Tutorial Organics for Beginners

[dazednconfused]

Can soil be composted/mixed outdoors in spring?

(e.g under a forest canopy...tarp on bottom, soil placed and mixed on top then another tarp is placed over the soil.) This mixture would then be tossed, turned and watered a few times a week for 2...

Would make prep for next season easier and more time efficient for next year.


Also, anyone use those cheap 30L shrimp compost bags before? they look decent..

 

[louie]

Thanks Burnone, you're the man! How important is Liquid Karma in the mixture? Do I use 1 tbs. per dry gallon of mix?

 

[somebody041]

Hello all,

How you doing B1.

Had a simple question...I have horses so of course I hhave horse shit.

So after awhile of piling up the horse shit it has broken down.

My question is if I use the castings from the bottom of the pile (nearest to the earth and oldest) would this increase my chances of bring in pests to the growroom over store bought casting?

I would hate to spend money on something I already have.

We use in the garden outside and every plant loves the stuff.

minds_I

i've been wondering this too. i have some old horse shit i got from a neighbor that has critters crawling around. it's also got some wood chips in it. is this still safe to use?

 

[BurnOne]

Hello all,

How you doing B1.

Had a simple question...I have horses so of course I hhave horse shit.

So after awhile of piling up the horse shit it has broken down.

My question is if I use the castings from the bottom of the pile (nearest to the earth and oldest) would this increase my chances of bring in pests to the growroom over store bought casting?

I would hate to spend money on something I already have.

We use in the garden outside and every plant loves the stuff.

minds_I

Can soil be composted/mixed outdoors in spring?

(e.g under a forest canopy...tarp on bottom, soil placed and mixed on top then another tarp is placed over the soil.) This mixture would then be tossed, turned and watered a few times a week for 2...

Would make prep for next season easier and more time efficient for next year.

i've been wondering this too. i have some old horse shit i got from a neighbor that has critters crawling around. it's also got some wood chips in it. is this still safe to use?

Composting causes heat that will kill critters. You should compost manures in a compost bin or some isolated location up off the ground.
Burn1

 

[caljim]

Going on the basis that the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked:

Can compost be used be insted of worm castings in LC's mix?

Compost is almost free for me, the worm castings cost quite a bit more.

 

[Brother Bear]

2 parts wormcastings or mushroom compost or home made compost

YES
i would say, if you are not making it yourself, try and find out how well of a job was done making it
have fun

 

[dazednconfused]

Burn1: Didn't mean compost my bad, I meant the cooling process for the soil to be usable.

Example: Bongoloids mixture created outdoors under forest canopy (where not much veg grows under the trees.) A large tarp is layed down and soil is mixed on top. Fertilizer and additives are then added, mixing the soil again. Finally a tarp is placed on top of the soil and the soil is then turned, dampened and mixed for a few weeks until ready.

Would it be possible or this is something that should be done indoors or a backyard?

 

[caljim]

YES
i would say, if you are not making it yourself, try and find out how well of a job was done making it
have fun

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[BurnOne]

Burn1: Didn't mean compost my bad, I meant the cooling process for the soil to be usable.

Example: Bongoloids mixture created outdoors under forest canopy (where not much veg grows under the trees.) A large tarp is layed down and soil is mixed on top. Fertilizer and additives are then added, mixing the soil again. Finally a tarp is placed on top of the soil and the soil is then turned, dampened and mixed for a few weeks until ready.

Would it be possible or this is something that should be done indoors or a backyard?

That would be awesome. That's exactly what the mix needs.
Burn1

 

[caljim]

3.8 cuft compressed bales

3.8 cuft compressed bales

Read through the thread and didnt find the amount of dry ferts for a 3.8cuft compressed bale of promix/sunshine mix so thought I would do the math and post it up for quick reference.

Heres the recipe for LC's mix #2 with dry ferts if your going to mix up the whole 3.8 cuft compressed bale. The bales double in size so your working with 7.6 cuft expanded, or about 20--3 gallon pots. So:

1-- 3.8cuft compressed bale o mix

6.5 gal---perlite

6.5 gal---worm castings

3.25 cups---blood meal

7.5 cups---bone meal

3.25 cups---Kelp meal

7.5 cups---powdered dolomite lime

 

[VerdantGreen]

hi there, just a quick question

i'm using an organic mix pretty similar to the ones at the beginning of the thread and it has wroked great so far but i'm growing a 16week+ sativa and wondered if i should cut it with a bit of unferted seed/cutting mix and some extra perlite?

sativa is Black Forrest (vietnamese black landrace x hawaiian cherry bomb)

thanks

V.

 

[Hal]

If you use a 3 qt. saucepan as “parts” in the amounts given above, it equals about 1 cu. ft. of soiless mix and you can just dump in a cup of powdered dolomite lime.

Burn1

I wasn't able to find a cheap 3 qt saucepan for measuring. I purchased a plastic storage container that is listed as being 12.5 cups in volume. Am I correct in figuring that a 3 qt saucepan would be equivalent to 12 cups (1 qt = 4 cups x 3 = 12 cups)?

Is there any problem in these calculations regarding "volume" measurements vs. "fluid," or liquid, measurements? I guess I'm wondering whether the 3 qt saucepan is liquid quarts or volume quarts...or is there even a difference.

I'm feeling rather stupid right now.

 

[BurnOne]

Read through the thread and didnt find the amount of dry ferts for a 3.8cuft compressed bale of promix/sunshine mix so thought I would do the math and post it up for quick reference.

