Backyard Compost Question

[RanchoDeluxe]

So I've been using some backyard compost that is very well aged, screened down to 1/2inch or less, and then worms run through it for a bit. I tried it on a couple plants and everything seemed alright. Kinda hard to tell because I moved, the plants were somewhat neglected until I built my rooms and honestly I just got my environment to where I want it.

Here's the deal. Runoff from plants with the backyard compost, is dark brown in color, almost the color of a Newcastle or something. Runoff from plants with bagged compost is a weak iced tea color. Is this normal??

If I try something new, I do a test run on a couple plants. That being said, I'm a little nervous about the 200gallons of soil I just mixed up. My environment just became ideal and I'm watching a slight K def completely disappear. Probably worried about nothing. How dark the runoff is, is just something I'm not used to seeing. Thanks
Rancho

 

[Granger2]

deluxe,
Sounds like compost any of us would like to have as an ingredient in a mix. I would look at the dark runoff as a plus. If you're still worried that it's too hot, you could flush it once, but if it is well aged and you tried it on 2 plants already, sounds like she's ready to make some plants happy. Good luck. -granger

 

[pearlemae]

What you have is a compost made up of many ingredients, the weak tea type commercial stuff, is mostly wood, bark, old pallets and stuff like that with some peat and shit tossed in.The darker the run off the better the compost I'd say, after all composting is the art of making soil, the darker the soil the better.

 

[SeaMaiden]

The dark run-off could simply be particulate matter, and I'm not sure that it's an indicator of anything, really. Can you test it? Maybe get a relatively inexpensive soil testing kit and see what's up with it.

 

[supermanlives]

not an issue in my garden . sounds like good compost to me .if my runoff was light colored i might freek out lol. someone is leaching my compost lol

 

[lightforms]

I'd say it's a good thing! really love my ec meter for this very reason.. no worry!

 

[ClackamasCootz]

What is there to 'worry' about?

Just curious as usual......

 

[RanchoDeluxe]

^^^^
It's my first go at using compost from outside. I would always buy the bagged shit and add whatever EWC I was able to make, which was never enough. I just moved into a new place this summer, had a shitty cycle with some stressed out neglected plants, and then had to veg what was left really big because of some K def/lockout and issues with cloning all due to a shitty environment and neglect on my part.

I've just never seen runoff so dark. Didn't think it was a problem but I thought I'd ask.

I guess I read somewhere that cow manure has alot of elemental salts that could potentially piss off the plants. My buddy got the composted manure 2 years ago and added all kinds of yard/kitchen waste to it. The reason I started to use it was because of the Living Organic Soil Thread. My tomatoes didn't seem to have a problem with it.

CC- That aloe/fulvic/protekt saved my ass with the little cuts. I guess I'm always nervous when I switch up soil mixes....especially without using dolomite lime! My old partner thinks I'm absolutely nuts. I went with your soil mix- had to sub alfalfa for neem, a local volcanic tuff product for basalt(almost exact numbers) and some local clay for bentonite.

Might as well shoot you guys another question.

My old partner has been recycling his soil for 2 years now. He adds back 11/2tbs per gal of dolomite lime after every cycle. He does okay...he's even more of a bonehead than me.

Will his soil go to absolute shit?

If so how long?

Why?