Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread

Rrog said:
So this is essentially your aeration component also. Dual duty. Are you using pumice or lava rock etc for an aeration component aside from the leaf mold? Doesn't seem like you'd need to.

So glad you tried this
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I'm still using aeration bits. Just less of them. Of all the components of an organic soil, I never dreamed that aeration bits would be the most frustrating part...but damn! I can't for the life of me find anything decent aside from perlite. I have to drive to Lansing to get rice hulls, and that seems stupid. So I'm stuck using perlite. I've looked for years around here, and nobody carries pumice or >1" lava rock.

:cuss:
 
Rrog said:
I'm going to try biochar. Chunks 1 1/2" and less. Guys are growing in crazy high % biochar - like 25% or more. Once charged, it's a neutral component and so I think would be a simple replacement for perlite and pumice. Maybe - can't see why not so far.
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Are you going to be using the smaller drum inside the 55 gallon drum to make your bio char, or are you just using something like Cowboy brand bagged charcoal?
 
Have you considered this? I went to a local hydro store looking for rice hulls, didn't have them so I was talked into this. Its not cheap but seems to provide excellent aeration and doesn't float. Made of recycled glass and a source of silicon, plus its American made.
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Product Description
Growstone GS-2 Mix This Soil Aerator is the ideal aeration component of soil mixes. Its highly porous aggregates act as air pockets significantly enhancing aeration and drainage of an sphagnum peat, coco coir or composted soil-based mix. As a result, it creates the ideal environment for your plants' root systems and leads to healthy, thriving plants. Ideal for growing a wide variety of plants including herbs, flowering and woody ornamentals, vegetables, tropical, trees and scrubs. Growstone GS-2 Mix This Soil Aerator is a sustainable alternative to perlite and other soil amendments used to improve texture and structure of soil or soilless mixes. 100% Recycled. 100% American made.
 
st0wandgrow said:
Are you going to be using the smaller drum inside the 55 gallon drum to make your bio char, or are you just using something like Cowboy brand bagged charcoal?
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You mean pissing in a bag of charcoal? Hahahaha. Nope, I'm cooking in the barrel burners.

@elkamino I've talked with those Growstone folks about buying pallets or 1 ton super-sacks but too much $$. That's why I'm excited about the biochar as aeration
 
What does everyone think of adding neem and karanja cake to your soil? I got a small bag of the 50/50 neem/karanja from BAS and was planning on topdressing to help with pests but I've heard a few negative things lately about them. Outside of IPM I think at least neem provides some nutritional value, no?
 
bizfactory said:
What does everyone think of adding neem and karanja cake to your soil? I got a small bag of the 50/50 neem/karanja from BAS and was planning on topdressing to help with pests but I've heard a few negative things lately about them. Outside of IPM I think at least neem provides some nutritional value, no?
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Is that the Ahimsa (sp?) brand that smells like beef boullion cubes? If so, yes it does contain nutrient value. Mostly N iirc. Be careful with how much you lay down though. It can burn a plant as it mineralizes in/on the soil!
 
Yeah it's Ahimsa brand.

I was planning on top dressing with about a 1/4 or 1/2 cup on my 15 gallon pots. Sounds about right? I also have a neighbor giving me worms tonight, should I worry about them being harmed?
 
bizfactory said:
Yeah it's Ahimsa brand.

I was planning on top dressing with about a 1/4 or 1/2 cup on my 15 gallon pots. Sounds about right? I also have a neighbor giving me worms tonight, should I worry about them being harmed?
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I'd start light and adjust from there. 1/4 cup tops IMO.

I personally don't use neem seed cake in my worm bin. I jacked a few plants up with it so I'm a lil gun shy to be honest.
 
st0wandgrow said:
I'd start light and adjust from there. 1/4 cup tops IMO.

I personally don't use neem seed cake in my worm bin. I jacked a few plants up with it so I'm a lil gun shy to be honest.
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Thanks man, I won't go over a 1/4 cup. What were the effects when you jacked them up? I'll also be top dressing with crab and kelp at the same time. Planning on going light on all of it then a ewc layer on top.
 
yeah go easy on neem, I once top dressed with ewc and neem cake mixed together to help with pests, it was a long long time ago but I still remember its the only time my weed was ever harsh to smoke I have been using neem cake in SMALL amounts in my soil mixes ever since, no neem oil, no neem top dresses ... just enough that it is in there because it is known to improve quality of flowers in horticulture in general so I do like my plants to have a little bit of it... anyway, its easy to get carried away, but whether its liquid seaweed, guano, alfalfa, etc, too much of any one thing is never good regardless of how beneficial the product can be.
 
Quick question: I did The Revs -TLO method. I dumped out the soil in a pile but didn't mix or anything, so I could reuse the pots.

This soil has been sitting for months and is undoubtedly dry.

What can/should I do to reuse this soil? I think I'll have to get it tested to know where I stand correct? Or do I just reamend w/ say the reamend recipe from buildasoil? ( 1/2 cup per cu ft of: neem cake, kelp meal, crab meal,fish meal,gypsum )

Feel like testing would give me an idea of where to start no?

This method uses bagged soil. I was going to switch to the 1:1:1 peat,compost/castings, aeration so should I just dump this older soil and start fresh instead?

Maybe not so quick of question lol sorry
 
hyroot said:
I use about half the neem of the other amendments. About 1/4 cup per cubic foot. I never have burns. I get the neem cake from neem source. I used to use down to earth neem.
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Ahimsa has amazing wild crafted neem cake and karanja cake, that is what we use and it is is awesome! Best/most intense smell. The terpenes really play into how effective they are
 
@Mohican you think I should get it tested?

Would you reamend or switch to 1:1:1 peat based in your opinion?

I'm leaning towards starting fresh but there's a lot of time and money in that soil still but unless I get it tested, I feel blind unless someone else has any thoughts
 
Organicgrow42 said:
Quick question: I did The Revs -TLO method. I dumped out the soil in a pile but didn't mix or anything, so I could reuse the pots.

This soil has been sitting for months and is undoubtedly dry.

What can/should I do to reuse this soil? I think I'll have to get it tested to know where I stand correct? Or do I just reamend w/ say the reamend recipe from buildasoil? ( 1/2 cup per cu ft of: neem cake, kelp meal, crab meal,fish meal,gypsum )

Feel like testing would give me an idea of where to start no?

This method uses bagged soil. I was going to switch to the 1:1:1 peat,compost/castings, aeration so should I just dump this older soil and start fresh instead?

Maybe not so quick of question lol sorry
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If you were using the Rev's soil I'd say you don't need to test it. Add worm compost at like 20% then water with aloe and sprouted seed teas- corn, barley, alfalfa. I've done this with success.

You can also hedge your bet and mix it 1:1 (or whatever ratio you figure) with the new soil blend ofyour choice. That will give you the confidence of the new soil, but also allow you to access the slow-release minerals etc of the old media, plus you don't have to throw it away.
 
Rrog said:
You mean pissing in a bag of charcoal? Hahahaha. Nope, I'm cooking in the barrel burners.

@elkamino I've talked with those Growstone folks about buying pallets or 1 ton super-sacks but too much $$. That's why I'm excited about the biochar as aeration
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I had my scaled down model running last night
sorry about the dog, he's full of charisma, but a pain in the ass
 
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