FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
I added 1 cup Bone meal and like 1/3 cup Blood meal per cf of soil/compost(2 parts Kellog Patio Plus to 1 part leaf compost) how long is the minimum this needs to cook? I would like to plant by july 20.
Minimum "cooking" time
- Thread starter FresnoFarmer
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DonPetro
Well-Known Member
Thats plenty of time. I usually say two weeks minimum.
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
If I turn the pile every 2-3 days would this speed up the cycling, or would it be detrimental? I really want to plant them as soon as possible because I am running out of veg time outdoors. I didn't plan on making my own mix for this batch. I didn't know my soil in this plot had such bad drainage. Would this mediocre soil mix still be hot in 2-3 weeks?
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
Cool. I think that is what I will do. Turn once a week for a few weeks and then plant em. Yes. I use the worm castings in my teas though. I don't amend with them. Gets too expensive. I need to start a worm bin soon. I did wet the soil pile down and mixed it up one more time to ensure even moisture. I have it sitting on a tarp so that the ground beneath doesn't wick the moisture from the pile.
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
Brew a compost tea and use that to wet the soil down with. The infussion of those microbes in the tea will help process those inputs quicker
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
@st0wandgrow I did brew a compost tea and throw it over the top before I wet it down. Thanks for the reassurance that I'm doing something right.
DonPetro
Well-Known Member
Yea thats where i was going with the worm castings. Good to see we're all on the same page.
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the help. I just wanted to make sure the soil isn't too hot before I plant in it. Does anybody feel that dolomite lime is a necessity? I will be watering with potassium silicate every watering anyways, which will be a solution of ph 10-12. Won't this raise my medium ph too high if I amended with dolomite lime and watered with potassium silicate?
DonPetro
Well-Known Member
What is the purpose of the potassium silicate? Does it help with growing in higher temps? My old-timer hippy friend always talks about that stuff. Is it organic friendly?
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
The Dyna Gro Pro-tekt I have is supposed to be organic friendly. Just never use it in a tea because of the high ph level. The potassium siliciate strengthens the plants cell walls helping it fight off pests, disease, and also helps it handle heat and drought stress. It alslo makes the stems stronger and thicker so that come flowering the plant can support heavier buds on its own. I use it mainly so that my plants can handle the heat here and pests.
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
Friendly, yes. Organic..... that's in question. If you're looking for a 100% organic option for silica I believe horestail is the best bet.
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/horsetail
DonPetro
Well-Known Member
Right on. Good stuff to know. I have some DE rocks i may incorporate into the next mix. I keep forgetting i have them because they were included for free with my last order.
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
Just anecdotal, but I would say silica makes the biggest over all difference in the plant out of any product I have ever used. Stems, branches, leaves all more rigid and able to support bud weight better. I add a teaspoon to my cloner too and it reallys seems to help pack on root mass. I think I paid $15 for a bottle of it and I've had it for over a year. A little dab will do ya
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
Yes, and at a rate of 1/4-1/2 tsp per gallon it really stretches out.
DonTesla
Well-Known Member
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
lol
FresnoFarmer
Well-Known Member
So, dolomite lime or no? I don't wanna add the lime and then the ph get fucked because of my potassium silicate use.
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
I might have missed it, but what does your base consist of Fresno?