Compost VS Humus

Ok i have a couple of ideas on the difference from all the technical jargin i have found but just wondered if anyone could lend there opionion.

thanks in advance

Compost is a vague general term. I'm building a compost bin, my food scraps are composting, etc. Once the organic matter fully composts your left with this rich loomy spongy dark earth smelling stuff called humus. Since most people are familiar with compost and not humus I rarely say add some humus to your bed. Instead I say, just toss is some composted soil (or just compost for short).

"You cannot give Reputation to the same post twice." . ok thanks I was thinking along those lines thanks again for clearing up.

I find that they are similar but there are a few differences.

Mainly that humus would generally be aged longer, hopefully taken from the base of the largest tree you can find with a good mixture of composting forest material and dense forest soil. Humus would contain microbes that benefit the root systems of plants because the microbes have been growing and breeding in symbiosis with living plants. This soil doesn't necessarily have a huge amount of nutrients, it's hard for a wet forest to retain nutrients when you have a dense population of plants absorbing nutrients constantly. So, high in beneficial bio matter, not so high in nutrient content.

Compost can have these qualities, but there could be a mild disconnect when it comes to beneficial biology. Compost is broken down material to the point where, when added to soil, it increases fertility. It takes certain microbes to break down complex biological structures. These aren't necessarily the same ones that lock in usable nutrients, and feed your roots. Not so high in microbes aimed at plant growth, high in nutrient content.

Mix them together and you can have your cake and eat it too.
Sincerely,
ILovePlants

sorry for the lack of activity and thank you for the great information. Rep for all knowledge forever!

IlovePlants, would you be able to comment some more about how one might go about selecting forest humus / soil for use in a compost tea and/or compost pile? I'd want to be sure I'm selecting material that is rich in micro life and avoid anything that could be undesirable or even harmful.

And am I right that forest humus/soil would make for an excellent compost material in a tea?

Yes, good sir, you are. But make sure when breeding microbes for the purpose of inoculation, that you add the nutrients you expect your plants to grow with during that particular stage of growth. This will promote a bloom of only the microbes necessary for the stage you need them in. Obviously make sure that the nutrients you select are rounded and hopefully inoculated themselves with microbes. Look into plasmids, and you will understand that variety in the microbe world benefits all microbes.

When I was selecting humus soil, I looked to my back yard. I used to live in Minnesota, and rented property with ~30 trees. All of the trees were over 30 years old, 50ft tall, and they were given no additional nutrients beyond what their roots could forage from the ground. I felt that this low nutrient environment supporting extremely large plants was perfect for finding true beneficial microbes. They weren't pampered or babied in any way, they only had small animals, nuts, flowers, and leaves to feed on. Yet I watched over the course of 5 years as some trees grew over 30ft! I knew that this forest floor had something special. Boy was I right. Maple trees on my property were constantly lush, and from my bonsai experience I knew that they would produce lush healthy growth even in with extremely restricted root space.

If you find a place that is supporting lots of health C3 type plants, you will more than likely find soil that has unique cultivars of bacteria and fungi beneficial to plant growth. Plants and their symbiotes are very adaptive. You have to view the giant colonies of beneficials from the perspective of civilization. Only under horrible conditions will the wrong species survive. As long as you have properly aerated soil no anaerobic species should thrive, and you should have plenty of great growth. If you are at all concerned about pathogens, test out this new humus soil. I never just change my room on a whim. I'm looking for verifiable evidence to support my theories, and only after several successful tests do I consider a theory possible truth.

When I was making my soil I combined: 30 gallons of forest humus from the largest and lushest trees in my yard, with 30 gallons of my premade soil (inoculated with organic slow release all purpose 3-4-5 rose food chock full of benificials), 3 gallons steamed/microwaved forest floor material, and 15 gallons of perlite. This was watered once a week for a few weeks with about a gallon of water, it really depends on room humidity, and mixed thoroughly 3 times; once every 3 weeks. It takes a while, but you end up with a pile of warm extremely fertile homogenous soil.

This soil should be rich enough to add to your compost pile, and the microbes will go to work. A little bit back I wrote an article about making a composter that adds CO2 to your flowering room. Check it out.

Anyway at some point I plan on digging up all my posts and organizing them into a grow guide, based off of my experience. I hope that this information helps you to understand how you can make organic growing an extremely fruitful venture.
Good luck in your growing endeavors,
ILovePlants

Ok sorry guys im just one of those people that feel like they learn nothin unless completly understood. if that makes sence anyway... Ok my question is can anyone explain the entire process it could even be a forum you would like to start and I will follow. What i mean ok I know sub has the SS recipe and you need those things but what does each one offer the plant and how do you get the measurements "like how to you figure out how much lime"for ph" you would need?" or why or those things that the recipe calls for in there and what exaxctly do they offer to the plant and how?

Example say "bat guano" what is the use and how does it make its self availible? any input is appreaciated

Much respect and love Organics88