Environment for 'cooking' organic soil mix - Organic Soil - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

Iffy · 02-04-2017, 01:16 AM

Hi Guys,
I intend to mix up my dry ingredients, compost, EWC, DE, Perlite, Blood, Oats, Kelp, Bennies etc for flowering and wet it down with a mix of; a bottle of 'real-ale', 2 tblspns BS Molasses, soluble coconut powder, liquid seaweed and warm water.
My question I suppose is what I plan next. To cover and put aside, to 'activate' the soil for 3-4 weeks but what would be the ideal environment for this to happen? Warm - Dark? Cool - Dark? (I'm guessing Dark!)
Your advice and guidance would be appreciated.
Iffy

dank.frank · 02-04-2017, 01:23 AM

Warm. Covered. Just barely moist enough to clump. Pretty much it.

If you REALLY want to get things going though, start a legume seed. Spread it all over and just turn them and bury the sprouts when ready to use. That will give the bacteria that need roots to colonize something to grab on to.

dank.Frank

Iffy · 02-04-2017, 01:54 AM

Man, thanks for such a swift and splendiferous reply.
Warm and dark it is...just as I like it!

Regards,
Iffy

nameless · 02-04-2017, 02:59 AM

yup. yup yup yup

liquidcooled420 · 02-04-2017, 03:11 PM

I definitely noticed a difference when I moved my soil mix to be cooked into the warm grow room. In the past I stored it in my basement where it is relatively cool especially in the winter, but when I moved it into the grow room, within two days the soil had heated up to the point it was steaming and burning hot when i dug into it.

dank.frank · 02-04-2017, 07:33 PM

It really depends on your situation! It's become increasingly "weird" to exist in a prohibition environment when everyone else seems to be flying the flag tall and clear.

For indoor gardens, I've always mixed soil in large plastic kiddie pools. Can fit about 35 gallons of soil in one and still be able to mix things up. If I was storing it longer, it would go into a large trash bin or a food grade barrel.

If the soil is covered, you know when the microbial activity really begins because you get the bi-product - heat. With the heat in the soil, you get evaporation. If your soil is covered, you see the condensation on the plastic and you know how much microbial activity you have going.

The primary reason I started covering my soil mixes when allowing for decomposition was to prevent moisture loss and to trap heat. I cover with a 6mil plastic sheeting. Also important - I do mix "stir" composting soil about once a week. Just give it a quick push around with a rake.

2 ways to control the ammonia as a by product of composting do NOT let the soil become to wet, creating a loss of oxygen, creating an environment that favors anaerobes. The other way to make sure you have a properly balanced C:N ratio. If you have too much nitrogen in your soil, you'll know because the smell of ammonia. The amount of gaseous NH3 that is released also directly proportional with increases in pH. If you know you don't have excessive nitrogen and you know you aren't too wet and you are still get obnoxious levels of ammonia, then rising pH could be a cause.

No big deal covering a compost pile as long as you are informed and know what to expect and what to identify as possible problems and how to address them.

Good to point that out, Bulldog. It's one of the most common questions when people first start composting.

dank.Frank

RiddleMeThis · 02-04-2017, 09:25 PM

I use 37 gallon storage totes. Mix 1 cubic foot at a time, fits about 3 cubic feet. Room temps are around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and dark. Let cook for about a month, covered, and its working fairly well for me so far.

growingcrazy · 02-05-2017, 05:51 AM

I just mixed up 6- 15 gallon smart pots of recycled mix. I put them all bunched together under a hanging lamp in the basement and then toss a cover crop. In 3-4 weeks the cover is up and going and I am ready to transplant.

Iffy · 02-10-2017, 05:45 PM

Thank you one and all!
I've been a Hydroton & Chemicals man for over 20 years but I'm looking for something a bit more satisfying and natural now I'm a bit older myself.
I was so chuffed with my soil mix this morning, really hot and 'cooking' with a vague smell of the manure but mostly a wholesome, almost 'foody' smell like an excellent groundbait I use for fishing. Smells really healthy and I can't wait to re-pot the ladies in it for the flowering.
Peace and great harvests people....

02-04-2017, 01:16 AM	#1
Iffy Nil Illegitimus Carburundum Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Above Ground in UK Posts: 748	Environment for 'cooking' organic soil mix Hi Guys, I intend to mix up my dry ingredients, compost, EWC, DE, Perlite, Blood, Oats, Kelp, Bennies etc for flowering and wet it down with a mix of; a bottle of 'real-ale', 2 tblspns BS Molasses, soluble coconut powder, liquid seaweed and warm water. My question I suppose is what I plan next. To cover and put aside, to 'activate' the soil for 3-4 weeks but what would be the ideal environment for this to happen? Warm - Dark? Cool - Dark? (I'm guessing Dark!) Your advice and guidance would be appreciated. Iffy __________________ FREE GYPSY NIRVANA! My definition of an 'EXPERT' - An 'EX' is a has-been & a 'SPURT' is a drip under pressure! **************************** ************************** ************************** * All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small. Lao Tzu **************************** ************************** ************************** * No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
	Quote

02-04-2017, 01:23 AM	#2
dank.frank ef.yu.se.ka.e.em Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: hiding in plain sight Posts: 10,033	Warm. Covered. Just barely moist enough to clump. Pretty much it. If you REALLY want to get things going though, start a legume seed. Spread it all over and just turn them and bury the sprouts when ready to use. That will give the bacteria that need roots to colonize something to grab on to. dank.Frank __________________ https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=258168 Bunch of fake ass neo-capitalists masquerading as counter culture cannabis enthusiasts with their thinly veiled self-justifications catering to the morally ambiguous for the sake of the ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR
	Quote 4 members found this post helpful.

