D
Durdy
curios if having 5 cups of azomite (which contains sulfur) in a mix thats 60 total gallons would contain enough sulfur to avoid these calcium lockout problems (this mix is coir based)
-
Happy Birthday ICMag! Been 20 years since Gypsy Nirvana created the forum! We are celebrating with a 4/20 Giveaway and by launching a new Patreon tier called "420club". You can read more here.
-
Important notice: ICMag's T.O.U. has been updated. Please review it here. For your convenience, it is also available in the main forum menu, under 'Quick Links"!
Living organic soil from start through recycling
- Thread starter Gascanastan
- Start date
- Status
QuentinQuark
Member
Any thoughts on sub-irrigation?
QuentinQuark
Gypsum - Calcium & Sulfur
Epsom Salts - Magnesium & Sulfur
Sul-Po-Mag - Magnesium, Sulfur and Potassium
All are mined mineral compounds and are 'approved for organic food production'
For a soil already mixed then using Sul-Po-Mag may be your best option as it's water soluble though it takes a bit of coaxing to get there.
Add 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of water. Shake it around several times over a day or so and you'll have most of the crystals dissolved. A cheap, cheap air pump (like under $10.00) and an airstone helps by getting the crystal pieces to bounce around. Walmart, Target, etc. have these toy air pumps so there's no big investment required.
Do not hi-dose - excessive Magnesium will put your soil into a tailspin - big time.
CC
I was officially educated to sub-irrigate...which back then,before all the fancy sub-irrigation pots,meant watering from the drainage tray or other vessel which the pot can sit in to wick up water.
Houseplants,outside patio containers,this was all good. The indoor chamber cannabis gardening environment changed that concept for me. Organic living soil in this indoor environment needs more moisture near the surface as well.
I do know a feller who is using a type of sub-irrigation much like an Earth-box for his indoor....and really if you manage things like aeration and drainage correctly this has the capability to work..he only waters once a week.
Then again,most of the gardens I see and hear about are smaller personal gardens....I don't know a ton of people anymore burning 6k and cropping for a living for 20 years or so. So the methods and needs for a larger commercial garden compared to a smaller one may be quite different. Environment.lighting,temps,etc.
Houseplants,outside patio containers,this was all good. The indoor chamber cannabis gardening environment changed that concept for me. Organic living soil in this indoor environment needs more moisture near the surface as well.
I do know a feller who is using a type of sub-irrigation much like an Earth-box for his indoor....and really if you manage things like aeration and drainage correctly this has the capability to work..he only waters once a week.
Then again,most of the gardens I see and hear about are smaller personal gardens....I don't know a ton of people anymore burning 6k and cropping for a living for 20 years or so. So the methods and needs for a larger commercial garden compared to a smaller one may be quite different. Environment.lighting,temps,etc.
I just took a huge aloe leaf I got at the food store for 99 cents, and pureed it with a pint of coconut water ($1.50) and 1 TBPS of sprouted barley (pennies) and strained and stored. Should be a good all around general health tonic if you will.
The coconut water has vitamin c in it, so I am hoping it preserves the aloe. I used some to spray the plants with and even took a shot myself. We will see how long it lasts in my fridge. I might even try freezing some in an ice cube tray so I have single serve cubes. to dissolve in a spray bottle.
The coconut water has vitamin c in it, so I am hoping it preserves the aloe. I used some to spray the plants with and even took a shot myself. We will see how long it lasts in my fridge. I might even try freezing some in an ice cube tray so I have single serve cubes. to dissolve in a spray bottle.
D
Durdy
A friend just told me they've been using barley as a cover crop in their outside garden. Plant, Grow, cut down, and leave it where it is. Been thinking about doing some in my raised beds. any inputs or suggestions about this idea?
Yes via action by microbes and Sulfuric acid which is formed when Sulfur is exposed to air & water and microbial activity.
The acid breaks the bonds on the Calcium Carbonate into Carbon, Calcium and Oxygen. I'm assuming that the Magnesium is also in the Carbonate form. Still bioavailable but it takes longer for the double ring in this compound. Think long(er) period of time, i.e. soil building
HTH
CC
A really good idea, IMHO
DIY stores sell agriculture gypsum in their garden departments - about $6.00 for 25 lbs.
HTH
CC
...I would assume the height of the barley may present a problem indoors...outside yer fine.. I know vetch and rye grass stretched a bit inside,I had to keep cutting it back. Crimson clover seems about right for an indoor.
QuentinQuark
Member
I would definitely use it as part of your humus component. It may be good enough to use by itself in your potting soil mix.
One huge advantage is that it's made and certified in Canada - that big country to the north where adults are in charge of such matters.
Not so much in the USA......
CC
BlueJayWay
Here's what I came up with for local MMJ growers.....
Alaska Peat - 2.2 c.f. bale (pony bale) - $9.00
Malibu Biodynamic Compost - 1 c.f. - $16.50
Lava Rock (DIY store) 1 c.f. - $5.00
Less than $31.00 for about 4.5 c.f. of legitimate potting soil base. Toss in some rock dust, neem & kelp meal and you're pretty close to a 'water only' soil mix.
Using an ACT will bring things up to speed quickly. Some alfalfa & kelp meal teas a few times through the cycle and most gardeners, especially new ones, will have zero problems as far as lock-outs, deficiencies, etc. They will have healthy plants for a change.
BTW - it'll never sell. Too easy because without creating a nightmare how could one expect to arrive at Dank Dumb?
CC
Y
YosemiteSam
Sorry, but here is the chemistry
CaCO3 + H2SO4 ---------> CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
It would work similarly for MgCO3 except the charges are a little different so the ratios would be slightly different.
If you add H2SO4 to the water itself that reaction completes by the time the pH hits 4.5. So the reaction in soil is going to take a bit of time.
I believe the reaction could also be driven by nitric or phosphoric acid...but not certain of that.
"You may not vote on any more threads today"Sorry, but here is the chemistry
CaCO3 + H2SO4 ---------> CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
It would work similarly for MgCO3 except the charges are a little different so the ratios would be slightly different.
If you add H2SO4 to the water itself that reaction completes by the time the pH hits 4.5. So the reaction in soil is going to take a bit of time.
I believe the reaction could also be driven by nitric or phosphoric acid...but not certain of that.
I tried - LOL
Y
YosemiteSam
You know that type of thing actually sells well around here...except maybe the tea part. I walked into a nursery looking for peat and they said...oh, here is what you guys want...it was their mmj mix, I wasn't even stoned at the time.
It will be especially true for people growing their 6 legal plants now. Not a bad little business model actually.
citric acid would work too
Citric Acid + Calcium Carbonate = Calcium Citrate + Carbon dioxide + Water.
2C6H8O7 + 3CaCO3 = Ca3(C6H5O7)2 + 3CO2 + 3H2O
- Status
