where to from here??

[CHillTowneGenes]

i have some spent top soil, peat moss, sand and mulch mix, what i have been doing is adding a granule premix that supplies most of what the plant needs, but if i want to give the soil a boost with out adding the mix, mainly because it is running out, what are my options in the natural world, or should i say my purchase free options?

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

Compost.

 

[dogfishheadie]

will need a bit more info here.

1) what type of top soil did you start with? did you buy it pre-mixed from a big box store?
2) what ingredients are in your "granule premix"? minerals? other amendments like kelp, fish meal, crab meal etc.
3) confused by the last part; "should i say my purchase free options?" can you clear that up a bit?

my suggestion would be to read this thread page to page and top to bottom while taking notes. it will answer your answer your most basic questions and a whole lot more. a true game changer if you're serious about growing the best.

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=241964

 

[CHillTowneGenes]

it was seperate(sand, mulch, top soil, and peat moss) and i mixed it myself. it is some 'Espoma-plant tone, tomato tone'. Im partial to do it yourself solutions, so id rather an option that allowed me as little monetary expenditure as possible... if you'd like a more elaborate break down of the ingredients of those mixes, i can do it but its a long list id rather not have to type... i probably wont make it through the whole 510+ pages, but thanks much. im sure i can find most everything i need there...

 

[Neo 420]

Looks like you need to dive in to the world of FPE's..... And compost!!

 

[CHillTowneGenes]

FPE's??

 

[dogfishheadie]

fermented plant extracts...literally the thread above yours. honestly, you need to read, research, use the search function and then read some more until your eyes bleed. it's sort of a privilege (at least in my book) to have access to some of the greatest minds here in the industry today and they don't have the time to answer the same repetitive questions that get asked almost daily.

go pack a bowl of some sweet sweet cheeba, hunker down and make it a point to do your homework before you make new threads. there is literally gold in just about every thread in the organic section that will change the way you grow.

not trying to be a dick here my man, just know some people get annoyed and aren't willing to help out when the same question gets asked over and over.

 

[dogfishheadie]

and to give you an answer. what neo said. get yourself some high quality compost, high quality earth worm castings and get that into the mix asap. not really sure what type of quality green you're trying to go for, but do yourself a favor and spend some money in those areas if nothing else. get on craigslist and search for local worm guys selling castings and or compost, or both!

if you're trying to ween off the tomato food stuff, you're going to need to supplement your girls in some way. enter the world of FPE's and get a brewing some teas (botanical, kelp, alfalfa etc).

 

[CHillTowneGenes]

what are FPEs, yea the its running out, and although ive had it for several years now, i didnt want to have to go out and buy it, that is a dependency and trail id rather not...i have been looking into composting, but i havent read about a way to do it indoors that im comfortable with, and out door compost pest really need to stay there. i want to do it a way to not have to keep buying this and that, except when absolutely necesary... i dont like the idea of forced dependency. like i say im a DIY. ill make it before pay something out rageous and this is my new level up...

 

[BagAppeal]

you could make yourself some biochar to improve your soil, make your own terra preta, atleats then your aming at your goal.. just a thought..

 

[CHillTowneGenes]

what does that mean?? biochar, terra pretta??

 

[BagAppeal]

is basically how they made their soil in the rainforest hundreds of years ago.
You can make your oven to make the biochar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXMUmby8PpU.
Its easy if you know someone that can weld.
Terra preta is the soil they found after indians living in the rainforest. It was a mix of of clay and different things, but the main element for making the soil good was biochar. This locks the carbon into the ground, and makes the soil fertile for an extended time.
If anyone has a better way to explain it, please do. Google can also be helpful.
hope this is any help..

 

[dogfishheadie]

for composting indoors I'd recommend getting a 5 or 10 gallon bucket (which ever is cheaper for you) and start collecting gerbil, turtle and your own waste that usually ends up in the toilet. if it starts to cook (get too hot), wet it down with the urine of an eagle (very high levels of uranium, really shortens the space between the nodes)

 

[BagAppeal]

you can also add some legumes,(bean stalks etc.) to grow in the soil. They will add nitrogen even after cut down from the bacteria on their roots.. Keep this going to maintain a natural nitrogen supply.Dirt cheap..

 

[CHillTowneGenes]

umm that is a joke post dogfishheadie, correct??

 

[CHillTowneGenes]

biochar is interesting, thank you for the info bag appeal...
i feel like worms are probably the next on the horizon...i already do compost, but i brought some black gnats or something in the house one year, and man are you talking about a niusance! so i bake my really broken down compost befor adding it to my pots, but i dont get the same effect as the year i used the infested compost, worm fams are outdoor things too correct??

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

You can run worm bins in your home. I've got one under my kitchen sink.

 

[CHillTowneGenes]

ive been doing some reading, and from what i understand there are different varieties of earth worms that perfom different tasks, would it be in my best intrest to go and purchase some worms rather than looking under stuff, or digging up some freebies, cause i understand that you dont want the tunneling/soil airating variety, plz correct me if im wrong...

 

[BagAppeal]

Biochar works well, but I think using legumes will give you the best reults in the long run if your going for a easy approach. Biochar tends to be a bit mork work then just putting a bean stalk in your soil. This will also aid against overwatering--You could even use some clovers as a ground cover to get more nitrogen fixed nto your soil. And if you want some cheap nutrients, you can make it out of nettles.. Hopes this can help you get self supplied.

 

[dogfishheadie]

ive been doing some reading

you're going to want red wrigglers and or european nightcrawlers to get the game started. i'd check your local craigslist before ordering offline, i was able to pickup #20lbs of castings for $10. already bought my worms offline before i found this guy =(

they tend to live near the surface where there are high concentrations of organic matter. maybe try throwing a pile of leaves together, wetting it down with some banana peels and coffee grounds near the bottom? check it in a week or so and see if you don't have any worms wriggling around there.

good luck and keep reading pal