This EWC and Kelp Meal OK?

[tr1ck_]

I have been unable to find EWC and Kelp Meal or seaweed extract locally.

Since I have amazon prime (And they ship amazon prime items in amazon boxes instead of "beautiful green indoor hydroponics" boxes I was seeing what they had to offer. I have not seen anyone mention either of these brands and was hoping someone here might have an idea if these would work.

Nature's Solution Worm Castings:
http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Solut...1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1295254950&sr=1-1

Dr. Earth Kelp Meal .6-.5-2.5
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Earth-725-...2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1295254840&sr=1-2

I am trying LC's #2 soil with LC's #1 fertilizer.

LC's Soiless Mix #2:
6 parts Fox Farm Ocean Forest
2 parts perlite
2 parts earthworm castings
Powdered (NOT PELLETED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon


1 tablespoon Blood meal per gallon or 1/2 cup per cubic foot of soil mix
2 tablespoons Bone meal per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of soil mix
1-tablespoon kelp meal per gallon or 1/2 cup per cubic foot of soil mix
or Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract as directed

Also I would be open to any other idea's I just would prefer having boxes shipped that scream hydro, its snowing here

 

[CT Guy]

I think the kelp meal is a good source, but the castings are overpriced. I know the company that makes them and they're reputation is one that exceeds the quality of their products in my opinion. If it's the best you can find though, then it should work. You could put that towards a lb. of worms and build a worm bin for cheap and get a much better sustainable product.

A source for seaweed extract powder. 5.80 shipping via USPS priority flat rate envelop for any quantity up to 3 lbs.

http://www.simplici-tea.com/seaweed.htm

 

[tr1ck_]

I think the kelp meal is a good source, but the castings are overpriced. I know the company that makes them and they're reputation is one that exceeds the quality of their products in my opinion. If it's the best you can find though, then it should work. You could put that towards a lb. of worms and build a worm bin for cheap and get a much better sustainable product.

A source for seaweed extract powder. 5.80 shipping via USPS priority flat rate envelop for any quantity up to 3 lbs.

http://www.simplici-tea.com/seaweed.htm

First off thank you for the quick reply. I only have a small indoor grow and don't plan on starting a worm farm since I will be moving in about 6-8 months. Do you think this seaweed extract would be better than the kelp meal for the LC soil?

I have yet to try a tea of any sort, but planned on experimenting with either a kelp meal or seaweed + EWC tea as well if that sways your recommendation at all.

 

[greenmatter]

the best way to get THE BEST castings is to make them yourself. it is a lot easier than you think ... "worms eat my garbage" is a good book if you are looking to go that route. worming 101 is a good thread to look at also. no garden centers where you live ?

 

[greenmatter]

First off thank you for the quick reply. I only have a small indoor grow and don't plan on starting a worm farm since I will be moving in about 6-8 months. Do you think this seaweed extract would be better than the kelp meal for the LC soil?

I have yet to try a tea of any sort, but planned on experimenting with either a kelp meal or seaweed + EWC tea as well if that sways your recommendation at all.

it is more work than buying bottles but TEA rocks if you do it right

 

[mad librettist]

you can move a worm bin when you relocate!

go for it!

 

[tr1ck_]

I can't do a worm bin yet, sorry guys. It is just not an option at this point in time. Any more information on either of those products? or the one CT Guy recommended.

 

[greenmatter]

don't know about those specific products but i have ordered things from planetnatural.com and the packages were always pretty low key. they have a pretty good product list.

not trying to beat a dead horse here but you should read a little about worms. if you do it right you can put them in your living room. shipping everything to your place will cost a lot over time and castings are not light. worms are simple and the product that you (they) can make out of trash is much more biologically diverse than anything i have ever seen out of a bag.

 

[tr1ck_]

don't know about those specific products but i have ordered things from planetnatural.com and the packages were always pretty low key. they have a pretty good product list.

not trying to beat a dead horse here but you should read a little about worms. if you do it right you can put them in your living room. shipping everything to your place will cost a lot over time and castings are not light. worms are simple and the product that you (they) can make out of trash is much more biologically diverse than anything i have ever seen out of a bag.

