Charging biochar

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Groat21

Active Member
Hey again everyone, I’m just wondering what a good way to charge my biochar is.

I am adding 7 gallons to 70 gallons of soil, I was going to charge it by mixing with some compost/worm castings, and was thinking maybe a bit of alfalfa or something with high nitrogen content?

Also, I should mention that I am mixing the soil myself (lava rock and perlite/compost and EWC/Canadian sphagnum peat moss). Would I take out some of the compost portion of my mix, and add it to the biochar, or add extra compost? Thanks guys!
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
make a nice soup with biochar and compost, maybe some bonemeal and kelp, let it stand for a few days, then dry it out. Don't use more than 5 to 8% biochar or you are going to take a knock the first year using that soil.
Outdoors I tell people to add biochar a year in advance as it will migrate down for about 300 days.
 
G

Groat21

Active Member
ANC said:
make a nice soup with biochar and compost, maybe some bonemeal and kelp, let it stand for a few days, then dry it out. Don't use more than 5 to 8% biochar or you are going to take a knock the first year using that soil.
Outdoors I tell people to add biochar a year in advance as it will migrate down for about 300 days.
Click to expand...
Should I aerate the “soup”? And I read 10% was max so I was going to use just under that (6.84 gallons in 70 gallons of soil). I can always use less!

Also, I’m not in a rush, I have about 2 months or more. Would it be better to make a “soup” or just let it sit in the compost/bone meal/kelp?

I have kelp, neem, and alfalfa already on hand as well.
 
G

Groat21

Active Member
ANC said:
make a nice soup with biochar and compost, maybe some bonemeal and kelp, let it stand for a few days, then dry it out. Don't use more than 5 to 8% biochar or you are going to take a knock the first year using that soil.
Outdoors I tell people to add biochar a year in advance as it will migrate down for about 300 days.
Click to expand...
Sorry for all the questions, but I’m a bit confused on the soup making process, as well as how much compost/bone meal/kelp as well as water I should be adding in.

When you say “dry it out”, do you dump the water or just let it evaporate?

Thanks again!!
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
rather aim for 5%, you'll still get most of the benefit, things go pearshaped when you go too high as it will pretty much strip what it can from the soil in the first year...

yes, I'd aerate or stir very often, I don't think you want it to get anaerobic... i.e. no bad smells
 
G

Groat21

Active Member
ANC said:
rather aim for 5%, you'll still get most of the benefit, things go pearshaped when you go too high as it will pretty much strip what it can from the soil in the first year...

yes, I'd aerate or stir very often, I don't think you want it to get anaerobic... i.e. no bad smells
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I will order a bit less then, no point spending more to get worse results!!

Should I do this “soup” indoors or outdoors? I can put an air pump in it too, if that would help.
 
G

Groat21

Active Member
ANC said:
rather aim for 5%, you'll still get most of the benefit, things go pearshaped when you go too high as it will pretty much strip what it can from the soil in the first year...

yes, I'd aerate or stir very often, I don't think you want it to get anaerobic... i.e. no bad smells
Click to expand...
I got my biochar today and am ready to charge it. Sill unclear on what to do with the liquid in this “soup” though. Do I drain it or let it evaporate? Seems draining would waste a lot of good stuff
 
G

Groat21

Active Member
Also, when I add the biochar, should it be a topdress or mixed right in with the soil? I noticed you mentioned it will “migrate down for about 300 days”
ANC said:
make a nice soup with biochar and compost, maybe some bonemeal and kelp, let it stand for a few days, then dry it out. Don't use more than 5 to 8% biochar or you are going to take a knock the first year using that soil.
Outdoors I tell people to add biochar a year in advance as it will migrate down for about 300 days.
Click to expand...
 
L

loco41

Well-Known Member
Groat21 said:
I got my biochar today and am ready to charge it. Sill unclear on what to do with the liquid in this “soup” though. Do I drain it or let it evaporate? Seems draining would waste a lot of good stuff
Click to expand...
I just made a small batch and I charged it with some fish hydrolosate and some kelp/alfalfa meal in water for two days. i just strained it all through an empty smart pot I had over my compost piles outside. I'd definitely dump it on something though, but that's me.
 
G

Groat21

Active Member
loco41 said:
I just made a small batch and I charged it with some fish hydrolosate and some kelp/alfalfa meal in water for two days. i just strained it all through an empty smart pot I had over my compost piles outside. I'd definitely dump it on something though, but that's me.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, I would definitely be dumping it on my compost at least. I guess that makes sense.

Did you aerate it? I have a spare air pump and stone, so I don't see why not. And does it matter if I do it outside? I could do it in my shed, or inside somewhere.
 
jHands

jHands

Active Member
I second fish hydrolysate and water. Let it sit for 2-3 days, mixing daily. Strain off liquid and toss that liquid wherever. I tossed mine in a portion of my grass that didn’t look too hot. Seemed to perk it up this spring. There’s really no wrong way here, other than using too much char in your mix and not charging at all.
 
G

Groat21

Active Member
jHands said:
I second fish hydrolysate and water. Let it sit for 2-3 days, mixing daily. Strain off liquid and toss that liquid wherever. I tossed mine in a portion of my grass that didn’t look too hot. Seemed to perk it up this spring. There’s really no wrong way here, other than using too much char in your mix and not charging at all.
Click to expand...
So no air stone/pump in it? And inside or outside best? Gwtting down to 40 degrees at night here right now
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
Groat21 said:
I got my biochar today and am ready to charge it. Sill unclear on what to do with the liquid in this “soup” though. Do I drain it or let it evaporate? Seems draining would waste a lot of good stuff
Click to expand...
Well I suppose you can use some of the drained shit in the garden in a corner you would like to improve over time.
Remember the biochar is merely the microbe hotel, not the food source.
 
jHands

jHands

Active Member
Groat21 said:
So no air stone/pump in it? And inside or outside best? Gwtting down to 40 degrees at night here right now
Click to expand...
Best do it inside then. I didn’t aerate mine and it never went anaerobic. Keep it stirred. Couple times a day I stirred it up with a broken hockey stick.
 
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