Thanks for stopping by
Bob Smith!
I'm currently experimenting with an AACT (Actively Aerated Compost Tea) to work with vegan organic hydro folks. It's refreshing to be able to work in a manure-less environment - broad new territory of learning and experimentation.
Most recent batch of compost tea consists of:
Per 3 gal of water - OR
aerated 24, 48hrs @ 78deg F
1/2 cup alfalfa meal - OR
1/2 cup linseed meal - OR
In cotton sock steep for 1 hr, pour off 1 gal for foliar feeding and add 1 gal fresh water. Then stir (in clockwise direction) with enough energy to create a vortex to dissolve the next ingredient:
3 tbs organic blackstrap molasses
Vortex mix for ten minutes. I'm not entirely sure what is does, but it certainly does SOMETHING.
The next sock has:
1 cup alaskan humus - AL - Ancient Forest
Then directly in the water itself:
1 tbs bacterial and fungi inoculate - OR - Wonderdust (30 different strains)
After 24hrs a gal goes into the reservoir and 1 gal of water and molasses goes into the tea brewer for the next 24. Then this culture is kept active for the week with the withdrawal of biologically active culture balanced by additional water and molasses. New culture brewed per week.
Suspended at my waterfall line (active flow rate @ 1000 gph) a paint strainer bag filled with
1 cup of sand composed in equal measure
Azomite - UT
Glacial Rock Dust - CN
Greensand - NJ
Soft Rock Phosphate - FL
Lime - OR
View attachment 1433494
Makes for a pleasant soothing sound with lot's of bubbles!
I have to say, since going with the beneficial bacteria and fungi compost tea's, my root growth has been explosive and most recently, the fan leave surfaces have taken on a lustery deep translucency to them. My ppm's are down in the mid 400's (from 800) and the girls just seem happier, more vibrant. The leaves are vivid green all the way to the very tip. My growth rate - 7th week (4wk of veg) is about 1"/day. Plants are about 16" tall.