Eggshell WCA (Water-Soluble Calcium)

kahoona

Active Member
great...thanks. what about adding small amount of epsom salts to bring the mag up. will it lockout nutes if too strong? is it safer to use molasses?
 

living gardening

Well-Known Member
Depends on your overall goal. I used to use epsom salt but I work with a living soil system now so adding salty water would not do my soil life well.
If you grow differently then it would be fine in the correct dilution rate. If you are unaware there are a lot of epsom salts that have additives and other stuff so do some research before wasting money on useless crap at CVS that may kill your plant.
You have to be careful with molasses as well. It can create hydrophobic conditions on the soil surface. It can also cause a bacterial life bloom.
Sounds good, but it can knock a good system out of whack if you don't pay attention to how much you are using. I use drops. Maybe once a month.
Have you used SSTs?
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
You have an opinion on using tap water as opposed to rain water in a organic grow @living gardening ? I've got a few outside plants that I'd LOVE to just add water to this summer. LOTS of good stuff in the soilless: Sunshine #4, extra spahgnum, lots of compost, dolomite lime, Gaia 4-4-4, greensand and glacial rock till by the bagful. I'm gonna use blood meal in water for the starting ferts until I get some soil activity and then use compost teas, BUT I'm going to run my tap water, which is municipal. Only about 55 PPM on the 500 scale but there's chlorine and other nasties in it. Any chance I'll get away with it or will I have next to no biological activity and go deficient? I mixed GH nutes all last summer/fall and I don't think it's worth it for outside weed.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Depends on your overall goal. I used to use epsom salt but I work with a living soil system now so adding salty water would not do my soil life well.
If you grow differently then it would be fine in the correct dilution rate. If you are unaware there are a lot of epsom salts that have additives and other stuff so do some research before wasting money on useless crap at CVS that may kill your plant.
You have to be careful with molasses as well. It can create hydrophobic conditions on the soil surface. It can also cause a bacterial life bloom.
Sounds good, but it can knock a good system out of whack if you don't pay attention to how much you are using. I use drops. Maybe once a month.
Have you used SSTs?
You can definitely use epsom salts with organic soil. It's not actually a salt but naturally occuring mineral compound of magnesium and sulfur. It has nothing to do with salty water.

Epsom salts from CVS are perfectly fine to use so I don't know where you get that it's useless crap. You just need to get the plain one that can be used as a laxative. There is no reason to pay more than a few dollars for a 3 pound bag. It doesn't matter if it comes from CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, or some designer cannabis brand.

WHAT IS EPSOM SALT?

Epsom salt, named for a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England, is not actually salt but a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. Long known as a natural remedy for a number of ailments, Epsom salt has numerous health benefits as well as many beauty, household, and gardening-related uses.
 

J.James

Well-Known Member
You have an opinion on using tap water as opposed to rain water in a organic grow @living gardening ? I've got a few outside plants that I'd LOVE to just add water to this summer. LOTS of good stuff in the soilless: Sunshine #4, extra spahgnum, lots of compost, dolomite lime, Gaia 4-4-4, greensand and glacial rock till by the bagful. I'm gonna use blood meal in water for the starting ferts until I get some soil activity and then use compost teas, BUT I'm going to run my tap water, which is municipal. Only about 55 PPM on the 500 scale but there's chlorine and other nasties in it. Any chance I'll get away with it or will I have next to no biological activity and go deficient? I mixed GH nutes all last summer/fall and I don't think it's worth it for outside weed.
You can use tap water with little to no negative effects on soil microbes. I wouldn't use it if it was high in heavy metals but if you are getting a reading of 55 ppm then It's totally safe for use.
 

J.James

Well-Known Member
great...thanks. what about adding small amount of epsom salts to bring the mag up. will it lockout nutes if too strong? is it safer to use molasses?
Epson salt can be added to your water solution along with your WCA to make a KNF style Cal / Mag. Great for foiler feedings and root drenches. Molasses can be used when making compost tea (1 Tablespoon per gallon of water) to help boost microbe production and feed directly at lower rates (1 teaspoon per gallon of water). I try to stay away from using molasses with any KNF input directly because the fermented plant juices are all made using brown sugar and too much sugar can lead to pest issues like ants.
 

