At the moment I'm getting my sea legs with soil the last couple years, but I'm planning on working with organic hydro at some point. This biochar media angle sounds very interesting and I'll be watching. 
Sounds good. Thanks!Hey thanks for posting this up, it's a great subject which is only beginning to be really explored.
I am going to be making a biochar pyrolizer out of a 55 gallon drum I have. I wonder if innoculating it with urine alpaca manure and fish/kelp liquid 2-3-1 by gs plant foods. It's hard to find good info on biochar sometimes, but I think it's worth a try. I live near almond farms in Gold Country, CA so I am looking in to using nut hulls (ag waste product) as input. If not, I could use it for compost carbon. Also, does it sound okay to foliar feed some 2-3-1 on my preflowering outdoors plants tonight at dusk?
Also interested in pyroligneous acid or wood vinegar and aloe vera for rooting. Here's a video I just found on biochar as well.
and yes closer to results of soil.. this isnt rocket science people. 2 more years till fad fades and folks speak more about how much extra harm to enviro its causing. ever heard of slash and burn agriculture? sound familiar?
Well, aside from being able to use what would otherwise be a waste product for large scale hydroponics, there's also a big added potential benefit to replace peat moss entirely. That would be huge and would still not utilize soil, plus could be reused indefinitely. Those are just some surface benefits. You should read up on it a little more. There's a lot changing with its use.hmm, so the idea is, burn wood, release co2, release micros sugars and nitrogen, than add back nitrogen and micros/sugars...seems like over complicating the natural process of compost lol... again the ONLY purpose of this is to use waste or get carbon in virgin ground. how much extra effort u go to to maybe get more space for microbes? does a half composted piece of wood actively feeding the microbes not give enough life to the soil? lol. yes use ur fuel waste but DONT burn wood just for biochar! bad for the planet and making more work for urself just to find out u didnt "charge" it enough. if have a gasifier and burn wood for fuel awesome. but please dont go burning logs just to make biochar. compost some wood or flax or hemp straw, PLENTY of spaces for microbes. was developed only as solution to use waste product, break new ground to get organic material quickly into the earth. yes the more additives and carbon u add to soiless medium closer it is to soil
Well like @pjlive touched on, there's environmental impacts to other media as well like. Wood could be composted to replace peat moss to save the bogs I guess but not to replace perlite or burnt clay or whatever.hmm, so the idea is, burn wood, release co2, release micros sugars and nitrogen, than add back nitrogen and micros/sugars...seems like over complicating the natural process of compost lol... again the ONLY purpose of this is to use waste or get carbon in virgin ground. how much extra effort u go to to maybe get more space for microbes? does a half composted piece of wood actively feeding the microbes not give enough life to the soil? lol. yes use ur fuel waste but DONT burn wood just for biochar! bad for the planet and making more work for urself just to find out u didnt "charge" it enough. if have a gasifier and burn wood for fuel awesome. but please dont go burning logs just to make biochar. compost some wood or flax or hemp straw, PLENTY of spaces for microbes. was developed only as solution to use waste product, break new ground to get organic material quickly into the earth. yes the more additives and carbon u add to soiless medium closer it is to soil
You should not be producing actual smoke when creating biochar in a pyrolizer or gasifier.hmm, so the idea is, burn wood, release co2, release micros sugars and nitrogen, than add back nitrogen and micros/sugars...seems like over complicating the natural process of compost lol... again the ONLY purpose of this is to use waste or get carbon in virgin ground. how much extra effort u go to to maybe get more space for microbes? does a half composted piece of wood actively feeding the microbes not give enough life to the soil? lol. yes use ur fuel waste but DONT burn wood just for biochar! bad for the planet and making more work for urself just to find out u didnt "charge" it enough. if have a gasifier and burn wood for fuel awesome. but please dont go burning logs just to make biochar. compost some wood or flax or hemp straw, PLENTY of spaces for microbes. was developed only as solution to use waste product, break new ground to get organic material quickly into the earth. yes the more additives and carbon u add to soiless medium closer it is to soil
Hydrafiber is another cost effective sustainable replacement for peat moss.
Interesting. Seems wood pulp based.
In my opinion all of these alternative additions are valid. For me, it all depends on the grower and what their goals are.
You're right. It's the mass produced biochars that are in question here. Some mass biochar producers (large quantity, pre-inoculated, charged and stabilized) are trying to harness every possible use both in the manufacturing process and use of it.
