Legion Of Living Organic Soil

[OldSmokie76]

First idea. In honor of your closed loop theory @Organikz, I will be using the discarded stem skeletons from harvest and leaf clippings as mulch for the bed. Hmmmm, blender seems to be a great indoor mulcher. Hahahahaha.

 

[Smoking Gun]

If you intend to build a bed frame out of wood use pond liner to keep the wood from getting wet. A second layer of liner may be a good idea too.

 

[Mr Bee]

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[Organikz]

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Nice. Bokashi?

 

[Jack og]

Ok quick question, I run los, super soil. Problem I run into that I have controlled but not eliminated is white flies. The los seems to be a beacon for those suckers here in monterey, almost everyone I know has some sort of white fly issue. What could be done to eliminate the fuckers? Organic methods ?

 

[OldSmokie76]

My real issue indoor has been fungus gnats. Sticky traps have been highly effective. Not sure if they'll help with the white flies. Neem spray maybe? My outdoor greenhouse has a horde of white flies. Occupying my mint and strawberry plants. About to spray need out there and observe.

 

[OldSmokie76]

Ok quick question, I run los, super soil. Problem I run into that I have controlled but not eliminated is white flies. The los seems to be a beacon for those suckers here in monterey, almost everyone I know has some sort of white fly issue. What could be done to eliminate the fuckers? Organic methods ?

Also have read about homemade recipes for sprays involving hot pepper, coffee, etc. Pinterest is great for ideas in the garden.

 

[Organikz]

Ok quick question, I run los, super soil. Problem I run into that I have controlled but not eliminated is white flies. The los seems to be a beacon for those suckers here in monterey, almost everyone I know has some sort of white fly issue. What could be done to eliminate the fuckers? Organic methods ?

I would also add lacewing eggs in the mix. Those things are insane. Voracious little buggers.

 

[Smoking Gun]

Oldsmokie mentioned using pepper spray, rosemary oil spray would also be rather effective. Mint can also be a repellent.

Has anyone tried planting rosemary or flowers as companion plantings in their LOS beds? Companion planting is often used in organic vegetable gardens, the companions may aid in growth of plants but also may act as repellants or sacraficial crops. This may be something to consider using.

 

[Mr Bee]

Nice. Bokashi?

no just some neem tea i gave.its not tlo just some canna pro plus.lol.gonna get some bokashi.seriously thinking about doing the whole probiotic thing.if i do I'm going to be pestering you for knowledge all the time @Organikz

 

[Mr Bee]

Ok quick question, I run los, super soil. Problem I run into that I have controlled but not eliminated is white flies. The los seems to be a beacon for those suckers here in monterey, almost everyone I know has some sort of white fly issue. What could be done to eliminate the fuckers? Organic methods ?

i use nematodes and can't recommend them enough.2 weeks and there won't b a living insect left in your soil.not sure if that's a good or bad thing in organics.they get rid of all your fungus gnat larvea in the soil.you need sticky yellow traps too though.

 

[OldSmokie76]

Oldsmokie mentioned using pepper spray, rosemary oil spray would also be rather effective. Mint can also be a repellent.

Has anyone tried planting rosemary or flowers as companion plantings in their LOS beds? Companion planting is often used in organic vegetable gardens, the companions may aid in growth of plants but also may act as repellants or sacraficial crops. This may be something to consider using.

I have Rosemary in the greenhouse. I'll bring in some cuttings to root for the tent. My mint in the greenhouse is covered with whiteflies this year. Not sure if it is effective as a repellant. However I did use fresh mint cuttings to ward off spider mites.

 

[Organikz]

no just some neem tea i gave.its not tlo just some canna pro plus.lol.gonna get some bokashi.seriously thinking about doing the whole probiotic thing.if i do I'm going to be pestering you for knowledge all the time @Organikz

I'm hoping this thread will draw some organic OGs for good resources. My style allows for less calculating and balancing so I really dont know much about all the fancy stuff kids are doing these days.

 

[Smoking Gun]

I have Rosemary in the greenhouse. I'll bring in some cuttings to root for the tent. My mint in the greenhouse is covered with whiteflies this year. Not sure if it is effective as a repellant. However I did use fresh mint cuttings to ward off spider mites.

The whole plants are good, but in conjunction you can make sprays. Leaving the herbs in water with a touch of dish soap for 48 hours will draw out the oils. You can spray the resultant solution for an organic pesticide. Ideally this should not be done within 2 weeks of harvest, but given what these sprays are made of I would be comfortable using them within days of harvest.

 

[jumpincactus]

Thanks for the info cactus. I understand the principles of living soil quite well, I employ those practices in my professional life as a landscape designer. But there definitely are some aspects of creating the outdoors inside that have me a bit stumped. I guess once I get a living soil bed going I will start to grasp those concepts.

Sounds like your well on your way since you are already doing this outside. It is a different beast going indoors. Nothing we/man can do will ever beat mother natures natural systems. We can get close, but I think it is arrogant for us to think we can do better. :D

 

[jumpincactus]

i use nematodes and can't recommend them enough.2 weeks and there won't b a living insect left in your soil.not sure if that's a good or bad thing in organics.they get rid of all your fungus gnat larvea in the soil.you need sticky yellow traps too though.

there ya go Mr bee talking bout nemos. No organic farmer should be without them.Whats funny I was just getting ready to post on beneficial nemos and then saw B beat me to it!!!!!

 

[jumpincactus]

My real issue indoor has been fungus gnats. Sticky traps have been highly effective. Not sure if they'll help with the white flies. Neem spray maybe? My outdoor greenhouse has a horde of white flies. Occupying my mint and strawberry plants. About to spray need out there and observe.

nematodes bro for fungus gnat control try anything in the order of this genus. Heterorhabditis indica

Bee keepers use them to combat fungus gnats and other critters in their hives believe it or not!!!!

Here is a great supply house for live nematodes. And yes they work. Since incorporating nematodes I haven't seen a fugus gnat in years. I take that back. I see em in peoples grows that don't use em.!!!!!! :D

https://www.arbico-organics.com/category/beneficial-nematodes

 

[Smoking Gun]

Sounds like your well on your way since you are already doing this outside. It is a different beast going indoors. Nothing we/man can do will ever beat mother natures natural systems. We can get close, but I think it is arrogant for us to think we can do better. :D

We will never touch what mama nature can do; but that seems to be the cool thing about LOS, it’s using Mother Nature rather than trying to recreate what it does.

I just took on a project building a veggie garden for a restaurant and am excited to put some of the theories of “true” organic gardening to the test. But otherwise in my day to day work I am more often trying to refurbish Mother Nature in gardens that people have depleated and screwed up.

 

[OldSmokie76]

nematodes bro for fungus gnat control try anything in the order of this genus. Heterorhabditis indica

Bee keepers use them to combat fungus gnats and other critters in their hives believe it or not!!!!

Here is a great supply house for live nematodes. And yes they work. Since incorporating nematodes I haven't seen a fugus gnat in years. I take that back. I see em in peoples grows that don't use em.!!!!!! :D

https://www.arbico-organics.com/category/beneficial-nematodes

Thanks for this info. I've been curious about beneficial organisms.

 

[OldSmokie76]

Showing some fuzz. Life is happening. "It's alive!". Muhuhuahahahahaaaaa.

(Lightning crackles)

Que the creepy organ music.