living gardening

Well-Known Member
You have an opinion on using tap water as opposed to rain water in a organic grow @living gardening ? I've got a few outside plants that I'd LOVE to just add water to this summer. LOTS of good stuff in the soilless: Sunshine #4, extra spahgnum, lots of compost, dolomite lime, Gaia 4-4-4, greensand and glacial rock till by the bagful. I'm gonna use blood meal in water for the starting ferts until I get some soil activity and then use compost teas, BUT I'm going to run my tap water, which is municipal. Only about 55 PPM on the 500 scale but there's chlorine and other nasties in it. Any chance I'll get away with it or will I have next to no biological activity and go deficient? I mixed GH nutes all last summer/fall and I don't think it's worth it for outside weed.
So chlorine and chloramine is a big deal if you want to maintain any level of quality life in your soil. You either need to filter your water or wait 24 - 48 hours for the chloramines to flash off. You can just stir it with your arm for five seconds if you can prove it's just chlorine in your city water (unlikely), but that's not recommended because the chlorine just gets absorbed by you in like two seconds and then travels to your liver and like brake cleen is not very friendly. Whole house filters are a good thing to have if you can afford one.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
So I made WCA and WCP. I've been lazy and it's been sitting for weeks with just some silkscreen over the top of the jars. My EC meter reads to 9990 EC but it cant read either solution. I'm sure the length of time has made the solution reach saturation point and then there has been significant evaporation. I'm planning on using it at half strength from standard. I'm bottling it up.



 

living gardening

Well-Known Member
So I made WCA and WCP. I've been lazy and it's been sitting for weeks with just some silkscreen over the top of the jars. My EC meter reads to 9990 EC but it cant read either solution. I'm sure the length of time has made the solution reach saturation point and then there has been significant evaporation. I'm planning on using it at half strength from standard. I'm bottling it up.



Very Nice!
I have thought about making a larger batch of WCA and bottling it for sale at the market. Explaining that blossom end rot was not pest damage turns a lot of ppls little christmas tree bulb on.
I also couldn't believe how many ppl have no clue about gypsum . . .
Those are typically used at 1:100 correct?
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Very Nice!
I have thought about making a larger batch of WCA and bottling it for sale at the market. Explaining that blossom end rot was not pest damage turns a lot of ppls little christmas tree bulb on.
I also couldn't believe how many ppl have no clue about gypsum . . .
Those are typically used at 1:100 correct?
Do it. The profit margins would be really good.

The dilution rate is 1:1000
 

living gardening

Well-Known Member
Do it. The profit margins would be really good.

The dilution rate is 1:1000
Well then . . . .I already acquired the materials for a full batch of JS and JWA. I really would prefer to sell amendments rather than produce. . .
My only issue with the JS and JWA is containers for the finished product. 30 gallons is a lot to store and then divide up into saleable size containers.
I guess I'll be calling the local dinner this morning . .
 

Leeski

Well-Known Member
Thank @J.James for another great informative knf thread loved the aloe fpj thread also have you made wcap ? Made a batch while back but didn’t quite get the bone charcoaled enough will try again soon
 

J.James

Well-Known Member
Thank @J.James for another great informative knf thread loved the aloe fpj thread also have you made wcap ? Made a batch while back but didn’t quite get the bone charcoaled enough will try again soon
I have made WCAP just to experience the process and like you, I didn't char the bones enough to get a good reaction. You should document your process and share it here with everyone. Be sure to tag me in the post I don't want to miss it.
 

Leeski

Well-Known Member
I have made WCAP just to experience the process and like you, I didn't char the bones enough to get a good reaction. You should document your process and share it here with everyone. Be sure to tag me in the post I don't want to miss it.
I’m due to have my annual bbq soon so will try again then think i messed up cause the bones were way to big all a learning curve …
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Well then . . . .I already acquired the materials for a full batch of JS and JWA. I really would prefer to sell amendments rather than produce. . .
My only issue with the JS and JWA is containers for the finished product. 30 gallons is a lot to store and then divide up into saleable size containers.
I guess I'll be calling the local dinner this morning . .
 

living gardening

Well-Known Member
So the question is do these sell well? I'm not looking to get rich, but it's hard to make a living off selling produce during the warm season here.
I figure as ppl ask and I am actually able to explain their needs/uses I can sell them pretty easily. EWC are a hard sell. It's just going to take some investment in production time. Your wares look very nice. I am drinking all this in.
I love ppl that just want to share knowledge with others. That's why I like this forum.
Sometimes, you just gotta be shown that it's not as hard as you think it will be. . .
 

J.James

Well-Known Member
I made 12 kits and gave 4 of them away. The rest sold in about 3 weeks through my online site (39.99 price point). If you don't keep them refrigerated they will swell up and eventually explode so storage can be tricky if you make large batches. I store the majority of my KNF in glass containers with vaper locks and would bottle to order if I ever add them back to the website. WELLGROWNSEEDS does an entire lineup in the same style containers they ferment the liquids longer and do a great job straining out the micronized organic matter. I would contact them via email and ask them for advice. Alex and Darron of WGS are both great guys willing to share their knowledge and experience. Good luck and If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask
 
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