Defoliating and Mulching Removed Leaves

[dmpmfd]

Just wondering how many people use their defoliated leaves and leave in the pot to mulch into your grow? I've been thinking about drying the fresh leaves and once dry placing on to of the soil. Looking for any thoughts or suggestion.

 

[Allotrope1000]

Hi, Dmpmfd.
I would not do it. Leaf litter is a great place for insect pests to hide and can be a breeding medium for pathogens that can turn your grow into a nightmare. The very little, if any, perceived gain is simply not worth the risk.

 

[dmpmfd]

OK guess I'll put into the future compost bin. Thanks for your answer.

 

[Orggrwr]

You can also use waste material to make your own organic fertilizer. I use Nate the Vikings method. All you do is collect some leaf mold from your nearest woods and mix it in a bucket with water and any waste plant matter ( cannabis only). The idea being that since all the nutrients are coming from cannabis plants everything they need in the right ratios are there after it's cooked a while. The bucket i have now was started in October 24 and all the original material has long since been liquefied. Everything goes in there, leaves, stems, roots, and any unusable bud. Plants love it.

 

[dmpmfd]

filedata/fetch?id=664840&d=1775343808 filedata/fetch?id=664841&d=1775343812 You can also use waste material to make your own organic fertilizer. I use Nate the Vikings method. All you do is collect some leaf mold from your nearest woods and mix it in a bucket with water and any waste plant matter ( cannabis only). The idea being that since all the nutrients are coming from cannabis plants everything they need in the right ratios are there after it's cooked a while. The bucket i have now was started in October 24 and all the original material has long since been liquefied. Everything goes in there, leaves, stems, roots, and any unusable bud. Plants love it.

Wish I could do something like that but think the neighbors would object in the apartment building. :hard-laugh::laugh:

 

[Orggrwr]

It really only smells when you open the bucket but yeah it wouldn't be very apartment friendly.

 

[Blueguy]

I typically add my leaves back into my bucket of compost tea.

 

[Pyrokill]

I rip them apart and a little into flower, I cover the leaf layer with new soil to try and seal off mold spores from decomposition. Not sure if there have been benefits this way but I don't really get bud rot in the tent so at least that angle is good. I stuff the leaves from the flower cycle in-between the pot wall and dirt to help break it down.