haha. yeah it really works amazing like eh + hes plants are ?what about,15,ft.min. and it must be active cos all the straw gets eaten away:-)I bet that pond slime is incredibly biologically active, too, not just chock full of nutrients, but critters eating and shitting those nutrients. Mmm... nutrientpoo.
WTH? You're not that lady who bought EVERY sack of rice hulls in the area last year, for her pool, are you? Man...!! That fucked up my biochar shit!
hey seamaiden:-)I bet that pond slime is incredibly biologically active, too, not just chock full of nutrients, but critters eating and shitting those nutrients. Mmm... nutrientpoo.
oh wowI haven't used the nut shells, but I would think that they'd work better if they were in smaller bits. I say why not any nut (hull/shell)? Brazil nuts are AWFULLY hard, though, you might have a difficult time with them. But, if making biochar with them, char them first, then break them up.
Oh! That reminds me, I was just reading about a UK outfit that sells biochar. Wish I could easily find someone like that out here. Let me find the name of the outfit for you, spacebomb.
Here we go, outfit's in Bristol, England, called Carbon Gold, Ltd. Let's see if I can find a website!
http://www.carbongold.com/
Now, this is what's got me super-envious--they sell biochar kilns so you can make your own char.
I haven't used the nut shells, but I would think that they'd work better if they were in smaller bits. I say why not any nut (hull/shell)? Brazil nuts are AWFULLY hard, though, you might have a difficult time with them. But, if making biochar with them, char them first, then break them up.
Oh! That reminds me, I was just reading about a UK outfit that sells biochar. Wish I could easily find someone like that out here. Let me find the name of the outfit for you, spacebomb.
Here we go, outfit's in Bristol, England, called Carbon Gold, Ltd. Let's see if I can find a website!
http://www.carbongold.com/
Now, this is what's got me super-envious--they sell biochar kilns so you can make your own char.
Nice! I can't say how envious I am, can't figure out why we don't already have something like this out here.aahh im getting the growers world pack is it! only 50£ for all their seed soil ,fert pellets and 2,and a half ,five kg of biochar + a 250,g free tub to ,give to a freind:),lol .shame i dont know u:) so this will airate + increase my yeilds ?.thanks again sea + i dont think ive the space in my bedroom for a kiln:)ill just buy it.its really cheap.ive got a 25,kg sak of pumice aswell.
Nice! I can't say how envious I am, can't figure out why we don't already have something like this out here.
All of them! I'd be trying pretty much everything out, one way or another. You don't have to use coco if you don't want to. I only perused, didn't really go in depth into anything except the kilns.
I've evolved away from blood/blood as well as lime.
7.5 cup measurements = 1tbsp/gal
15 cup measurements = 2 tbsp/gal
15 cups crab meal
15 cups neem cake
15 cups fish bone meal
I think what you are not seeing is the neem cake, which is a great source of slow release nitrogen. As well as - Crab meal is 4-3-0. Fish bone is 3-18-0. How much of that 18% is immediately available, I am not sure of. But bone meal's 0-10-0, breaks down at a slower rate, from what I understand. I was also skeptical at first pulling bone and blood, but after seeing others' results, I was convinced. Also to mention, the anti-pest/pathogen properties of neem/crab are a big motivation, and adding these to a mix with bone and blood could be overkill. Also to mention, the concept of blood meal grosses me out, and I'd trade the stentch of neem cake/crab/fish bone any day ;)Thanks for the soil report.
Do you think of the crab and fish bone as replacements for blood and bone meal?
Please explain your equivalency equations. It's just not coming into focus for me.
My problem is that my simple super soil is working so well for me that I am hesitant to mess with it.
My latest experiment was to replace locally sourced peat with Pro Mix HP.
Seems a transparent substitution, but easier to work mechanically and better permeability throughout the grow.
As for refurbishing used root balls- I just ran a blend that used spent soil as my replacement for the peat or Pro Mix and then made additions at 1/3 the original formula.
This worked well.
The problem with super soil is that the microbes negotiate with the plant for nutrients. This seems to mask / accommodate vast imbalances in the soil. So while the plants seem prefect, I can't figure out what might be more perfect.
Most perfect is what I want.
I think what you are not seeing is the neem cake, which is a great source of slow release nitrogen. As well as - Crab meal is 4-3-0. Fish bone is 3-18-0. How much of that 18% is immediately available, I am not sure of. But bone meal's 0-10-0, breaks down at a slower rate, from what I understand. I was also skeptical at first pulling bone and blood, but after seeing others' results, I was convinced. Also to mention, the anti-pest/pathogen properties of neem/crab are a big motivation, and adding these to a mix with bone and blood could be overkill. Also to mention, the concept of blood meal grosses me out, and I'd trade the stentch of neem cake/crab/fish bone any day ;)
As far as re-amending, do you think that adding 1/3 of each ingredient is necessary? I'm not doubting you, I've just seen folks mention that this could be a tad overkill. A common practice seems to be adding a bit of alfalfa to break down the goods further, and replenishing some EWC. The idea of this is that a lot of the goods are just beginning to fully break down by the time your first run with the mix is done.
I was also considering adding green sand being as that I'm going to start recycling, even though green sand takes forever and a day to break down - it could be a good K source on the long term. But, I also prefer simple, yet effective, and don't want to go tossing in more than I need to.
With all that being said - Also been reading up on the use of comfrey, barley, nettles etc. Seems to be common practice for some folks recycling and growing no-till style. The world of organic soil is absolutely fascinating...
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