10 min $10 DIY aerated compost tea ACT brewer

[rrog]

Many tea recipes call for rock phosphate, potash or powders. Aren't they mostly slow release, with only a little immediately available? Sorry for the question, as I'm sure I'm missing something.

 

[StrapAssassin42]

I am using a 5 gallon brewer... just checked out the microbe organics page you posted a link to earlier in the thread... how do these rates sound?

-2 cups EWC (which is vermicompost correct?)
-1/2 cup black strap molasses (where do i get this?)
-1 oz. soluble kelp (roots organic extreme serene)
-1/2 oz. fish hydrolysate

 

[Microbeman]

Many tea recipes call for rock phosphate, potash or powders. Aren't they mostly slow release, with only a little immediately available? Sorry for the question, as I'm sure I'm missing something.

Compost tea is all about microbes. Zero, Zero, Zero to do with macronutrients (except for what the microbes cycle) The soft rock phosphate and other rock dusts is for the microbes, not the plant. There are some very intersting microbes which feast on or attach to rock dust particulate. Some of these also eat powdery mildew.

 

[rrog]

Attach to the rock dust? So the rock powders are simply a microbic medium?

 

[Microbeman]

I am using a 5 gallon brewer... just checked out the microbe organics page you posted a link to earlier in the thread... how do these rates sound?

-2 cups EWC (which is vermicompost correct?)
-1/2 cup black strap molasses (where do i get this?)
-1 oz. soluble kelp (roots organic extreme serene)
-1/2 oz. fish hydrolysate

Hi Strap;

Its in this thread or the other 'tea article'. Maybe Heady or someone can fish it up quick. The percentages apply. Yes EWC = Vermicompost. Black strap; the grocery store or feed store; just be sure it is 100% cane and no sulfur.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Microbeman, have you ever tried other simple sugar forms? Such as, say... malted barley extract, panela/panocha (don't laugh! that's what it's labeled as here at home), date or palm sugars? Nutrient profiles are different, but I've found them to be good additions for the sugar content, irrespective of nutrient profile.

 

[Microbeman]

I have not had any need to try other sugars as black strap molasses has fulfilled my needs just fine for feeding bacteria/archaea & fungi. It also contains micronutrients and is an antioxidant(dizer) There are some on the forum who have used malted barley extract and claimed it to be good, however I don't know if that was microscopically verified. It would be interesting to experiment but I hardly have time for lunch these days.

 

[Microbeman]

Attach to the rock dust? So the rock powders are simply a microbic medium?

Some fungi and bacteria/archaea attach to the particulate but also 'eat' it so in an ACT environment it is all about the microbes. The ingredients in a recipe are microbial foodstock and not for the plants, although there is probably residual nutrient value.

 

[SeaMaiden]

I have not had any need to try other sugars as black strap molasses has fulfilled my needs just fine for feeding bacteria/archaea & fungi. It also contains micronutrients and is an antioxidant(dizer) There are some on the forum who have used malted barley extract and claimed it to be good, however I don't know if that was microscopically verified. It would be interesting to experiment but I hardly have time for lunch these days.

It has fulfilled your needs, but what if, for whatever reason, one day you couldn't get the blackstrap? That's how I ended up using other sugars.

I've also used MBE, along with other simple (relatively unprocessed) sugars for direct feeding and carbohydrate loading the girls. Unfortunately, I've not scoped teas in a side-by-side. One day, if I can ever walk normally again, I'll make a note to try that.

Now, be sure to get some lunch!

 

[rrog]

Thanks MM. There was never a question that everything added to the tea was for the microbes only. My perplexion was the role of the rock powders. Very interesting that some hitch a ride and even eat the rock powders.

 

[Bullfrog44]

Lunch is over rated. It's all about breakfast and dinner.

 

[StrapAssassin42]

Thanks Microbeman!! i've learned a lot just from your last few posts...how does azomite affect our teas... some people seem to swear by it but others don't use it...???

I'm sure a lot of it is personal preference just like everything else but I appreciate your words of wisdom Microbeman!!

