keiksweat
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thanks sea,think I get the picture anyway.eeeeek don't like the sound of the allergic reaction making me sick though. Thanks for sharing seaOh... no, I haven't taken any pix. It's a 30 gallon glass aquarium that was set up for a leopard gecko so it's got a screen top that slides on. Mealworms need to be kept DRY, above all else. The screen keeps certain other bugs from setting up shop but a couple of times I've gotten some kind of moth in there that made its own grubs.
I bed the worms in wheat bran, an inch or two, and feed them stuff like carrots and potatoes and broccoli stems.
The biggest pain (can't recall if I posted about this or not) is sifting the frass out. It causes me a very severe allergic reaction, one of the worst I've ever experienced, literally makes me ill. So covering the face and nose is probably the best idea for anyone else who may have allergies.
This can probably be done in a plastic bin, just be sure it's never sealed tight so moisture is allowed to escape.
HTH! :)
I'm dying to see someone's set up.anyone else got pics of frass farm of any type plz?be great if I can run a worm bin and mealworm bin both together.plants would be thriving.with no damage to my wallet man..lol.I have thought about setting up a soldier fly farm to feed my chickens but a meal worm farm would be so much easier to convince my wife. @Seamaiden how quickly can they populate in a 30 gal? Where did you get the mealworms to start? Most of the ones bought at the stores for chickens come from China so I pass but my chickens love them.
I fucking did it again yesterday. I wanted all that frass and it wasn't sifting out very quickly. So, I took the aquarium outside and gave it a shake, got a really good whiff. It took maybe 10 minutes and I could feel my airway starting to shut down, thought I was going to have to go to the hospital.thanks sea,think I get the picture anyway.eeeeek don't like the sound of the allergic reaction making me sick though. Thanks for sharing sea
I accidentally had a soldier fly farm, but didn't realize what the larvae were until AFTER I'd thrown them all outside the garage. I'm not sure why anyone would bother importing mealworms from China, they're so stupid easy to grow. I bought a couple thousand from an outfit that just sells mealworms and other feeding critters, I can't remember the name. It took a couple of months to get a nice, large colony growing.I have thought about setting up a soldier fly farm to feed my chickens but a meal worm farm would be so much easier to convince my wife. @Seamaiden how quickly can they populate in a 30 gal? Where did you get the mealworms to start? Most of the ones bought at the stores for chickens come from China so I pass but my chickens love them.
Thanks again sea.hope your move goes all well for you and your family.are you going far?oh,did I hear you mention the desert?or am I thinking of another convo,different person?Mein, if we weren't in the middle of a huge move I'd take pix for you. Just take a look at a reptile aquarium, that's exactly what I'm using. Everything gets layered on top.
I fucking did it again yesterday. I wanted all that frass and it wasn't sifting out very quickly. So, I took the aquarium outside and gave it a shake, got a really good whiff. It took maybe 10 minutes and I could feel my airway starting to shut down, thought I was going to have to go to the hospital.
I REALLY need a better way to get the frass than this. When the tingling in my face and neck started it kinda scared me.
I accidentally had a soldier fly farm, but didn't realize what the larvae were until AFTER I'd thrown them all outside the garage. I'm not sure why anyone would bother importing mealworms from China, they're so stupid easy to grow. I bought a couple thousand from an outfit that just sells mealworms and other feeding critters, I can't remember the name. It took a couple of months to get a nice, large colony growing.
If I had it to do over again, I'd want a type of container built that would allow the frass to naturally sift through so *I* don't have to go through all that crap just to get it. You could go to a pet shop and buy a few containers, but if it were me I'd search online for bugs. I think I paid $20 for the 2,000 worms. It probably took longer to get the colony going because there were no mature beetles, just the immature grubs.
how many chicken you got homesteader?id definitely look into mealworms farm.food for the livestock,and free amazing amendment,feed.i swear,I rate beetle frass as the best new addition to my garden in years,bar non.espeacialy teas and foliars of this stuff.amazing results.even seems to have helped with my fungus gnat problems.the only other thing I've used is a pound shop citronella push up,air freshener,bug killer thingamajig.cant see it being that.had shit loads of fgs...I have thought about setting up a soldier fly farm to feed my chickens but a meal worm farm would be so much easier to convince my wife. @Seamaiden how quickly can they populate in a 30 gal? Where did you get the mealworms to start? Most of the ones bought at the stores for chickens come from China so I pass but my chickens love them.
