Greetings all....I thought I`d share with you a couple of tips I find that seem to make a big difference in a grow. It does assume a certain level of `getting it right` with heat, lights, humidity, etc
I never use plain water. Simple. To me it`s a wasted opportunity to get supportive microbes into the soil on a regular basis. Even if the nutrient chemicals kill 50% then that still leaves 50% that can be active and beneficial
I alternate between simplied bacterial and fungal compost teas throughout the grows instead of one type for veggie and one type for flowering.
I add nutes-whether organic or chemical- to these simplied teas or not, dependent upon the feeding schedule only
It is cheap after initial set up costs and can also be used not just as a liquid to soil but as a spray to leaves
I add fungal strands to coat tap roots prior initial planting to provide a sheath that retains water and provides a barrier to external attacks
The receipes I use are adaptations and not cast in stone and can easily be adapted to taste
Fungal....Add oat bran like Scots oats, etc to worm castings and a good `live` not heat treated organic compost but not manure. I cup of oats to 2 cups of castings and 2 cups of compost. Moisten and place in a sealed tupperware container, cover with a cloth so it is dark and place for a few days somewhere warm. Leave for 3 days min. When you open there will probably be a foul cheese like stench and it will be covered in white hair strands. Pack into a pair of your nan`s tights-don`t forget to remove your nan first-and tie off. Get a 5-10 gal plastic bucket. Fill with water. Leave to get chlorine out for a couple of hours. Put at least 3-6 good air stones in depending on amount of water and attach to silent running air pumps. Add 5ml of seaweed extract and 2 tablespoons of unsulfured molasses per gallon, Add a small fish tank heating device to keep water ambient. Add some volcanic rock dust as well as soft phosphate rock to liquid. Tie stocking to a bamboo stick above water to allow to suspend in solution. Turn on and leave running for at least 2 but preferrably 3 days. Do not add anything at all during that time...especially molasses. Now, it will stink but if you have a good robust air flow then the smell will be like a pig with the shits....if it has gone bad though, you will know....it will smell `wrong`...bad....you will just not feel good about it. Throw it away but not onto the garden, add more air and try again. It takes a couple of attempts then your hooked. After 3 days, stir and add to plants. Dependent on ingredients I find the colour to be coffee and cream coloured. If a scum forms that`s fine, if it goes, okay as well but monitor and don`t add anything if uncertain.
Bacterial...you add the molasses and seaweed...1-2 tbsns molasses per gallon but monitor for nute burn issues, add 3ml seaweed per gallon and only worm castings and compost. Brew for roughly 22 hrs.
Both brews don`t last long once the pumps are switched off and don`t bottle and store as the microbes die off relatively quickly post brew.
The cost is relatively low though I would suggest buy molasses on line so as not to raise suspicion...you go through it like no-one`s business...thoroughly clean buckets, tubes, stones afterwards.
I have found the above has increased my grows....attached is a plant I`m just bringing to harvest. It is 20" across and 25" tall from soil......she has never had plain water
Hope this helps....may I recommend Teaming With Microbes as well....very important reading
I never use plain water. Simple. To me it`s a wasted opportunity to get supportive microbes into the soil on a regular basis. Even if the nutrient chemicals kill 50% then that still leaves 50% that can be active and beneficial
I alternate between simplied bacterial and fungal compost teas throughout the grows instead of one type for veggie and one type for flowering.
I add nutes-whether organic or chemical- to these simplied teas or not, dependent upon the feeding schedule only
It is cheap after initial set up costs and can also be used not just as a liquid to soil but as a spray to leaves
I add fungal strands to coat tap roots prior initial planting to provide a sheath that retains water and provides a barrier to external attacks
The receipes I use are adaptations and not cast in stone and can easily be adapted to taste
Fungal....Add oat bran like Scots oats, etc to worm castings and a good `live` not heat treated organic compost but not manure. I cup of oats to 2 cups of castings and 2 cups of compost. Moisten and place in a sealed tupperware container, cover with a cloth so it is dark and place for a few days somewhere warm. Leave for 3 days min. When you open there will probably be a foul cheese like stench and it will be covered in white hair strands. Pack into a pair of your nan`s tights-don`t forget to remove your nan first-and tie off. Get a 5-10 gal plastic bucket. Fill with water. Leave to get chlorine out for a couple of hours. Put at least 3-6 good air stones in depending on amount of water and attach to silent running air pumps. Add 5ml of seaweed extract and 2 tablespoons of unsulfured molasses per gallon, Add a small fish tank heating device to keep water ambient. Add some volcanic rock dust as well as soft phosphate rock to liquid. Tie stocking to a bamboo stick above water to allow to suspend in solution. Turn on and leave running for at least 2 but preferrably 3 days. Do not add anything at all during that time...especially molasses. Now, it will stink but if you have a good robust air flow then the smell will be like a pig with the shits....if it has gone bad though, you will know....it will smell `wrong`...bad....you will just not feel good about it. Throw it away but not onto the garden, add more air and try again. It takes a couple of attempts then your hooked. After 3 days, stir and add to plants. Dependent on ingredients I find the colour to be coffee and cream coloured. If a scum forms that`s fine, if it goes, okay as well but monitor and don`t add anything if uncertain.
Bacterial...you add the molasses and seaweed...1-2 tbsns molasses per gallon but monitor for nute burn issues, add 3ml seaweed per gallon and only worm castings and compost. Brew for roughly 22 hrs.
Both brews don`t last long once the pumps are switched off and don`t bottle and store as the microbes die off relatively quickly post brew.
The cost is relatively low though I would suggest buy molasses on line so as not to raise suspicion...you go through it like no-one`s business...thoroughly clean buckets, tubes, stones afterwards.
I have found the above has increased my grows....attached is a plant I`m just bringing to harvest. It is 20" across and 25" tall from soil......she has never had plain water
Hope this helps....may I recommend Teaming With Microbes as well....very important reading
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