TLO: For dummies, from a dummy.

[Mr Piggy]

:beast:

Max rep for helping out in organics KT.

I sterilize my worm/insect frass/compost mixture by putting 1 cf or less into black bags and setting them inside a green house where lots of sun can warm them up real hot. More of a pasteurization than sterilization, but it gets some of them. A lot of stuff survives, but I'm trying to figure out how to use this stuff in my mix. It's lightyears ahead of the EWC at the store.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

:beast:



I sterilize my worm/insect frass/compost mixture by putting 1 cf or less into black bags and setting them inside a green house where lots of sun can warm them up real hot. More of a pasteurization than sterilization, but it gets some of them. A lot of stuff survives, but I'm trying to figure out how to use this stuff in my mix. It's lightyears ahead of the EWC at the store.

Yes, indeed it is , and you can incorporate it into your mix at a rate of 30%. So, in other words the next time you mix up a base soil,your compost mix should be used at 30%. Your peat/coir at 40% and then your aeration at 30%. A variable of 5-10% on each item is fine.

If you already have a mix that you want to get it into, you can top dress which is the easy and my preferred way! Be generous with it! I lay it on at 1-2 inches. Or, if you have nothing planted in these containers just mix it right in and always keep it moist.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Hey Jayp,

I thought of something else you can do with that manure. Get a couple of 45-65 gallon smart pots and mix in some manure, straw or leaves, rock dust and toss in a pound of worms on top of each. Leave it be except to water (don't let it dry out) and keep it covered.

Next planting season you will have some awesome vermicompost to work with!

 

[StickMan]

Novice TLO grower here. Well, novice grower period.

This is probably the most ignorant question thus far on this thread, and a little early to worry about it. But while I'm a thinkin about it I need to get it off of my plate, so I don't have to worry about when the time comes.

Ok, so I have approximately 200 gallons of TLO soil I'm growing my outdoor grow in now. I live in the far north where we get below freezing temps in the winter, sometimes for 3 months straight with some below 0 degrees F. thrown in for fun at times. I'm planning on storing my soil in an unheated shop. I'm assuming that my micro herd will literally freeze to death. I am planning on re-amending and adding some new goodies to my mix in the spring, also re-populating the mix with micos.

Should I be fine with this plan? In my mind I don't see where it would be a problem, but as always, I like to ask for advice/recommendations, and yes even criticisms from veteran growers, instead of just merely ASSuming. :thumbs:

Thanks as always for any and all input.

 

[DABaracuss]

Im no expert im a TLO noob too but..I know X will be on it soon so..I think it should be ok with cold ..what happens in nature do they die there ? doesn't sound right to me i would think they just go into a hibernation type deal..LOL then again i could be way off lol

 

[X]

This is probably the most ignorant question thus far on this thread,

It's a very good question that I am unable to answer. I do not encounter conditions like that. I'm open to anyone who can chime in.

Meanwhile, I'll see what I can find out.

 

[skrewg314]

Id think youd be fine, if ypu are planning on reamending it, im assuming youd add fresh or fresher worm castings to it. If thats done and maybe a good ewc added the dormant micros should kick into gear. Or if they even die adding casti gs and tea would kickstart new micros. Just a guess tho.

 

[DABaracuss]

I got one for ya ..do i need to wait longer to use my TLO if i add rock phosphate? If so how long do i let it cook?

 

[X]

Id think youd be fine, if ypu are planning on reamending it, im assuming youd add fresh or fresher worm castings to it. If thats done and maybe a good ewc added the dormant micros should kick into gear. Or if they even die adding casti gs and tea would kickstart new micros. Just a guess tho.

That makes sense. Your amendments will still be in there, and if you re-populated the mix with an active herd, it seems logical it would work. But, I have no science or experience to back that up.

 

[skrewg314]

Unfortunately x, neither do I lol