Living in Pakistan, it's kind of hard to get some of the stuff you can just walk into a store for in the US. After some research and toil, i've managed to find and acquire the following: \nPeat Coco Compost (local, store bought, ""Organic"") EWC (DIY) Imported dry organic fert (with added mycorrhizae) Perlite Vermiculite Blood meal (local) Fish meal (local) Bone meal Liquid Seaweed extract Neem seed cake (DIY) **Alfalfa meal (DIY) Potassium Humate Azomite Mycorrhizae (arriving in a week or 2) \n**The Alfalfa leaves n stems are put out to dry. Once dried will be chopped up into a fine powder and added to the soil mix for curing. \nHow does it look? Do i need anything else (I know... Kelp meal and Bat guano, but these cannot be sourced locally)?
Wouldn't say you're missing bat guano or kelp, but they would add extra diversity, your current ingredients should be great to start - you do have liquid seaweed extract, practically kelp right there lol. 135w UFO LED Micro Grow: http://forum.grasscity.com/index.php?/topic/1308910-135W-Led--Organic-1St-Grow
Not bad for sourcing stuff in Pakistan of all places!!!!!! You should be alright as long as everything is mixed with proper ratios and it is allowed to cycle for a few weeks/month. Good luck!!!
that's very cool.. haven't seen much DIY neem cake around best of luck w/ your grow.. and congrats on getting all of that stuff together! I'd imagine it wasn't easy.
your plants will be happy with the mix u got, u don't need the guano...kelps great to have in ur mix but u can use the liquid kelp u got!! good luck
If that's the same as the Pongamia Pinnata tree then yes we have em. According to Google, it's twigs have been used for centuries as chew sticks and a natural toothbrush called "Miswak". Now I'm curious as to why you're curious....
I have neem trees growing through the pavement right in front of my house... as do most people in my city. It's everywhere really. Neem has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since god knows when. All i have to do is gather a bunch of seed pods on a stroll, take em to a local Ayurvedic medicine store and pop em in a hand driven press they have there. The oil i can keep as a pesticide for my veggies, the seed husk left behind i can grind up in the blender and voila! Neem seed meal.
What's everyone's take on simply drying, then grinding up the Alfalfa. Is that really Alfalfa meal or am i just wasting my time?
DMC I have collected a dozen or so books about neem trees and the materials that are used in many areas. 3 of the books are academic books and are text books at the university level. Trying to find information about karanja has been frustrating because there isn't much available. I was curious how far this tree had spread compared to the neem tree which landed in Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, North Africa, Iraq, Iran, Morocco, America, etc. but nothing about karanja. There is an importer here that offers organic karanja oil and cake at lower prices than the neem products. I've used karanja products for about 4 years and in some ways I prefer it over the neem versions. Thanks for the information! CC
Freakin' AWESOME - and the way it should be. Kudos to you man. Keep on keepin on with that worm bin. Good luck! You'll be good I'm sure. When u get a chance start a compost heap yourself. AW - r u SURE you don't have neem somewhere on that property? J
Thanks for the pat on the back Jerry. I have a compost pit 1 meter x 1meter going. Won't be ready for a few months though. Filled up with grass clippings, some alfalfa bunches, kitchen scraps, leaves and cuttings from the veggie patch, a bit of Azomite, some composted offal (You can see it on top) a good amount of cardboard, dry leaves and wood shavings. Will be adding crab shells whole, as well as Neem leaves/seeds. (Thought i've heard some say it isn't a good idea to throw in anything neem since it slows down the composting )
If I had my way I'd load up that compost with neem leaves - doesn't get much better than that. It doesn't grow here or I'd be using it for sure. http://neemoilcake.com/neem_compost.html Composted and then vermicomposted neem leaves - http://www.thehindu.com/seta/2004/06/24/stories/2004062400571500.htm J J
Found me some Epsom.... from a chemist. But the box only says magnesium sulphate. Guy behind the counter told me it's for general use, i.e.; not the variety meant for foot baths (Though it can be used for that too). All that's left now is some garden lime.
Quick question... what would you say, (and how would i have to change my amendments) if i were to base my mix on Coco-coir instead of Sphagnum Peat (hard to come by, and damn expensive)? Haven't really seen too many growers using coco as the base, but it's dirt cheap here. Edit: Would there be PH issues, since coco growers can experience lock out if not within PH 5.8-6.2?