Heres the recipe for LC's mix #2 with dry ferts if your going to mix up the whole 3.8 cuft compressed bale. The bales double in size so your working with 7.6 cuft expanded, or about 20--3 gallon pots. So:

1-- 3.8cuft compressed bale o mix

6.5 gal---perlite

6.5 gal---worm castings

3.25 cups---blood meal

7.5 cups---bone meal

3.25 cups---Kelp meal

7.5 cups---powdered dolomite lime

You gotta fluff it out first Man. Then use what you have as "parts". You can't go by estimated volume. You gotta measure EVERYTHING.
Burn1

 

[BurnOne]

hi there, just a quick question

i'm using an organic mix pretty similar to the ones at the beginning of the thread and it has wroked great so far but i'm growing a 16week+ sativa and wondered if i should cut it with a bit of unferted seed/cutting mix and some extra perlite?

sativa is Black Forrest (vietnamese black landrace x hawaiian cherry bomb)

thanks

V.

I don't know. I've never used it.
Burn1

 

[BurnOne]

I wasn't able to find a cheap 3 qt saucepan for measuring. I purchased a plastic storage container that is listed as being 12.5 cups in volume. Am I correct in figuring that a 3 qt saucepan would be equivalent to 12 cups (1 qt = 4 cups x 3 = 12 cups)?

Is there any problem in these calculations regarding "volume" measurements vs. "fluid," or liquid, measurements? I guess I'm wondering whether the 3 qt saucepan is liquid quarts or volume quarts...or is there even a difference.

I'm feeling rather stupid right now.

It doesn't matter. It's a "part". It doesn't matter if it's a 16 oz. plastic cup or a pickup truck bed full as long as you use the same thing as each "part".
You can surely find a cheap aluminum 3 qt. sauce pan at Wal-Mart for less than $5!
Burn1

 

[Hal]

It doesn't matter. It's a "part". It doesn't matter if it's a 16 oz. plastic cup or a pickup truck bed full as long as you use the same thing as each "part".
You can surely find a cheap aluminum 3 qt. sauce pan at Wal-Mart for less than $5!
Burn1

I'm pretty sure it matters in one respect....deciding how much lime to add. That's why I was asking..

I thought I would be able to find a cheapo 3 qt saucepan, too, I went to Walmart for that very reason...nada, dude, nada. Surprised the hell out of me, this particular Walmart, at least, had shit for selection, and nothing cheap.

 

[BurnOne]

I'm pretty sure it matters in one respect....deciding how much lime to add. That's why I was asking..

I thought I would be able to find a cheapo 3 qt saucepan, too, I went to Walmart for that very reason...nada, dude, nada. Surprised the hell out of me, this particular Walmart, at least, had shit for selection, and nothing cheap.

OK Hal. I see your point.
K-Mart has one for $7.
Amazon has one for $9.30 with free shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018E69HA

Google "3 Quart Saucepan".

Burn1

 

[caljim]

Experimental Soil Mix at your own risk!

Experimental Soil Mix at your own risk!

Sorry, doulbe posted.

 

[caljim]

Experimental Soil: Mix at your own risk!

Experimental Soil: Mix at your own risk!

Originally Posted by caljim
Read through the thread and didnt find the amount of dry ferts for a 3.8cuft compressed bale of promix/sunshine mix so thought I would do the math and post it up for quick reference.

Heres the recipe for LC's mix #2 with dry ferts if your going to mix up the whole 3.8 cuft compressed bale. The bales double in size so your working with 7.6 cuft expanded, or about 20--3 gallon pots. So:

1-- 3.8cuft compressed bale o mix

6.5 gal---perlite

6.5 gal---worm castings

3.25 cups---blood meal

7.5 cups---bone meal

3.25 cups---Kelp meal

7.5 cups---powdered dolomite lime

You gotta fluff it out first Man. Then use what you have as "parts". You can't go by estimated volume. You gotta measure EVERYTHING.
Burn1

Yeah well I cant draw between the lines either

My bad, I dont mean to be posting misinformation. Wouldn't want to lead anyone farther off the path than I've allready gone

Looks like I will be the guinea pig for this recipe since i'ts allready mixed and cooking away.

Seems to me that the dose of lime would be the biggest variable here, the blood, bone and kelp meal have retained the same proportions to each other. The strength of the mix will vary based on just how much peat the bale expanded to be. And the proportion of lime to total mix, well looks like time (2 and a half) months or so will tell.

I will keep the forum posted on how it works out.

 

[BurnOne]

Originally Posted by caljim
Read through the thread and didnt find the amount of dry ferts for a 3.8cuft compressed bale of promix/sunshine mix so thought I would do the math and post it up for quick reference.

Heres the recipe for LC's mix #2 with dry ferts if your going to mix up the whole 3.8 cuft compressed bale. The bales double in size so your working with 7.6 cuft expanded, or about 20--3 gallon pots. So:

1-- 3.8cuft compressed bale o mix

6.5 gal---perlite

6.5 gal---worm castings

3.25 cups---blood meal

7.5 cups---bone meal

3.25 cups---Kelp meal

7.5 cups---powdered dolomite lime



Yeah well I cant draw between the lines either

My bad, I dont mean to be posting misinformation. Wouldn't want to lead anyone farther off the path than I've allready gone

Looks like I will be the guinea pig for this recipe since i'ts allready mixed and cooking away.

Seems to me that the dose of lime would be the biggest variable hear, the blood, bone and kelp meal have retained the same proportions to each other. The strength of the mix will vary based on just how much peat the bale expanded to be. And the proportion of lime to total mix, well looks like time (2 and a half) months or so will tell.

I will keep the forum posted on how it works out.

Good work. In my experience, a 3.8 cubic foot bale expands to about 9 cu. ft.
But I have never measured it exactly.
HTH
Burn1