I would like to start making my own nutrients but I don't know how to do it properly. So where do I start? My current understanding is that I can use fruit and extract nutrients which I can then use as plant food. If it helps at all, I'm wanting to make something to help flowering. Also I'm using soil. Thank, MJ
The easiest way to get into making your own nutes is with kelp and/or alfalfa. Get some kelp/alfalfa meal, mix a few cups with a gallon of water, and put it in a sealed container for a week or so. You will need to periodically stir the mix and release the gas that forms. After it ferments, strain out the plant material and keep the liquid. Alfalfa ferments don't smell the best.
I think making compost is another way to get plenty of nutes to the roots It's not difficult to make, either Get a bag of worm castings or store bought compost and put it in a 30 gal bin Then use a shovel to mix in fruit peels and veggie scraps Don't addd any water No meats or oils should be used After a month or two, dry it out - remove any moisture and use. You can dry it in the sun if you watch for rain
First off. Wormcastings - http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/334921-vermicomposting-make-your-own-worm-castings.html Nettles, Alfalfa, Comfrey Mix's are available on LD Higher Learning - http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/650139-organic-higher-learning-lumperdawgz.html Read up
It dries into small granules and is easier for the plants to absorb Trust me, I have experience..... dry it first. You will get better results - especially when it's further refined with hands or thru a screen
I'll try to dry mine...But probably won't work to good unless I put it under a greenhouse. From Oregon here and its the rainy season...But I will try My compost looks yummy now and smells great. Its dark looking(with some green rabbit poop pellets lol) For drying it out I'm assuming you just spread it out thin and let it bake?
Dark colors are good. An earthy smell is ideal, too You can dry the compost on a tray in a garage with a circular fan in front of it if it rains a lot Meaning - place a fan over it indoors and it will dry out, too It'll take a couple extra days If you can do it outside where there's lots of rain, just lay it on a blanket in the sun but don't leave it unattended
Sounds ideal.. However my compost pile is 5 x 5 and 4 feet tall. So drying it out in the garage would be kind of difficult I think I am just going to mix it into my soil with my additivies and put my greenhouse over it to keep it dry and cook it some.
I think maybe I wasn't clear enough. Put 10 to 20 pounds on a tray and dry it under a fan or in the sun - doing it all at once is a lot of work Other than that, a greenhouse sounds fine and just one last time.............. dry it first................ ENJOY COMPOSTING!!!!
Here's how I do mine There's about 15 pounds on this screen That's all you need. Doing it all at once will break your back After it dries out a bit, I run it thru a coarse then a fine screen You may find that after screening it, you have some large and unfinished pieces to put back in the pile Don't hesitate to ask me another question................
This dude TexRx makes some good compost. As for your sig line... I wish I would have married for money instead of good looks LOL! I could have ... but alas now I'm a broke-dick-dog with a beautiful wife LOL... AND she still likes me for some strange reason......
You don't know how long it's taken me to get it nearly exact, thanks... +rep and a like (2 and 1/2 years of compost practice)