Living organic soil from start through recycling

[shmalphy]

Yesterday I gave my friend (a die hard General Organics fan) two 3 gallon pots of recycled soil, that has been remineralized, and has BIM, LAB, biochar, earthworms, compost, and mulch. I also gave him some seaweed FPE, Gil Cardanang's ginger garlic and eggshell extracts, Effective Micros, etc. I told him to do a side by side comparison and I GUARANTEE better smells and flavors. He gets decently healthy looking plants (using systemic chemical pesticide LOL) but there is very little resin/aroma on them.

We will see how he does. I will try to get him to snap a few pics.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Completely anecdotal so not too relevant but my personal experience with using a specific oil vs. using raw plant material as oil is that the raw plant has given me better results.

Again - anecdotal

Anecdotal evidence is often the foundation of good research.

 

[Gascanastan]

Just came back from my local nursery and all the comfrey and nettles was gone. I did pick up thyme, rosemary and dandelions. As I was talking to one of the employees and she stated comfrey can be used as a fert. We ended up having a great conversation on using plants material as amendments and prevention tools. It was like talking with CC and Gas. I dedicated one of my raised beds to hold all my new goodies. Yucca is next... Any suggestions on other worthwhile goodies to source?

I love it when this happens...and it's more from the real world gardening crowd rather than the myth-based cannabis gardening crowd. Reality is king.

 

[shmalphy]

I called the local sand and stone place.. The sell stone dust for 14.50 a ton... 20 ton min for delivery.. I was like, well I don't need that much, how about if I show up in a pickup truck?

He said for $14.50 he would fill my truck with as much as it could hold. This is a little different than hydro store pricing LOL. Anyone need stone dust?

 

[IncredibowlBoss]

I called the local sand and stone place.. The sell stone dust for 14.50 a ton... 20 ton min for delivery.. I was like, well I don't need that much, how about if I show up in a pickup truck?

He said for $14.50 he would fill my truck with as much as it could hold. This is a little different than hydro store pricing LOL. Anyone need stone dust?

LOL We should start a buyer's co-op - I found a good hook on bulk organic blackstrap molasses

 

[MrSterling]

Schmalphy, you have earthworms actively working your soil? With plants in or just when you're mixing it?

 

[Gascanastan]

I guess I should say that I have a large population of worms in my soil... guessing around 5 to 20 per pot but this changes all the time as they migrate to other pots at lights out after a good watering. They eat....so to keep them happy I make sure they have a good source of goodies like fan leaves and kelp meal topdressing material. They die off if they don't get food...and you don't really want them eating all the amendments you've put in the soil...so as with everything....balance.

 

[shmalphy]

Yes. I use sub-irrigation to keep the soil constantly moist so they don't die. It is basically indoor swamp tubes.

Even if they eat the amendments, they poop out castings so its a balance.

 

[Gascanastan]

Never want the pots to go dry since we are hosting a # or organisms dependent upon that moisture....however this may be achieved by different styles and gardeners works,as long as we do so without creating anaerobic conditions in the pots...yer all good.

 

[Neo 420]

Never want the pots to go dry since we are hosting a # or organisms dependent upon that moisture....however this may be achieved by different styles and gardeners works,as long as we do so without creating anaerobic conditions in the pots...yer all good.

I don't know why that is not known with all organic growers. If its dry, your bennies die.

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Probably because of yet another cannabis myth established about 30 years ago - something about dry soil 'sucking' in the 'nutes' faster

**sniff, sniff, sob, sob, drool, drool**

 

[ClackamasCootz]

GC

I had a question on the EcoTrol you've been using. Does this product completely eradicate all Spider Mites? As in no eggs, carcasses, nada?

Just curious......

 

[Gascanastan]

It's on the same wave as neem....continued spraying every couple days to get the adults and eggs from overlapping generations. It's mostly an immediate kill...some survive....yet with continued sprays they are becoming eradicated.

 

[Gascanastan]

Probably because of yet another cannabis myth established about 30 years ago - something about dry soil 'sucking' in the 'nutes' faster

**sniff, sniff, sob, sob, drool, drool**

No no no....it will give you 'bugs' if your 'dirt' is too wet...

 

[Neo 420]

If a grower begins to understand the science behind growing then a lot of the myths go right out the window..... I do admit I was hesitant on letting go of the ph meter.....lol

 

[ClackamasCootz]

GC

The reason that I asked is that the hydro store called today to let me know that my bulb order was ready to pick-up so I had a friend drive me up there.

The weather in PDX is perfect right now for mites because there was announcement that fleas were getting really bad for pet owners and mites and fleas thrive under the same conditions - warm weather, high humidity, etc.

So the kid who works at the store, Sprout (my personal name for him) shows me this product called SNS 271C from Sierra Natural Science which contains:

Rosemary Oil - 10%

Polyglyceryl Oleate - 3%

Lauric Acid - 0.5%

Water - 86.5%

1 gallon of the concentrate costs $165.00 (MSRP) and this will make 6 gallons of ready to use pesticide - about $25.00 per gallon

Must be some really special Rosemary Oil - probably grown in Cali where these clowns are based.

BTW - 32 oz. of organic Rosemary Oil is less than $40.00 and the non-organic version is around $20.00

 

[Gascanastan]

I do admit I was hesitant on letting go of the ph meter.....lol

Me too....Brainwashed big time....victimized as a young American male willing and trusting enough to believe I was being told the truth.
Thank High Times,Jorge,Ed,Kyle,...etc,etc,etc....

 

[Gascanastan]

GC

The reason that I asked is that the hydro store called today to let me know that my bulb order was ready to pick-up so I had a friend drive me up there.

The weather in PDX is perfect right now for mites because there was announcement that fleas were getting really bad for pet owners and mites and fleas thrive under the same conditions - warm weather, high humidity, etc.

So the kid who works at the store, Sprout (my personal name for him) shows me this product called SNS 271C from Sierra Natural Science which contains:

Rosemary Oil - 10%

Polyglyceryl Oleate - 3%

Lauric Acid - 0.5%

Water - 86.5%

1 gallon of the concentrate costs $165.00 (MSRP) and this will make 6 gallons of ready to use pesticide - about $25.00 per gallon

Must be some really special Rosemary Oil - probably grown in Cali where these clowns are based.

BTW - 32 oz. of organic Rosemary Oil is less than $40.00 and the non-organic version is around $20.00

I think the stuff I have works just fine...especially since it's effect on powdery mildew is an instant win.

It kills the mites...it works good enough that I will continue to apply light doses until I see them no more.

 

[ClackamasCootz]

I think you misunderstood - the price just amazed me.

"So are you guys selling this stuff?"

"20 bottles yesterday!"

 

[ClackamasCootz]

I just read a thread where the malady is purple stems on the fan leaves - why is this a concern?