Anaerobic bacteria effect on soil

O

oldfogey420

Well-Known Member
Can't seem to find that dolomite. I'll have to run to the store. Surely that bag will turn up right after I open the new one.

I installed a small ro system this afternoon and watered in some Orca that a friend gave me. The filtered water reads 12ppm. The company says it should be 0, but hey, ill take 12 over 250 frim the faucet. And I also raised the light to 24".
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
oldfogey420 said:
Can't seem to find that dolomite. I'll have to run to the store. Surely that bag will turn up right after I open the new one.

I installed a small ro system this afternoon and watered in some Orca that a friend gave me. The filtered water reads 12ppm. The company says it should be 0, but hey, ill take 12 over 250 frim the faucet. And I also raised the light to 24".
Click to expand...
Don't use the dolomite yet. Do a bunch of slurry tests and let us know the results.
FYI, it helps to have experience doing slurry tests. Make sure if you use a glass that there is no soap residue on the glass. Any soap will distort the test. You can always have a sample of your soil tested for $30 to get an idea of what's going on with the PH and all major elements.
You said you had your worm bin to wet. I'm curious of how it smells. Does it have an earthy smell, or does it have any bad odors?
If it has a rotten smell, it could also be that your worm bin is acidic.
 
O

oldfogey420

Well-Known Member
Ok, I'll hold on the dolomite until I run my tests. I've done them before, so should be fine.

The foul smell is how i detemined the bin went anaerobic. I don't go in there too often.. once a week maybe, sometimes longer. As of now, it has that typical sweet earthy compost smell.
 
Turpman

Turpman

Well-Known Member
If you cover your worm bin make sure it will still breathe. I use cloth. Old towel or sheet. Or I’ll cut multiple 2” holes in a lid of it’s sealed and hot glue fine mesh over it to keep nats and fruit flys out.
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
oldfogey420 said:
Slurry test:
pH 5.83
2040ppm
Click to expand...
5.8 is on the low side for soil if the results are good. Always a good idea to do a few tests. If you trust the results, then you would probably want to increase the PH.
2040 ppms sounds high for a slurry test. I'm guessing runoff is a lot higher. I was just looking but can't find info on a slurry test ppm range but I think it's usually lower than that in a healthy soil.
 
Weather Report

Weather Report

Active Member
No, your worm bin is not the reason for your problems, whatever they are. I just move stuff to give more room to my worms, not a big deal, use a one like yours and wherever that wet, slippery, muddy compound touches, life is born. There's a misunderstanding of basics about timing regarding aerobic and anaerobic life on soil and growers teaching it on YT.
Elaine Ingham and Jeff Lowenfels are the ones.
 
R

redchigh

Member
Anaeobic bacteria do produce toxins like hydrogen sulfide that can be tricky to break down fully.

You just need to add air to your worm bin. What are you feeding it?

Maybe scatter the contents out on a tarp in the shade, and go through some wet dry cycles in the sun to clean up whats in the bin now.
 
O

oldfogey420

Well-Known Member
Just letting you all know what has transpired since I posted. I got an r.o. system and started using that instead of tap water. I also started ph correcting my water even though you all say there is no need. Raised the lights. Got the room a little warmer. Annnnd.... I hate to admit this, I started giving them pure blend pro flower nutes in conjunction with calmag. They have made a complete 180° turn around. All new growth looking really happy and healthy. I am going to get rid of my old soil and start fresh next time. Or I may just go back to coco and salts. I'm undecided atm, but I'm otherwise over it (struggling to get a nice harvest via organics).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top