jkpaw
- 26
- 3
I've been gradually transitioning to organic over the past three (decent) grows, and I'm finding a goldmine of great soil recipes here -- so that's not my main question. After a year of learning how to keep a big compost pile thriving, I'm ready to put it to use. I plan to be up and running again in about three weeks, so I'm not prepared to go all TLO or anything.
After several unpleasant episodes with supposedly good bags as base (e.g. FFOF with hot spots -- not to mention the usual suspicions of fungus gnat origins), I'm hoping to rely as much as possible on myself. My pile looks great -- almost usable as is, thanks in part to the addition of my past used soils (mostly perlite, pro-mix, and FF) -- fed with plenty of greens and browns, and I've been mineral-supplementing here and there according to basic home soil testing. I find I can keep it going for months on end at 110-140 F by blending in new yard clippings whenever the temperature dips. Since grass decomposes quickly, I always feel the pile could be cooled and put to use within a few short weeks.
Every grow so far I've had annoying nonfatal battles with spider mites and fungus gnats, so I'm preconditioned to be wary about bringing in soil from the outside. I keep wondering why I shouldn't pasteurize (or sterilize?) half of my pile, leaving the other half alive to make teas with. But I don't have a clear enough picture of what I'd be left with. My assumption has been that I'd wind up with pretty much what you'd expect from expensive bags -- a basic, pest-free, balanced foundation that can be brought back to life with tea, used as a third of a three-part mix, alongside, say, peat and perlite (with assorted smaller supplements like neam and kelp).
So what am I missing? And, if this isn't such a dumb strategy, what's the best way to kill my compost? Black plastic in the sun? Sealed trash cans? I guess I'm just not quite brave enough yet to trust a full living ecosystem in my grow room.
After several unpleasant episodes with supposedly good bags as base (e.g. FFOF with hot spots -- not to mention the usual suspicions of fungus gnat origins), I'm hoping to rely as much as possible on myself. My pile looks great -- almost usable as is, thanks in part to the addition of my past used soils (mostly perlite, pro-mix, and FF) -- fed with plenty of greens and browns, and I've been mineral-supplementing here and there according to basic home soil testing. I find I can keep it going for months on end at 110-140 F by blending in new yard clippings whenever the temperature dips. Since grass decomposes quickly, I always feel the pile could be cooled and put to use within a few short weeks.
Every grow so far I've had annoying nonfatal battles with spider mites and fungus gnats, so I'm preconditioned to be wary about bringing in soil from the outside. I keep wondering why I shouldn't pasteurize (or sterilize?) half of my pile, leaving the other half alive to make teas with. But I don't have a clear enough picture of what I'd be left with. My assumption has been that I'd wind up with pretty much what you'd expect from expensive bags -- a basic, pest-free, balanced foundation that can be brought back to life with tea, used as a third of a three-part mix, alongside, say, peat and perlite (with assorted smaller supplements like neam and kelp).
So what am I missing? And, if this isn't such a dumb strategy, what's the best way to kill my compost? Black plastic in the sun? Sealed trash cans? I guess I'm just not quite brave enough yet to trust a full living ecosystem in my grow room.