Iodine in kelp can kill some bacteria

[BISCUITS]

I have been experimenting with tea ingredients and checking results under microscope after adding specific ingredients. I have found that when kelp is added to an already brewing tea of ewc’s and molasses that microbial activity is reduced. Some bacteria or archaea seem to be killed or immobilized and all activity slows for a good 24 hours before picking back up again. I am not a scientist just a simple home grower with a microscope and curiosity. This has changed the way I brew microbial and botanical teas. I think he covers a lot of stuff like this over at microbeorganics.com. My thinking with the kelp is that it has high levels of iodine which is what they use to sterilize wounds.

 

[Jraven]

Good observation, interesting. What magnification do you use to see this stuff? I don't think I'm seeing much with my little scope

 

[SlownLow86]

Thanks for sharing your findings!

How long do you usually brew? At which point do you add the kelp?

 

[Autotron]

I have been experimenting with tea ingredients and checking results under microscope after adding specific ingredients. I have found that when kelp is added to an already brewing tea of ewc’s and molasses that microbial activity is reduced. Some bacteria or archaea seem to be killed or immobilized and all activity slows for a good 24 hours before picking back up again. I am not a scientist just a simple home grower with a microscope and curiosity. This has changed the way I brew microbial and botanical teas. I think he covers a lot of stuff like this over at microbeorganics.com. My thinking with the kelp is that it has high levels of iodine which is what they use to sterilize wounds.

I've stumbled across that same page before when I was looking into compost teas. It sounds like just EWC and molasses is the way to go. I see a lot of people brew teas with a whole boatload of ingredients. It seems more like they're trying to build nutrient solutions rather than true compost teas which are just high concentrations of microbial life. Part of the reason I switched to organic growing was to get away from mixing up batches of nutrient solution, so I tend to shy away from the complicated recipes. I'd rather just mix up some good soil up front, top dress a couple times, and water occasionally with Recharge, Great White and Mammoth P rather than spending time and money cooking up complicated teas on a regular basis. That being said, I do like to mix up a basic compost tea of EWC, compost and molasses once in a while.

I do want to try that SST recipe you mentioned a while ago though. That seems interesting.

 

[hecno]

Funny you should say that @Autotron I have been thinking along the same lines . in these pictures are photo plants that have only had tea and foliar sprays . They consist of worm soil - Bat Guano - Molasses - dry sea weed - Fish Hydrolysate -- The worm soil is the base . [ not compost ] The soil introduces the microbes , the other 4 are also microbe feeds and -- N.P.K -- As I am using soil worm -- not compost worms , I build the soil to suit the worms , Things like rain forest leaf litter , rotten wood , ect Things I see they eat in the wild . I always end up with a ph of 7 .

and this is how it is going at the moment , still early days yet ,

 

[Autotron]

Funny you should say that @Autotron I have been thinking along the same lines . in these pictures are photo plants that have only had tea and foliar sprays . They consist of worm soil - Bat Guano - Molasses - dry sea weed - Fish Hydrolysate -- The worm soil is the base . [ not compost ] The soil introduces the microbes , the other 4 are also microbe feeds and -- N.P.K -- As I am using soil worm -- not compost worms , I build the soil to suit the worms , Things like rain forest leaf litter , rotten wood , ect Things I see they eat in the wild . I always end up with a ph of 7 .
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and this is how it is going at the moment , still early days yet ,
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That looks like some mighty healthy soil @hecno !

 

[BISCUITS]

I now apply botanical teas, sprouted seed teas and compost teas on separate days. Truthfully I use compost teas the least these days because my soil is already jam packed with life. Maybe just once or twice for the whole grow. Really instead of actually brewing a tea I will just make a slurry or extract. Way easier and no cleanup either and no wait.

 

[BISCUITS]

Tim Wilson covers all things compost tea related over at microbe organics. That is why I bought a microscope and started looking at the micro life. With a good filter I can start to see life around 400x for the fungal and up to 1200x for bacteria and archaea. The most active tea I have seen was ewc’s and sucanat or turbinado sugar at about 24 hours. When I start adding more stuff it usually slows activity for a while before picking back up at around 36-48 hours. COMPOST TEA is not nutrient tea or even botanical tea it is COMPOST TEA.

 

[BISCUITS]

If I do actually make a compost tea with kelp I will let it and alfalfa and whatever else I add with molasses and bre then after the kelp and alfalfa have brewed for up to 48 hours depending on temperature I will then add my pre charged ewc’s and malted barley (sometimes) and brew for another 4-24 hours and this will be full of ALL kinds of different life forms (even nematodes sometimes). I have also found ewc’s to vary widely in the life they may contain. Some will be FULLof nematodes which is not a bad thing because they eat bacteria and poop out 80% of the nutrients back into the soil which is then totally available to the plant. Some will have almost zero. Another reason for a little worm farm. That way you know EXACTLY what’s in there. That worm soil looks to be the bomb @hecno Where do you live @hecno ? Looks tropical

 

[hecno]

Yes the tropics @BISCUITS and remote ,[ small town ] My property is surrounded by Rain Forest . What got me started in organics was the bloody big trees growing in very poor soil , which led me to ask why and how . over the years I have spent a lot of time in the forest at different times of the seasons . and have taken notice of what the worms , fungi and microbes are doing . which led me to soil worm farm and feeding them mostly forest litter , I have them in big tubs to stop major leaching from happening and can build the layers as time goes by , This soil I mix with a outdoor soil I make that has direct contact with the ground . I still have a lot to learn, but the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together . I recon I spend more time on soil than any other aspect of growing . I also only use soil at least 3 months old when I pot up , if not older . I like to build my soils in the warmer months as I believe it speeds the decomposition of the inputs , so I have a 3 way street , Worms - Leaf Litter - heat - Once I have the soil where I want it and not using it I feed the microbes to keep a healthy population . but mostly I take the bottom soil and keep the process going . --- There are so many aspects to soil --- This is just how I do it at the moment as I am always leaning .