innoculate biochar and cook supersoil same time?

G

G1deon

Member
Greetings... My 1st post!!

Question. My plan is to charge my biochar and cook my supersoil. Can't I just combine the two together into one container and have the 2 of them sit while charging and cooking?
 
You could do the char first and the build your soil or do both at the same timetime, separately, and combine when finished. Either way the char needs started on its own from my experience.

I've done it the way you proposed and honestly had nothing but issues from that batch. It could've been something else, couldn't tell ya, I trashed that batch after the first run.
 
i'd say, if it's 'subcools' then go for it, would suck up all those immediately soluble nutes that probably get wasted. If you're going with 'coots' mix, then definitely cook/charge separately, it will suck up a LOT of N
 
The char would suck up microbes but would also be pushing up the pH of the soil pretty agresively.
Best is to just apply it at low concentrations <9% and give it about 300 days to work its way down the soil table naturally.

.
 
I was impatient and mixed it all together before quienscent said it wasn't a good ideal.

This mix favors Coot's mix. I have:
  • Base
  • 1/2 cup crab meal
  • 1/4 cup neem
  • 1/4 cup karanja
  • 1/2 cup kelp
  • 1 cup glacial
  • 1 cup OSF
  • 1 cup basalt
  • 1/4 cup zeolite
  • 1/2 cup barley

    So what can I do now? I'm thinking I just use 10% of this with a new base. All advice welcomed.
 
G1deon said:
I was impatient and mixed it all together before quienscent said it wasn't a good ideal.

This mix favors Coot's mix. I have:
  • Base
  • 1/2 cup crab meal
  • 1/4 cup neem
  • 1/4 cup karanja
  • 1/2 cup kelp
  • 1 cup glacial
  • 1 cup OSF
  • 1 cup basalt
  • 1/4 cup zeolite
  • 1/2 cup barley

    So what can I do now? I'm thinking I just use 10% of this with a new base. All advice welcomed.
Click to expand...
Fwiw I think that's a solid mix of ingredients. Most people fuck up their mixes being cute, you made some well thought out changes.

I like the idea of starting a worm bin with it as well. Should make some really nice castings.
 
I have 4cuft of this stuff!!
Alright, I'll give some to the worms, some to the house plants, and try a few plants with it and measure it against my new batch of supersoil I'm about to make. Thankz Y'all

I've already done a search to innoculate my char, and the search is coming up pretty slim
 
G1deon said:
I have 4cuft of this stuff!!
Alright, I'll give some to the worms, some to the house plants, and try a few plants with it and measure it against my new batch of supersoil I'm about to make. Thankz Y'all

I've already done a search to innoculate my char, and the search is coming up pretty slim
Click to expand...

i charge mine with fish hydrolysate and kelp extract. Bubbled it for like a week i think, and stirred it up at least once a day. Then the last 24hrs I added some compost and a small amount of molasses to the brew to inoculate it with organisms. Strained it and used the tea on plants and the char in my recipe. I ended up using it outdoors as a 30gal no-till lettuce bed. I need to add char to my recycled soils as well. Currently I have none in the mix.
 
I'm curious, where are you guys sourcing your biochar? Do any of you still use the natural lump charcoal from lowes or home depot? I just cant justify spending the price that some sites are asking + shipping when I know there has to be an easier way to get/make my own, much like all other things I am slowly starting to learn while reading and learning some awesome stuff on this forum.
 
loco41 said:
I'm curious, where are you guys sourcing your biochar? Do any of you still use the natural lump charcoal from lowes or home depot? I just cant justify spending the price that some sites are asking + shipping when I know there has to be an easier way to get/make my own, much like all other things I am slowly starting to learn while reading and learning some awesome stuff on this forum.
Click to expand...

i've used the cowboy charcoal. just lump hardwood char. I don't think it's the best option out there, but it's certainly an option. sucks smashing it up, make sure you wear a good dust mask. Was even getting dusty smashing through a sheet.
 
I just mix my char up in a bag of compost and vermicompost, then I just take it from there when I need it.
I like a nice handful or two in every bag of coco coir medium

It is easier to smash up while it is wet.
 
loco41 said:
I'm curious, where are you guys sourcing your biochar? Do any of you still use the natural lump charcoal from lowes or home depot? I just cant justify spending the price that some sites are asking + shipping when I know there has to be an easier way to get/make my own, much like all other things I am slowly starting to learn while reading and learning some awesome stuff on this forum.
Click to expand...
I source mine locally, Black Swallow Soil $35/40lb
http://blackswallowsoil.com/products/other
 
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