02-04-2017, 01:54 AM	#3
Iffy Nil Illegitimus Carburundum Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Above Ground in UK Posts: 748	Man, thanks for such a swift and splendiferous reply. Warm and dark it is...just as I like it! Regards, Iffy __________________ FREE GYPSY NIRVANA! My definition of an 'EXPERT' - An 'EX' is a has-been & a 'SPURT' is a drip under pressure! **************************** ************************** ************************** * All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small. Lao Tzu **************************** ************************** ************************** * No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
	Quote

02-04-2017, 02:59 AM	#4
nameless bowlbreath Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,860	yup. yup yup yup __________________ Freedom 35 - DE CMH No Till Beds Scrumpdilly Organico Soil Mix A list of organic soil recipes compiled by dank.frank
	Quote

02-04-2017, 03:11 PM	#5
liquidcooled420 Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 71	I definitely noticed a difference when I moved my soil mix to be cooked into the warm grow room. In the past I stored it in my basement where it is relatively cool especially in the winter, but when I moved it into the grow room, within two days the soil had heated up to the point it was steaming and burning hot when i dug into it.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

02-04-2017, 07:33 PM	#6
dank.frank ef.yu.se.ka.e.em Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: hiding in plain sight Posts: 10,033	It really depends on your situation! It's become increasingly "weird" to exist in a prohibition environment when everyone else seems to be flying the flag tall and clear. For indoor gardens, I've always mixed soil in large plastic kiddie pools. Can fit about 35 gallons of soil in one and still be able to mix things up. If I was storing it longer, it would go into a large trash bin or a food grade barrel. If the soil is covered, you know when the microbial activity really begins because you get the bi-product - heat. With the heat in the soil, you get evaporation. If your soil is covered, you see the condensation on the plastic and you know how much microbial activity you have going. The primary reason I started covering my soil mixes when allowing for decomposition was to prevent moisture loss and to trap heat. I cover with a 6mil plastic sheeting. Also important - I do mix "stir" composting soil about once a week. Just give it a quick push around with a rake. 2 ways to control the ammonia as a by product of composting do NOT let the soil become to wet, creating a loss of oxygen, creating an environment that favors anaerobes. The other way to make sure you have a properly balanced C:N ratio. If you have too much nitrogen in your soil, you'll know because the smell of ammonia. The amount of gaseous NH3 that is released also directly proportional with increases in pH. If you know you don't have excessive nitrogen and you know you aren't too wet and you are still get obnoxious levels of ammonia, then rising pH could be a cause. No big deal covering a compost pile as long as you are informed and know what to expect and what to identify as possible problems and how to address them. Good to point that out, Bulldog. It's one of the most common questions when people first start composting. dank.Frank __________________ https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=258168 Bunch of fake ass neo-capitalists masquerading as counter culture cannabis enthusiasts with their thinly veiled self-justifications catering to the morally ambiguous for the sake of the ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR Last edited by dank.frank; 02-11-2017 at 04:27 PM.. Reason: typo
	Quote 3 members found this post helpful.

02-04-2017, 09:25 PM	#7
RiddleMeThis Connoisseur in Training Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 487	I use 37 gallon storage totes. Mix 1 cubic foot at a time, fits about 3 cubic feet. Room temps are around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and dark. Let cook for about a month, covered, and its working fairly well for me so far.
	Quote

02-05-2017, 05:51 AM	#8
growingcrazy Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Michigans sunset coast Posts: 771	I just mixed up 6- 15 gallon smart pots of recycled mix. I put them all bunched together under a hanging lamp in the basement and then toss a cover crop. In 3-4 weeks the cover is up and going and I am ready to transplant.
	Quote

02-10-2017, 05:45 PM	#9
Iffy Nil Illegitimus Carburundum Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Above Ground in UK Posts: 748	Thank you one and all! I've been a Hydroton & Chemicals man for over 20 years but I'm looking for something a bit more satisfying and natural now I'm a bit older myself. I was so chuffed with my soil mix this morning, really hot and 'cooking' with a vague smell of the manure but mostly a wholesome, almost 'foody' smell like an excellent groundbait I use for fishing. Smells really healthy and I can't wait to re-pot the ladies in it for the flowering. Peace and great harvests people.... __________________ FREE GYPSY NIRVANA! My definition of an 'EXPERT' - An 'EX' is a has-been & a 'SPURT' is a drip under pressure! **************************** ************************** ************************** * All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small. Lao Tzu **************************** ************************** ************************** * No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.