The main problem for me is the time frame, I am already starting later than I wanted since I will be moving, if I get a worm bin, it will not produce castings right away, it will add even more time. I will definitely be getting a worm bin at my next place, they seem great, but in my time frame I just cant do it.

 

[greenmatter]

time is ALWAYS the killer ... if you don't have a green house or garden center close to you it looks like you will have to roll the dice with buying on-line. like i said plantnatural packaging has always worked for me. good growing

 

[wisco61]

Those EWC will be fine, but you can get 30 lbs of Wiggle Worm or some other brand for the same price. So even with the free shipping you would probably be better off driving to or ordering from a hydro store if you need more than 1. Even then, 6x as much for the same price is crazy.

The kelp meal would work in your soil mix, the one CTGuy linked is similar to the Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract listed in your recipe. The difference between the 2 is the kelp meal can't easily be dissolved in water and used in a folliar feed or compost tea. So, the extract would have more uses for you down the road.

 

[jaykush]

I only have a small indoor grow and don't plan on starting a worm farm since I will be moving in about 6-8 months.

imo now would be the best time to start a bin then for later use not instant gratification like a bag gives you, it litterally takes almost no space at all, very little care, and the rewards are great. if you start a small rubbermaid bin now, in 6-8 months when your all moved youll have a thriving wormbin producing its first or second batch of castings by then and a big enough worm population to get the food matter decomposed fast when you actually do need it. so your not waiting there for your worms to multiply while you really do need the castings.

 

[mad librettist]

yeah man, the fact you don't expect castings is a plus for you. it makes you patient, so you won't overfeed. Keep a small bin, and just concentrate on making worms.

 

[tr1ck_]

yeah man, the fact you don't expect castings is a plus for you. it makes you patient, so you won't overfeed. Keep a small bin, and just concentrate on making worms.

Ok ok you have sold me on the worm bin, but the most important problem is if these worm castings are going to work for this current run

 

[greenmatter]

Ok ok you have sold me on the worm bin, but the most important problem is if these worm castings are going to work for this current run

are you SURE your sold ???? sorry trick sometimes when you ask us leaf heads a question we don't take no for an answer. we are all trying to help. the Wiggle Worm that wisco mentioned are a good product and should be easy to find. sunleaves sells great but pricey castings.

 

[CT Guy]

I'd try and find cheaper castings, and you can probably find a kelp meal at a local feed store. If not, the one online should work fine. The extract powder is better utilized for foliar feeding and soil drenches (basically if you want to make up a liquid solution). If you want something to incorporate into your soil mix, then the kelp meal makes more sense. I would recommend using both in your grow. The kelp meal in the soil will provide long term benefit, and the extract powder will allow you to add it to your waterings or make up a weak solution for transplanting or germination.

 

[CT Guy]

Oh and forgot to mention that the product I linked to or Acadian Seaplants (if you can find that brand locally) are the best two that I've seen. Apparently the process used when Maxicrop is extracted is a bit harsher on the seaweed and leaves you with an inferior product.

 

[guest2012y]

I grabbed a bag of Acadian Seaplants kelp meal yesterday,and I've recently found a 5lb. bag of old Maxicrop's 'Algamin' brand I had buried in boxes...the difference is startling. Maxicrop's stuff looks like a beat up crack whore compared to the fresh smelling and much greener Acadian product. It's like night and day.

 

[Madrus Rose]

EWCastings

EWCastings

I think the kelp meal is a good source, but the castings are overpriced. I know the company that makes them and they're reputation is one that exceeds the quality of their products in my opinion. If it's the best you can find though, then it should work. You could put that towards a lb. of worms and build a worm bin for cheap and get a much better sustainable product.

A source for seaweed extract powder. 5.80 shipping via USPS priority flat rate envelop for any quantity up to 3 lbs.

http://www.simplici-tea.com/seaweed.htm

Think Clackmus Coot mentioned really liking 'Agrowinn' wormcastings over on the tea thread ... took his lead & found them locally & nearby
http://www.fertilizeronline.com/wormcast.php

and they're much cheaper @ only $5 for 5#bag etc...and they are good

And there's Vierra's Worm Farm , has liquid WC too , hes a good guy &
passionate about vermiculture ...
http://vierraswormfarm.com/products.htm

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