We did it! Man oh MAN what a trick that was, mostly convincing my husband that, yes, it can be done. The only aquatic animals I lost were lost when I drained the pond down, a fish got itself stuck under a mat and died, and another fish and crawdaddy got stuck in the sump pump. A quick whack handled that. Other than that, all are doing GREAT.that sounds amazing sea.would love to check that out.i forgot you had the aqua set up too.how you gonna manage moving all that?are you planning to set up everything as before.?
lol.sounds like you've achieved some amazing fête there,only 2 losses.id love to watch a documentary movie of that move sea.hehe..i bet it was epic..anypics if your aqua set up would be amazing.come on.....break out that old memory stick,lets have a look plz..We did it! Man oh MAN what a trick that was, mostly convincing my husband that, yes, it can be done. The only aquatic animals I lost were lost when I drained the pond down, a fish got itself stuck under a mat and died, and another fish and crawdaddy got stuck in the sump pump. A quick whack handled that. Other than that, all are doing GREAT.
Do I fucking know how to ship fish, or do I know how to ship fish? I need to take pix of what I did so people can see, especially in my aquaponics fora. I'll see if I can get pix up.
I can't set up as before for a few reasons. Climate, geology, and the fact that we are now officially renters and no longer homeowners. At least the landlords are my folks.
We also got the new batch of chicks shipped, they handled it like troopers but the weather played a big role. Never got above 80*F, which for the Central Valley is something.
Ok, off to take pix and see if I can upload them. Grp, can't figure out how to do it using my Tablet. When my computer is set up I'll be able to do it. We's gots us bluegill!
I use frass every grow. I'm organic soil. I use the charge one. It has helped immensely since I started to incorporate it in my soil. I still use the EWC too.
QUESTION RE HOW TO USE AND ENHANCE EFFECTS OF INSECT FRASS from Newbie Grower seeking criticism & advice:
Does anyone here have experience with PRE-MIXING POTTING MEDIUM/SOIL with both INSECT FRASS (dry from package) and MYCORRHIZAL POWDER?
Insect Frass is supposed to build a plant's resistance to pests; adding the myco fungi is supposed to enhance the effect of the Frass. Do you aggree?
(1) I am thinking of Pre-mixing Insect Frass into potting medium/soil before planting: Directions of one manufacturer of insect frass (NPK of 2-2-2) is to mix 1 Cup dry Insect Frass per 1 Cu Ft of potting medium/soil before planting. Is this too high a ratio of Frass to potting soil?
(2) I think I will also (a) roll dampened seed (pre-soaked in warm non-chlorinated/non-chloramine water for 8 to 10 hrs before planting) in Endomycorrhizal Powder before inserting the seed into its rooting cube/plug, and then also (b) lightly coating that rooting cube/plug with powdered Endomycorrhizal Powder to help create a better germination environment for the emerging seedling.
My Beginner Plan = totally Outdoors grow, germination to harvest, in air-root-pruning 5 gal (small autos, maybe two plants) 10 to 12.5 gal (medium height, maybe two plants) and 25 gal (Jack Herer tall, one plant), within secure fenced mostly sunny area.
Foundation potting soil mix = 3 cu ft non-soil peat based mix innoculated with Endomycorrhizae plus 1.5 cu ft FFOF, into which I am thinking of adding Insect Frass plus Endomycorrhizal powder (which has four Endomycorrhizae species, two of which are specifically used by cannabis).
In order to completely skip transplant step (attempting to imitate Mother Nature), each seed will be germinated in its final grow pot. Cannot grow directly in garden soil because of endemic killer Oak Root Rot Fungus (Armillaria mellea).
After filling a pot with foundation potting mix (which I will moisten), I will hollow out of the foundation potting soil, a planting hole 6 in diam x 8 in depth. I will put about a Tablespoon of Endomycorrhizal powder into the bottom of that planting hole, then fill that planting hole with a commercially prepared seed germination potting mix (which I will moisten). Then I will place the rooting cube/plug with its shallowly encased pre-soaked seed into that hollowed out "pot" of germination soil and then lightly cover the rooting plug with 1-2 cm of germination soil.
I will do the initial mistings-waterings with a spray bottle (containing a weak solution of German chamomile tea to reduce chance of "damping off") and using a digital moisture measuring probe to monitor adequacy of moisture for the germinating seed-seedling. Please suggest other methods to prevent "damping off".
The digital moisture measuring probe is also supposed to measure soil pH ( I haven't tried it out yet), and I am deciding which inexpensive tool to get to measure water pH. Any suggestions?
I haven't yet mixed my simple foundation potting soil so please tell me about proportions. I have looked at several recipes for growing mediums and decide to make it as simple as possible by just using commercially prepared mixes. I am going to cultivate less than 6 plants.
I also purchased a 30 lb bag of Worm Castings from my local hydro store which I am thinking of using for "top dressing" (once the seedlings grow to about 6 to 10 inches height, or for making nutrient tea for a "drench". Which is better.... "top dressing" or "drench"?
Note: I am growing solely for Personal Medical Use. I do not smoke (or "vape"); bud flavour & taste are not important. What I harvest will be for making sublingual drops and topical oils, creams, & salves.
All criticisms, advice, suggestions, corrections welcome, please. This is a learning experience for me.
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