Why do people "cook" their soil?

[CannaExists]

^ See what randude is speaking of is actually baking the soil in an oven. By the way trippydope sig dood.

 

[Stoned Crow]

^ See what randude is speaking of is actually baking the soil in an oven. By the way trippydope sig dood.

I refuse to believe that Randude101 bakes his soil in the oven....SC

 

[CannaExists]

I refuse to believe that Randude101 bakes his soil in the oven....SC

lol, well of course he doesn't! He said he doesn't like the idea of it.

There are people that sterilize soil (like soil they bring from outdoors) by cooking it in the oven, and I believe that is the practice randude is speaking of.

 

[JackTheGrower]

I do not like the idea of cooking soil. You kill the good with the bad. My grandfather did this fosr his tomatoes and I did not see any benefit in my side by side test

Well it's an art form. We are losing touch with the Earth. So much so even composting is a mystery.

Weird future ahead.

 

[Spok]

wassup, im goin with LC's mix with bone, blood, and kelp meal

my question is, when i let the mix 'cook' (not in the oven) should i cover the mix with a tarp to keep the sun away or is it good for the soil to be exposed to the sun while its preparing?

-thanks

 

[THC123]

you should make the soil moist and definately cover it with a tarp for 2-4 weeks

when you open you will see white moldy hairs , these are beneficial fungae and bacteria , at this point mix well one last time and ready set grow!

 

[Spok]

you should make the soil moist and definately cover it with a tarp for 2-4 weeks

when you open you will see white moldy hairs , these are beneficial fungae and bacteria , at this point mix well one last time and ready set grow!

aight thanks man, is it important for for the mix to be ventilated at the top? or does oxygen not play a part in this roll?

 

[SecretGardener]

you should make the soil moist and definately cover it with a tarp for 2-4 weeks

when you open you will see white moldy hairs , these are beneficial fungae and bacteria , at this point mix well one last time and ready set grow!

Didn't know you should cover it, good question lol.

 

[Cookie monster]

you should make the soil moist and definately cover it with a tarp for 2-4 weeks

when you open you will see white moldy hairs , these are beneficial fungae and bacteria , at this point mix well one last time and ready set grow!

Thats exactly what I noticed when I went to use a batch of soil mix ( peat free compost, blood n bone,manure,pelleted poultry manure,lime and vermiculte) I had cooking in a barrel for a few weeks in the conservatory.

I'm a total novice at organics but when cooking a soil/soil less mix, temperature plays an important role.
Hopefully somebody more knowledgeable can explain this in detail.

 

[Spok]

Thats exactly what I noticed when I went to use a batch of soil mix ( peat free compost, blood n bone,manure,pelleted poultry manure,lime and vermiculte) I had cooking in a barrel for a few weeks in the conservatory.

I'm a total novice at organics but when cooking a soil/soil less mix, temperature plays an important role.
Hopefully somebody more knowledgeable can explain this in detail.

when you speak of temperature, should it be warmer or cooler? or would it be better to put it outside or inside?

 

[JackTheGrower]

There is decomposition with things that need oxygen and there is decomposition with things that don't need oxygen.
In fact I will update the Black Soldier Fly thread with new pictures in a moment. That container smells foul , sewer like and that is decomposition without oxygen.

There are interesting aspects to both. One is with Anaerobic there is a hidden ability to have Aerobic populations surge when exposed to oxygen. This is seen with what is it Mad Boschki or what do you guys call it?
Aerobic[url] on the other hand is what we usually consider hot composting.

Now I have a container out there of some foul smelling material that is home to my Black Soldier Flies and many I say many are still moving from last winter? They are indeed still there. Perhaps being exposed to warmth and oxygen will turn them into adults.

So in general we should turn our composting materials as well as manage reasonable moisture or we will have materials that are dominated by organisms that create the smell we call sewer.

The White Fungus is positive stuff we are using bacteria to advance decomposition and make compost.

I found that top dressing with a mix of white rice flour aids in supporting the fungus in the garden once we are growing and we can always apply spores we buy when we mix our soil to be sure we get populations but really, it's a balance in the soil we tip on way or the other a little to bias things towards Veg or Flower.. I am still learning but I feel I got closer this last season.

 

[SecretGardener]

Had my LC mix (promix HP, ewc, perlite, dolomite lime) + organic amendments (bone/blood/kelp meals) outside cooking for 5 days now. I am wondering if the temperature is supposed to rise as high as if you were composting (140*F)? I haven't added liquid karma yet. The steamed bone meal I bought has mycorrhizae and humic acids in it so that should get the process working no?

 

[xmobotx]

I am wondering if the temperature is supposed to rise as high as if you were composting (140*F)?

no, it doesn't usually get literal hot when your "cooking" a mix

but it can

aren't you glad you let it sit now? (i would let it sit a extra till it cools well off)

you might want to cut it down some w/ peat/perlite once it cools

 

[TheAfficianado]

I know this thread has not been updated for awhile, but I want to add something. I have nothing but agreement on letting soils sit for at least 4-5 weeks after amendments and myco or other microbes are added. But where I live there is a triangular bright fluorescent, flying bug that is triangular in shape when you look at it on a screen, it does not bite, it looks like a cross between a grasshopper and a moth. By the adult flying stage, thy are not pests other than being egg layers. however, this bug lays eggs on the bottom sides of leaves and the caterpillars-type inch worms completely destroy weed. So because of this and other pests, I absolutely bake or microwave my soils before adding the ferts and letting them sit in closed containers. I just can't have another outbreak of eggs. So I cook both ways, and once it is cooked both ways, I add European Red Nightcrawlers to live in my weed soils. I tried to look up the insect, and it said a Lacewing, but the lacewing has a predatory caterpillar, and I saw one that looks like the caterpillar and it was a boll caterpillar, which is pictured. The boll caterpillar is a moth larva. either way, fuck all uncool insects in my garden!