Does compost need..

RonBurgundysMustache

RonBurgundysMustache

Member
hi all!

I have been searching and searching and the very little info I found gave conflicting answers. I will be buying soil by the yard here shortly to get ready for the outdoor season and am torn over whether to get the garden mix (50% compost/50% loam) or the 100% compost. I am mainly wondering, given how I usually do super soil, do I need to amend this compost with my usual Down To Eath amendments at all? 50% the usual rate? Or at the same rate as I would with say my roots organic recipe? It seems like a quality compost. Any experience and help is much appreciated...as always, thank you very much.

Link of compost details below as well as a picture with a brief description of the soil/compost make-up..

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COMPOST⬇
http://www.duboislivestockandexcavating.com/compost.html
 
RonBurgundysMustache

RonBurgundysMustache

Member
Chunky Stool said:
Since you already have experience building your own soil, get straight compost and mix it @ 25% of total volume. Then just use your usual amendments.
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GrowingTheDream said:
Get straight compost and add everything else you want.
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Okay, yeah I was more than likely going to go with compost. I was just unsure about how normal doses of amendments would set with the compost in a sense of strength. I will still be cooking it but again wanted to see all of your opinions on whether or not adding full strength of said amendments would be necessary or if as chunky stated, 25%+ would be ideal (correct me if I misunderstood you). I'm sure 25lb bags of all of my Down To Earth products will cover my 1400 gallons of super soil mix as I'll be doing a 1/3 cold plug of just compost which makes up 700 gallons.
 
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RonBurgundysMustache

RonBurgundysMustache

Member
I've never used compost as a base this is why I ask. I am assuming, if cooking it, that it will buffer and with enough time or cutting it with base if too hot when it comes time to planting, it would be okay.
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
RonBurgundysMustache said:
I've never used compost as a base this is why I ask. I am assuming, if cooking it, that it will buffer and with enough time or cutting it with base if too hot when it comes time to planting, it would be okay.
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shouldn't need to age anything man, the composting procedure does all that, also they have a mix for veggies that says not additional nutrients are needed.
i'd match that with some good aeration or maybe easier just cut the compost 1/1 with a promix hp or something
 
RonBurgundysMustache

RonBurgundysMustache

Member
greasemonkeymann said:
shouldn't need to age anything man, the composting procedure does all that, also they have a mix for veggies that says not additional nutrients are needed.
i'd match that with some good aeration or maybe easier just cut the compost 1/1 with a promix hp or something
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Yeah I noticed that, just didn't think it affected this process. So you think the garden mix (50% loam/50%) is the way to go? I was thinking the full compost was better since it's the same thing as the garden mix just without the loam which would require even more aeration if I'm not mistaken being how loam is sand/clay? Thanks a bunch though, that definitely makes sense seeing how the composting process is already taking place. I was informed by them that the compost source meets MOSCA specifications, does not have any sludge or biosolids, and consists of 20% chicken manure/40% cow & horse manure/40% green waste (leaves, grass clippings, plant matter, and woodwaste). You really think I can get away with that without adding any Down To Earth amendments? Thanks GreaseMonkey!
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
RonBurgundysMustache said:
Depending on the differences between the two top choices, I may go with the straight compost. I will still apply a cold plug for seedlings to be sure there is no burning. Do you recommend any amendments in the compost or is it typically okay in that sense especially with regular AACT's?
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Either by itself or amendments.

Cold plugs are pointless. The roots grow through them fairly quick.
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
RonBurgundysMustache said:
Yeah I noticed that, just didn't think it affected this process. So you think the garden mix (50% loam/50%) is the way to go? I was thinking the full compost was better since it's the same thing as the garden mix just without the loam which would require even more aeration if I'm not mistaken being how loam is sand/clay? Thanks a bunch though, that definitely makes sense seeing how the composting process is already taking place. I was informed by them that the compost source meets MOSCA specifications, does not have any sludge or biosolids, and consists of 20% chicken manure/40% cow & horse manure/40% green waste (leaves, grass clippings, plant matter, and woodwaste). You really think I can get away with that without adding any Down To Earth amendments? Thanks GreaseMonkey!
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anytime I can help my man, it's a pleasure to help out
from the description i'd say yea, but it's all impossible to say without getting my hands in it, if it's soft, spongey like, black humus i'd say you are golden.
I've never bought compost before, only made my own so it's hard for me to say, but 9 times outta 10 you do better without a lot of nutrients
that's a common mistake for cannabis growers, adding too much.
one thing that always seems to be common in commercial composts is the wood chips, hopefully it's not a lot
wood chips are bad as a base to a compost
for the most part anyways
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
RonBurgundysMustache said:
Depending on the differences between the two top choices, I may go with the straight compost. I will still apply a cold plug for seedlings to be sure there is no burning. Do you recommend any amendments in the compost or is it typically okay in that sense especially with regular AACT's?
Click to expand...
shouldn't need a buffer or AACTs man, the compost is driven by microbes, which is why that stuff is like magic anyways
but a healthy compost will sprout seeds and grow damn near anything.
just is a lil thick, so aeration is crucial
 
RonBurgundysMustache

RonBurgundysMustache

Member
greasemonkeymann said:
shouldn't need a buffer or AACTs man, the compost is driven by microbes, which is why that stuff is like magic anyways
but a healthy compost will sprout seeds and grow damn near anything.
just is a lil thick, so aeration is crucial
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Good shit. I greatly appreciate the feedback and useful information Grease Monkey. It seems like nice stuff and I'll be grabbing about 12 yards and will more than likely grab something to aerate a bit more regardless (they have organic rice hulls for cheap as well as other good organic aeration products). I initially thought I would be cooking this but was clearly wrong. Glad I was wrong in this case haha now I can grab that compost closer to planting which is good for us Mainers because it snows in April sometimes early May which can complicates things a tad. I wonder why people like Sub and Rev make theirs with bag soil? Maybe they're not doing bigger outdoor grows or just plain old love the work and knowledge they gain through making their own. Nonetheless, thank you all for your help. I'll be preordering the goods soon! Take care all
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
RonBurgundysMustache said:
Good shit. I greatly appreciate the feedback and useful information Grease Monkey. It seems like nice stuff and I'll be grabbing about 12 yards and will more than likely grab something to aerate a bit more regardless (they have organic rice hulls for cheap as well as other good organic aeration products). I initially thought I would be cooking this but was clearly wrong. Glad I was wrong in this case haha now I can grab that compost closer to planting which is good for us Mainers because it snows in April sometimes early May which can complicates things a tad. I wonder why people like Sub and Rev make theirs with bag soil? Maybe they're not doing bigger outdoor grows or just plain old love the work and knowledge they gain through making their own. Nonetheless, thank you all for your help. I'll be preordering the goods soon! Take care all
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anytime I can help my friend, just give me a holler, i'm only here to help out a lil, make things easier, wish someone showed me the techniques I use now, years ago, so I just want to share my experience.
i'm here 830-4pm PST, mon to fri
one thing i'd add to the mix if possible is neem meal or steer manure (for the sulfur content)
and kelp meal, if it's not already in the mix.
past that i'd go water only, and in fact, i'd wager that even minus the neem/manure and kelp it'd still grow perfect.
EDIT- appears that the mix already has a good amount of manure, so forget that. You're good.
 
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