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Need a little help with topdressing

L

love2gro

Member
So I was going to topdress my plants with some bagged compost and mulch with cocoa shell when they need it in hopes it would provide them enough food to get thru flower..but my bag of compost is infested with bugs, I think gnats.

The soil they are in now has Composted Fir Bark, Sphagnum Peat Moss, Redwood Compost, Mushroom Compost, Volcanic Pumice, Earthworm Castings, Washed Sand, Kelp Meal, Bat Guano, Feather Meal, Gypsum and Mycorrhizae.Oyster Shell Lime and Dolomite Lime.

I was thinking this soil would get them thru the stretch as there in kind of big pots, so i was going to topdress a little after the flip to give it some time to start breaking down..Ill probably wait a little longer for the lighter feeders.

So heres my question. I have blood,bone,kelp,and alfafa meal, along with azomite, EWC, and lime. Can I somehow topdress with a mix of the things I have to get me through flower? Am I missing anything?
 
C

CC_2U

With the materials you are considering I would go with the kelp meal and top dress with the EWC.

You already have 3 'liming' agents - Gypsum, Oyster shell powder and Dolomite lime.

Others can probably give you a reason to use blood and/or bone meal since I probably couldn't come up with one.

HTH

CC_2U
 
guest2012y

guest2012y

Living with the soil
Veteran
I'm always one to suggest EWC or compost topdressing. I'll second CC with the kelp meal as well if you haven't got a extract on hand. Some folks topdress with Alfalfa,I have as well but a little goes a long way so just realize that it's a fast source of N. You can also topdress with Bat guano,but P guano won't really break down in time to see any amazing benefit.
 
C

CC_2U

^^^^^^^^^ - yeah - alfalfa meal. Big time.

I'd take a 50 lb. bag of organic, non-GMO alfalfa meal over a straight truck load of blood meal all day long. With alfalfa mea I can make a viable nutrient tea to reduce application costs.

Mix alfalfa meal with kelp meal and neem seed meal and you'll end up with one of the best nutrient teas you can use. But that's just my opinion and experience.

YMMV

CC_2U
 
guest2012y

guest2012y

Living with the soil
Veteran
Careful with that stuff...DO NOT go over recommend amounts or your plants will look like they came in on the last meteorite. I use it all the time with good results.
 
L

love2gro

Member
Thanks for the quick replies..So its a go with the EWC and kelp, maybe the alfafa in small amounts. But am I lacking P? the bag for the soil does not say what type of guano or how much is in it so im not sure how much P I have..how much EWC should I use?and how about the Azomite?
im trying to make this a water only grow, with the addition of a tea that has Worm Castings, Mycorrhizal Fungi, Azomite, Unsulphured (Blackstrap) Molasses, Endo and Ecto Bacteria, and Humic Acid derived from Oak Leaf & Peat Compost.
 
jaykush

jaykush

dirty black hands
ICMag Donor
Veteran
sprinkle a light dusting over the soil with azomite. work it into the top soil a little and water in with EWC slurry. you can also do what CC_2U and CC1 said.
 
C

CC_2U

In the organic/sustainable world of agriculture, top dressing of all amendments is considered preferable to plowing them into the top soil which disturbs the microbial colonies. Plus it's far less expensive because you have to shoot the product from a hose regardless.

Then the fields are covered with some humus product - obviously compost is the least expensive unless you have a really, really huge worm operation going on. Like a couple of acres or so - LOL

HTH

CC_2U
 
C

CC_2U

Mad

Check out the tools from Rogue Hoes - I just bought 8 of their products from an organic farm store that is expanding to include gardening tools.

Pretty friggin' nice products. Designed well and the manufacturing quality if off the chart.

Highly recommended.

CC_2U
 
guest2012y

guest2012y

Living with the soil
Veteran
jaykush said:
sprinkle a light dusting over the soil with azomite. work it into the top soil a little and water in with EWC slurry. you can also do what CC_2U and CC1 said.
Click to expand...

I don't see you talking much about azomite Jay...what do you think about this stuff aside from the obvious properties?
 
C

CC_2U

CC1

I'll simply whistle by the graveyard and continue on..............
 
C

CC_2U

mad librettist said:
wow those people make a nice hoe. The kind you can really plow into.
Click to expand...

Yep - damn nice product line! I was literally blown away. The photos don't begin to describe how they feel in your hands - the balance, the angle of the blades, etc.

Best investment I could have made in general gardening tools. I'm very pleased with the price as well.

CC_2U
 
C

CC_2U

Mad

Here's the most helpful tool that I bought from the farm store.

00gs.jpg


Just imagine how helpful this 12" tool is when you're breaking up clumps in your potting soil or mixing in your amendments, etc. and you're using a large Rubbermaid tub!

Best $25.00 I can recall spending.

CC_2U
 
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