MICHI-CAN
Well-Known Member
Apologies Dank. Just saw some things that distracted me. Yes you need to amend. I personally don't add any humus. Fresh compost contains plenty.I'm confused. Anybody have any comments about my soil?
Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread
- Thread starter headtreep
- Start date
How is microwaved water helpful? Never heard that one
PadawanWarrior
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a decent start, but I would've used another type of compost in there too, instead of all EWC for the compost. Ya, and get some pumice. I'm still pretty new to no-till though, so take my advice with a grain of salt, lol. Oyster shell flower also works for pH and Ca, but doesn't have the Mg that dolomite has. And one of my new favorite amendments is chicken shit, thanks @Richard Drysift for getting me interested in it.This is what I ended up making. First attempt at this.
Approx:
2 cu. ft. sphagnum peat
50 lb pure EWC
5 lb rice hulls, 10 liters hydroton
(Still need some pumice, aiming for equal parts by volume)
Amended with:
3 cups Nature's Pride Bloom 2-5.5-5.5
1.5 cups Kelp Meal w/microbes 1-0.5-2
1 cup azomite
1 cup bat guano 9-3-1
(Think I still need to add some dolomite)
I think it needs more aeration and dolomite for pH. Might even need a little more sphagnum.
It looks like it's activating already. May cover it with clover for color.
DankDave420
Well-Known Member
Thanks. It feels a little heavy to me. I def will be adding pumice. I would like to get it fluffy like Happy Frog. I guess happy frog is 50% aged forest products. I also do have a bag of Happy Frog in use that will be recycled back into the mix. In hind sight I probably should have started with Happy Frog as my base.
Do you have a recommendation for compost?
PadawanWarrior
Well-Known Member
I used my old FFOF as a base for my no-till soil, then added all kinds of other shit (lava rock, pumice, vermicompost, bio-char, rice hulls, Craft Blend from Build a Soil, and a few other things) . So I would definitely add the Happy Frog to the mix if I were you. It's definitely a decent base.
meangreengrowinmachine
Well-Known Member
Have you ever read the Canabible? It is mostly a pictorial and dudes experiences going around to a lot of grow ops.. the pertinence to this.. is there is one farm her visits that SWEARS by things like rose water left ONLY in the sun for 3 days or water that is only collected during a lighting storm. The author swears it works and the smoke is the proof .. obviously nothing anywhere near a real "study" anything lol, but I thought it was funny.... that is also when I began to realize to take that shit with a grain of salt lol
Total noob looking for help! I was just wondering if there is a straight forward and affordable recipe that I can follow for a successful first time outdoor grow. Also if anybody can tell me how long can recyclable soil be recycled before it needs more added to it? I am new to mixing my own soil and am feeling a little overwhelmed with all the information.
sega megadrive
Active Member
echoe go back to the start of this thread its a good read maybe the builder soil web site if your American all you need you can get there. basically if your American its gonna be real easy for you to get started. on the recycle part your gonna be adding things when you recycle it like worm castings kelp neem crabmeal an more it doesn't need to be hard keep it simple
Wizard of Nozs
Active Member
You can always look at the no till threads and journals. They usually all have recipes. I have a recipe in my first post of my current journal that I currently use. Once you make it, you just use normal tap water as long as its not water from flint michigan, you should be able to use it over and over without having to resupply it too much with nutrients. GL.
DankDave420
Well-Known Member
I agree, first page of this thread, Cann has a good recipe. Build a soil website. Research recipes, compare the ingredients.
It's all the same basic stuff. You can buy them pre-mixed in an all purpose, or buy the ingredients separately, like from Down To Earth and mix them yourself.
If you really want an easy foolproof method, just buy a good pre-mixed soil and an all purpose organic fertilizer to get you started.
Bignutes
Well-Known Member
When you guys use ewc in your soil do you find it severely limits drainage? I don't know if my ewc supply is junk but if I add 6% ewc into a mix that's 44% aeration - (17% rice hulls, 7% perlite, 21% lava pebbles) the drainage sucks. I drop it to 3% ewc and it's noticeably better. Ewc is like glue!
Bignutes
Well-Known Member
I have a bead on this chicken shit compost product: seems to check off a few boxes for rols, what do you guys think as a foundation fertilizer?
Replenish 5-4-5 : EarthWorks
Replenish 5-4-5 Replenish 5-4-5 is an organic and mineral based soil and plant food and is the “Flagship” of the EarthWorks product line. Replenish 5-4-5 is an all-purpose formulated with our organic poultry…
www.earthworksturf.com
What are all your inputs? If you are mixing with topsoil vs peat you are going to have a heavy mix. Also, not sure on the lava pebbles, but if they are too small they will not add proper drainage. I have mixed with 33% EWC bought from the store and never had a problem. I do know they add sand as a filler though...
Bignutes
Well-Known Member
The 3 in 1 is a medium heavy mix, it's got compost, peat and top soil in unknown proportions. I used it straight the first time with minor issues on drainage and compaction, but it didn't have the proper aeration and the root ball was small. So I cut with more aeration.
Mix is
31% 3 in 1 bag soil
17% Rice hulls
7% perlite
16% peat
2% diatamaceous earth
3% ewc
21% volcanic 3-10 mm
Amendments are kelp, alfalfa, powdered egg shells, bone, blood, soft rock phosphate, shrimp shells
What is the texture of your ewc? Mine I think is cut with clay top soil. It's extremely cohesive and by itself water doesn't penetrate thru it.
Mix is
31% 3 in 1 bag soil
17% Rice hulls
7% perlite
16% peat
2% diatamaceous earth
3% ewc
21% volcanic 3-10 mm
Amendments are kelp, alfalfa, powdered egg shells, bone, blood, soft rock phosphate, shrimp shells
What is the texture of your ewc? Mine I think is cut with clay top soil. It's extremely cohesive and by itself water doesn't penetrate thru it.
hillbill
Well-Known Member
EWC are like that, also DE can combine with compost fines or EWC answers begin to gum up drain holes. What is 5he 3 in 1 soil composition? If it is potting soil and not potting mix, it will need more drainage also. Are you familiar with NAPA 8822 Floor Dry? It is expanded DE which acts like Vermiculite providing some absorption and nutrient retention along with drainage, been using for 10 years.