Here we have a LOT of points I am mulling over myself. I can NOT under-state my surprise at Genuity's rig! Also when Gandalf pulled it off, I was blown out of my seat. I couldn't believe it.
So let me stress that what I intend to do is definitely on the fringe of growing. Edge City. There is very little science backing it up. All I know right now, is that I saw two successes and I'll be damned if I don't explore this.
Some of my thoughts so far:
Microbes do more than feed plants. They work on conditioning the soil, down to the microscopic level, right. When they start FEEDING the plant (with exception of fungi, who help channel all the nutrients to the roots) they are dead. All the nutes are locked inside their little bodies, and this is part of what makes them good for the soil, they immobilise elements and prevent them from washing out the soil down to the water table.
What I suspect (I NEED MY MICROSCOPE!!!) is happening in Organic Hydro is that they do NOT survive at all. In soil, we need pretty infrequent feeds of ACT to keep populations strong. But it is still the DEAD microbes that really make sure the food is available. This is why ACT provides such a strong nute boost, but only for a short time, until our soil becomes TRULY alive.
What I mean with TRULY alive is this: A leaf drops to the soil surface, and it is GONE in 3 days. This is what Microbe Man considers a TRULY alive soil. He also feels it takes YEARS to get there. I just read this yesterday, I will go look for the thread and copy-paste it here. Actually, Stow, I think you commented on said thread, not too sure but I think so...
So once again, my SUSPICION is that most microbes die off. Cell walls are probably broken down by anaerobes, or perhaps the agitation caused by the bubbles, or something similar. And in doing so, actually dying, they make a lot of nutrient instantly available to the plant. One solo cup tea per gallon, it is not much. BUT Genuity does make sure it stays topped up. Using up to a gallon of ACT per week in his rigs. So we can view this as quite a lot of microbes being added constantly.
So in a sense, it is still quite the opposite of a living soil. I don't think anything stays alive in there for very long mate. And oddly enough I think it is exactly this that makes it tick along.
In other words, it requires an abandonment of the LOS kind of thinking. Anaerobes like Lacto B need to be harnassed effectively too. Chelation will only occur for that short time that the microbes are active.
The latter point is a reason why I think Hydroton and Rockwool will work a bit better than DWC even. Tons of nooks and crannies in the rough Hydroton, and it holds Hygroscopic Water, which we all know is the stuff microbes move around in. Just a tiny bit longer survival at least. MAX chelation if using an all-purpose tea for example.
Many issues will arise of course. Res and substrate temps will need to be kept low low low. 15 degrees C and under methinks. And one will have to get used to not seeing pearly white roots. I think a lot of algae will start having quite the field day. So we will have to look at those simple organisms also. Take algae into consideration while exploring organic hydro.
And we will have to harnass The Borg... Trichoderma can survive in hydroton no hassle. It can serve the same purposes as fungi. Matter of fact, most of the time when you think your store-bought Mycorrhizal Fungi are helping you out, it is Trichoderma. The stuff is in all the Myco mixes just about. BUT IT EATS FUNGI. It will destroy ALL mycos. All true ones at least.
Only person I know FOR SURE that has strong myco-dominant soils is Java. He gets FRUITING BODIES! With The Borg around, this will not happen.
Anyhow, like I said, this whole idea of Organic Hydro is right on the fringe of cannabis growing. Welcome to Edge City. I have decided to keep my experiments SMALL to start. I am getting ready to run my first 2nd gen soils now. LOS is still going to be a long road for me. I am not going to rush this, particularly after finding out how long it takes to get it TRULY ALIVE.