Thinking of using arctic humus along with EWC for compost...or maybe alternate...any thoughts?

Thanks again!

 

[jaykush]

Microbeman, have you ever tried other simple sugar forms? Such as, say... malted barley extract, panela/panocha (don't laugh! that's what it's labeled as here at home), date or palm sugars? Nutrient profiles are different, but I've found them to be good additions for the sugar content, irrespective of nutrient profile.

ive had real good success with very very ripe fruit(peaches,plums,cherry,pineapple,mango,strawberry). mashed to a paste first of course.

and yea MM i checked it with a scope, it makes fungi go nuts for some reason. not something i was expecting.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Yet, it makes at least some sense, doesn't it? When the fruit hits the ground, what might happen from there?

 

[rrog]

And trees like fungally dominated soil...

 

[SeaMaiden]

That means that I am like a tree.

 

[Bullfrog44]

Make like a tree and leaf.

 

[jerry111165]

Compost tea is all about microbes. Zero, Zero, Zero to do with macronutrients (except for what the microbes cycle) The soft rock phosphate and other rock dusts is for the microbes, not the plant. There are some very intersting microbes which feast on or attach to rock dust particulate. Some of these also eat powdery mildew.

Tim, is Epsomas Rock Phosphate 0-3-0 what you are referring, or comparable to what you are referring to?

Can I use this in the AACT? If not, I unfortunately am not sure of the product you are referring to. I am trying to find Glacial Rock Dust locally but am having a very hard time...

jerry.

 

[jerry111165]

It has fulfilled your needs, but what if, for whatever reason, one day you couldn't get the blackstrap? That's how I ended up using other sugars.

I've also used MBE, along with other simple (relatively unprocessed) sugars for direct feeding and carbohydrate loading the girls. Unfortunately, I've not scoped teas in a side-by-side. One day, if I can ever walk normally again, I'll make a note to try that.

Now, be sure to get some lunch!

Hi SeaMaiden.

I ask alot of questions and get ALOT of good answers ummmm...elsewhere, by a VERY reputable source. He has actually got me using Organic Blue Agave Nectar -

here is an answer I recieved when I was asking about the Agave Nectar -

Organic Blue Agave Nectar, Aloe Vera and Yucca Extract will blow molasses out of the water on every level - minerals, enzymes, phytohormones, root accelerators, PGRs, SARs and on and on and on. And cost less if you buy correctly, i.e. avoid Duh Dude at the Growed Store.

All of these are minimally processed. You would be hard-pressed to find a product that has been more processed than blackstrap molasses. And then there's the real crap - livestock molasses, i.e. nothing more than sugar beet reside.

or another answer...

Carbohydrates are used in an AACT and by the time that the process has been completed the actual sugars have been broken down and digested by bacteria and fungi. It was thought until about a year ago that fungi did not benefit from carbohydrates directly but that is now being seriously discussed by a number of AACT professionals.

Using blackstrap molasses, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, palm sugar, fruit juices, et al. in a compost tea at specific levels to insure that they're consumed prior to applying to the soil is how AACT formulas are configured.

These days I am using both the Blue Agave Nectar and Organic Aloe Vera Extract in my teas.

Hope that helped!

jerry.

 

[jerry111165]

Ahhhh.....good old "Doctor" Carole Rollins company (she never tells anyone that her doctorate was in sociology I think, but certainly nothing related to horticulture). It's probably decent, but her knowledge is rather limited. I'm still not too excited about their "tea in a box" that you buy off the shelf.

I've been wanting to try BioAg's myco product.

I have been using BioAgs VAM mycorrhizal innoculant. Its always so hard to tell, as the gals are growing wonderfully, (is it the great soil, is it the AACT teas, is it this or that), but I think that when all are used properly and added to a wonderful organic soil with all the ammendments and bells and whistles your grow is going to do well.

I also use BioAgs humic/fulvic acids. There is no doubt whatsoever that BioAg makes several great products.

jerry.