How Do I Get Started in Organics?

[mike357]

and after you wet the mix, does it need to be outside in a container cooking in the sun, or is off on the corner of a room okay? i know i have to keep mixing it.

 

[Wetdog]

and after you wet the mix, does it need to be outside in a container cooking in the sun, or is off on the corner of a room okay? i know i have to keep mixing it.

In the sun is good. I use the 32 gal trash cans from HD, the rubber ones with the snap on lids. Holds 4cf just right. Inside is ok too, whatever your situation calls for.

I just use tap water. Lucky in the sense mine is only ~37 PPM and a pH of ~7.1. They do use chloramines, but >3 PPM. I use the drops for the water in buckets, 8 of them, but also use it straight from the hose if I need to water everything. Never really noticed a difference between the 2.

Wet

 

[Luger187]

Evenly moist. IDK, it's a feel thing, but when I do 2CuFt in the wheelbarrow (~15 gallons of mix), it takes ~2 1/2 gallons to get it 'just right' wet.

IMO, RO and distilled is about the worst water you can use, in soil and especially organics. They are both dead waters and good for hydro, but not a 'living' soil.

I do the amended soil. Bottled nutes are just too expensive and don't contain anything that the amendments don't have. All you need to do is read the list of ingredients on the bottles. I do use more amendments than in the basic recipe, but nothing really esoteric or expensive. LOL

Wet

what do u mean by dead waters? no oxygen?

 

[Wetdog]

what do u mean by dead waters? no oxygen?

No ions is the main thing, but you're gonna have to do your own research on this. I did it years ago, know it's not a good thing for organic soil and didn't keep the science doo dah.

Not going to argue, or cite references. Use it if you like, or do the research, I'm not going to defend how I do things that work for me.

LOL, sorry if I sound crabby. Blame it on old age & hydrocodone & alcohol, or whatever.

Wet

 

[Wetdog]

so what else would you add to the basic recipe?

I also use:
Mycorrhizae & Beneficial Bacteria www.fungi.com
Azomite-google this
Rock Phosphate
Greensand
Gypsum
Alfalfa Meal
Wheat Bran meal (Both the alfalfa and wheat bran meals have been treated with EM-1, or Bokashi)
Humic/Fulvic acid. www.bioag.com

If I forgot any, I'll add it. Google EM-1 and Bokashi for more info, that I'm just not gonna retype. LOL

I'd google vermiculture also. A worm bin is a good thing.

Wet

 

[mike357]

thanks wetdog for all the help. i can't wait to get my current grow finished and get my hands dirty with organics. i am pretty excited to get started.