it's b/a brewing properties. I don't use kelp me for it's nutritonal value I use it for all of it's other values..
The Bat Guano(indonesion)...it packs a more than justP..
The molasses isn't used for it's potassium....It's used to feed b/a as they mulitply

 

[Rrog]

Interesting thing (to me) is that microbes involved in the composting process generally break down many complex molecules like antibiotics and pesticides. Some have a concern about using animal manure because of the antibiotics (I did) but later find out that is not necessarily a valid concern.

Reminds me of Paul Stamets and his work detoxifying hazardous sites with fungi.

Some things I'm considering for VermiCompost amending:

Alfalfa
Kelp Meal
Neem Meal
Karanja meal
Manure or compost
Comfrey
Yarrow
Horsetail Ferns
Stinging Nettles
Fish Meal
Fish Bone Meal
Flaxseed Meal
Rock Dusts
- Glacial Rock
- Bentonite
- Oyster Shell
- Basalt
Agsil 16
Crab Meal powder
Clay Powders **

** Montmorillonite and Pyrophyllite

If anyone's interested in some newer research check out research done by Dr. Yasmine Cardoza One of her research projects released about a year ago proved, conclusively, that besides disease suppression that vermicompost provides high levels of insect suppression as well. The benefits extend from the soil to the Phyllosphere. That surprised a lot of folks and many previously resisted this notion.

Vermicompost is what we each of us should be looking at doing locally

 

[Rising Moon]

Rrog, yes on the worm bin! 5 years and counting...

CLAYS!!!

I was going to start a whole tread, "montmorillonite/bentonite clay, why you should get to know them"

Possibly one of the biggest contributers to the formation of humus.

So funny you bring it up Rrog, as I am headed to the health food store to pick some up today!

 

[Rrog]

Clay is such a big deal! Your local store stocks these clays???