Microscopy and Super Soils

Unorthodoxy

Unorthodoxy

Active Member
Hello all. I've learned a lot here and I hope to not only learn more, but to help educate others as well.

I'm here today because I'm super stoked. I mixed up my super soil the other day, and while I am trying to be patient to let it cook, my curiosity is running overdrive.

Here is my formula so far :

MY MIX 1.0
  • 3 cu ft Coast Of Maine Stonington Blend
  • 1/2 cu ft COM Lobster Compost
  • ?? cu ft Perlite
  • 1/2 cu ft Worm Castings
  • 1.5c Kelp Meal
  • 1c Neem meal
  • 1c Bone Meal
  • 1/2c Blood Meal
  • 1c Alfalfa meal
  • 1c Crushed Oyster shells
  • 1c Azomite
  • 1c Rock Phosphate
  • 1c Crab and Lobster Shell Plant Food
  • 1c Dolomite Lime
I think the COM stuff is pretty heavy already, but who knows how long it had been sitting out in the sun. I got a great deal of 6 bags of the stuff, though, and thought it would make a good base.

I have only just started my compost pile, and am working on a worm bin, so I have to use bagged products as well. I mixed the stuff up and watered it with a bit of molasses water.

I am also considering adding malted barley, gypsum, and diatomaceous earth.

Anyway, today I took a small sample and gave it a drink of tap water with molasses, let it sit for a few hours, then put it under the microscope. I am delighted to see much life! I can identify nematodes, bacteria/archaea, and - I think - an amoeba. I'm definitely an amateur microscopist (?) at best, it I'm super excited about it and had to share.

I managed to get a short video through my scope.

20190622_161609.gif
Does anyone here 'scope their soils? What should I be looking for?

Thanks for looking!
 
DonBrennon

DonBrennon

Well-Known Member
Unorthodoxy said:
Hello all. I've learned a lot here and I hope to not only learn more, but to help educate others as well.

I'm here today because I'm super stoked. I mixed up my super soil the other day, and while I am trying to be patient to let it cook, my curiosity is running overdrive.

Here is my formula so far :

MY MIX 1.0
  • 3 cu ft Coast Of Maine Stonington Blend
  • 1/2 cu ft COM Lobster Compost
  • ?? cu ft Perlite
  • 1/2 cu ft Worm Castings
  • 1.5c Kelp Meal
  • 1c Neem meal
  • 1c Bone Meal
  • 1/2c Blood Meal
  • 1c Alfalfa meal
  • 1c Crushed Oyster shells
  • 1c Azomite
  • 1c Rock Phosphate
  • 1c Crab and Lobster Shell Plant Food
  • 1c Dolomite Lime
I think the COM stuff is pretty heavy already, but who knows how long it had been sitting out in the sun. I got a great deal of 6 bags of the stuff, though, and thought it would make a good base.

I have only just started my compost pile, and am working on a worm bin, so I have to use bagged products as well. I mixed the stuff up and watered it with a bit of molasses water.

I am also considering adding malted barley, gypsum, and diatomaceous earth.

Anyway, today I took a small sample and gave it a drink of tap water with molasses, let it sit for a few hours, then put it under the microscope. I am delighted to see much life! I can identify nematodes, bacteria/archaea, and - I think - an amoeba. I'm definitely an amateur microscopist (?) at best, it I'm super excited about it and had to share.

I managed to get a short video through my scope.

View attachment 4353905
Does anyone here 'scope their soils? What should I be looking for?

Thanks for looking!
Click to expand...
Can see a few nematode swimming about, but if you're after any real info, you'll need a much stronger scope with diaphragm and a pretty good college course to help you identify what you've actually got in there.
 
Unorthodoxy

Unorthodoxy

Active Member
I can definitely see a lot more than is visible in the gif above, but this is an old scope. I didn't mention the type of scope I'm using? Anyway, I'll have to make due with what I have. A new, expensive scope and college courses aren't in the cards right now.

I am educating myself the best I can with books and internet, and it'll have to do for a while.

I can at least roughly compare relative density and type of microbes. For example, there is a lot more life in my SS sample than the sample I took from my compost pile.
 
Unorthodoxy

Unorthodoxy

Active Member
There is a lot of info here in this site , but it seems that the culture is suffering a bit sometimes.

Thankfully, the flip side of the coin reveals some genuinely kind, helpful, funny people.

Thanks to those going through life with positivity! Because the other side of the coin is no way to live life.
 
DonBrennon

DonBrennon

Well-Known Member
jcurtis912 said:
Why you guys hating? He is just showing us what is in some soil. Thanx OP, that is some cool stuff.
Click to expand...
Please tell me where the 'hate' is in my comment.

He can see nematode with his microscope, but what does that actually tell him?.....................Nothing, because he can't actually identify what type of nematode they are. They 'could' all be root eaters, not a good thing.

No point giving bad info just to blow smoke up someones arse
 
DonBrennon

DonBrennon

Well-Known Member
Unorthodoxy said:
I can definitely see a lot more than is visible in the gif above, but this is an old scope. I didn't mention the type of scope I'm using? Anyway, I'll have to make due with what I have. A new, expensive scope and college courses aren't in the cards right now.

I am educating myself the best I can with books and internet, and it'll have to do for a while.

I can at least roughly compare relative density and type of microbes. For example, there is a lot more life in my SS sample than the sample I took from my compost pile.
Click to expand...
IMHO @calliandra was the most advanced person on here with regards to microscopy and identifying micro-organisms. If her threads are still here, they're well worth searching out and reading. Good info on what exactly is needed, preparing slides and what to look out for, good and bad.

Good luck

DB
 
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