Soil Food Web Gardening with Compost Teas

[Beemo]

brewing compost teas is very necessary... its just not needed all the time...
no need to dilute... why would you want to dilute fungi and bacteria count?

So how far out from harvest would you give the plants it's last aact watering?

imo nothing after 4weeks into flower...

 

[Beemo]

Some people over due it with molasses for a sweet "taste".

been seeing that a lot lately from organic growers...
too much molasses can kill the soil web...
use molasses in moderation...

 

[Mohican]

If you have a good microbe herd going in your soil, you should only need to feed the microbes.

 

[MileHighGlassPipes]

Microbial diversity is key. That's what compost tea can bring to any table.

 

[Rrog]

Except the purpose of the tea is to have the microbes predated upon to release their nutrient payload. It's not about increasing diversity. The circulating air takes care of that

 

[MileHighGlassPipes]

I don't understand what you said.

Are you talking about increasing nutrient cycling? Increasing microbes will do this. Growing more in the tea will do this as well. It is about diversity as you should use multiple compost sources. All of them containing different microbes. That's why I use compost tea in my notill system. I use a compost source for my teas that is not worm castings. The two together bring up the diversity. Diversity is key. Quantity is key as well.

 

[Beemo]

I don't understand what you said.

Are you talking about increasing nutrient cycling? Increasing microbes will do this. Growing more in the tea will do this as well. It is about diversity as you should use multiple compost sources. All of them containing different microbes. That's why I use compost tea in my notill system. I use a compost source for my teas that is not worm castings. The two together bring up the diversity. Diversity is key. Quantity is key as well.

 

[natureboygrower]

brewing compost teas is very necessary... its just not needed all the time...
no need to dilute... why would you want to dilute fungi and bacteria count?



imo nothing after 4weeks into flower...

That's usually when my plants start to look their worst lulz.do you give them anything after this 4 week mark?

 

[Beemo]

That's usually when my plants start to look their worst lulz.do you give them anything after this 4 week mark?

maybe go buy organic bottles? nothing you can do at this point...
you'll just be chasing an endless rabbit hole... not enough time...

next time add some amendments/weak organic food at the start of flower.

 

[natureboygrower]

maybe go buy organic bottles? nothing you can do at this point...
you'll just be chasing an endless rabbit hole... not enough time...

next time add some amendments/weak organic food at the start of flower.

OK.so,if a i build a base, compost,peat,aeration then amend with compost/ewc teas.technically, this should be all I need to get thru a 4 month season?are you guys brewing strictly compost/ewc teas?and nothing to do with a flowering diet?

 

[Beemo]

OK.so,if a i build a base, compost,peat,aeration then amend with compost/ewc teas.technically, this should be all I need to get thru a 4 month season?are you guys brewing strictly compost/ewc teas?and nothing to do with a flowering diet?

that depends on how much food you have in the soil to start with...
if the soil is low in nutritional value.. or you see deficiencies
then it needs to be re-amended accordingly...

 

[Midwest Weedist]

That's usually when my plants start to look their worst lulz.do you give them anything after this 4 week mark?

If you're at week four you could always give a kelp tea. Malted barley as a tea or topdress could help as well, can't beat those enzymes. I'm also not opposed to giving accts until the last couple weeks of bloom, it's just not usually necessary unless your soil mass is lacking in micro organisms.
Another tip would be to increase your soil mass next run.

 

[Beemo]

Another tip would be to increase your soil mass next run.

not necessarily..
organic sin mints in 3 gallons... almost 5ft tall
water and a few compost tea batchs only...

 

[Mohican]

Wow! I would love to have those results!

 

[Midwest Weedist]

not necessarily..
organic sin mints in 3 gallons... almost 5ft tall
water and a few compost tea batchs only...
View attachment 3640326

Oh it's completely possible, just requires some attention to detail and quality inputs. I've mentioned it multiple times in other threads that compost is one of the biggest "ingredients" people cut corners on or skimp on. Watering timely sems to be another factor in pulling weight from small soil masses. That and genetics, definitely genetics.

 

[Midwest Weedist]

Another area I think alot of people fall short is in their rock dusts used. I've seen root bound plants make a complete 180 after only watering in glacial rock dusts with an aact or even just kelp.

 

[natureboygrower]

OK,so 1/3 high quality compost,1/3 happy frog soil conditioner, 1/3 aeration,oyster shells,neem meal,kelp meal,now on to the rock dust.do I need to worry about high metals?all depends on locale,right?could you give me some examples of rock dust?how much per cubic ft?I'm getting ready to order some neem meal,and oyster shell flour.they didn't have this at my local grow supply and to be honest,I try to stay out of there.its a great small,local shop but every time I go in there, there's a new fucking product!!I just want something simple!!I like the ideas of rock dust in teas,aren't they suppose to ward off mildews?hey,thanks guys,great info

 

[natureboygrower]

Another area I think alot of people fall short is in their rock dusts used. I've seen root bound plants make a complete 180 after only watering in glacial rock dusts with an aact or even just kelp.

Also,when you say watering in with kelp,how so?I use a small amount of seaplex(microbemans %)in every brew.do you brew using strictly kelp,or mixing kelp per bottle instructions in a watering can?

 

[Midwest Weedist]

Also,when you say watering in with kelp,how so?I use a small amount of seaplex(microbemans %)in every brew.do you brew using strictly kelp,or mixing kelp per bottle instructions in a watering can?

Well it depends on the situation on amounts used. For my kelp teas I'll usually take a handful (crude measurement I know) of kelp meal per gallon and bubble it for 24-36 hours then water with it undiluted or diluted by up to 4x the water. I also favor coots ready to use kelp method that involves hydrating kelp, blending, and storing as is in the fridge so its ready to be stirred into the appropriate amount of water and be ready to go. I like kelp in all stages honestly. I avoid any sources of nutrition last week or two of bloom though. Just light waterings.

 

[natureboygrower]

Well it depends on the situation on amounts used. For my kelp teas I'll usually take a handful (crude measurement I know) of kelp meal per gallon and bubble it for 24-36 hours then water with it undiluted or diluted by up to 4x the water. I also favor coots ready to use kelp method that involves hydrating kelp, blending, and storing as is in the fridge so its ready to be stirred into the appropriate amount of water and be ready to go. I like kelp in all stages honestly. I avoid any sources of nutrition last week or two of bloom though. Just light waterings.

Very interesting.where can I find coots info on all this?