Dr. Elaine Ingham vs Tim Wilson on molasses

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
My feeling is you're virtually always going to have more bacteria than fungi in a compost tea. Most bacteria seem to like, or at least not mind floating about in solution. Most fungi seem to prefer being anchored to something. Fungi have hyphae and can physically penetrate solid objects with it (sexy, I know). They secrete (ohh yeah) enzymes which help them do a lot of their digesting outside of the cell (extracellularly), which I imagine could be difficult in a solution where stuff keeps floating by and away.

Fungi will grow in teas, though, under the right conditions. The more fungal filaments you have to begin with, the greater the likelihood you'll succeed at getting something dominated by fungi. The typical procedure is to "jump start" the fungi in the compost\humus you're using. You do this by taking a cup full of compost and mixing in a foodstock with the tougher to digest components like cellulose and lignin. Something like oatmeal, flax seed meal, brown rice flour, etc. kelp meal should work, too. If you use oatmeal or a bulkier material, grind it up first to near powder consistency.

Moisten after mixing, but try not to get it too wet, then put it somewhere warm and dark. You may want to cover it partially as you also don't want it to dry out. After 3-5 days or more you'll have a fuzzy white (and maybe green, or yellowish) mass of mycelium. Break this up into nugget, nickle-quarter sized pieces and brew with
Quality compost\castings should not really have pathogens in the first place. Any opportunists are actually suppressed by the activity of beneficial or neutral microbes in the material. The best of the beneficial microbes live in harmony or symbiosis with the plant roots in the rhizosphere. Plant roots exude compounds to feed these microbes and actually influence what kinds of microbial communities are growing there.

Microbes live on plant leaves, as well. When you foliar/spray finished AACT, you cover the leaves in a layer of microbes which will continue to exert their beneficial effects. At the very least, a microbe can be "good" simply by not being "bad": taking up space and resources, and out-competing the microbes which could really do the plant harm.
the last paragraph I find very interesting, as I've often wondered what exactly the benefit of having microbes on your leaves, I can attest to the effects of AACTs being used a foliar spray (seems to make them "pray" sorta akin to an aloe spray), I do it everytime I make a batch, just never knew what was the precise thing going on there.
 

AllenHaze

Well-Known Member
A
MG, Tim refers to 'the experts' with sarcasm. Elaine has a degree in forestry, not microbiology. Much like Jorge Cervantes (cough... George Van Patton from Ohio - the laborer at a nursery). Not exactly the top of the food chain they pretend to be.

P-
How about not defaming someone who clearly has spent a lot of time helping us understand the soil food web. Show some respect. Here is a link to her page. She has plenty of degrees. What have you contributed? Peace!
"[The internationally respected soil microbiologist
started her academic career at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, graduating with a double major in biology and chemistry in 1974.
received her Master of Science in Microbiology from Texas A&M in 1977
doctoral degree in Microbiology from Colorado State University in 1981.] "


http://elaineingham.com/
 

Microbeman

Active Member
You guys. Some of you sound like old wives gossiping over the fence. If you have any doubts that molasses feeds fungi please ask Paul Stamets. This is what he uses for spore germination which is exactly what I do. To the person who claims I changed something on my webpage in response to something I read here; first, I am always prepared to change an opinion based on new information. I have always said this. However in this instance, this simply did not occur.
All of my statements are backed by microbial video. Check it out.
 

Dmannn

Well-Known Member
The amount of difference it makes is negligible With AACT and molasses, sugar or even grain flower. I have been using OrganismXL for a couple years now. I can tell you the long you let it sit the more fungus that grows and the less it smells like a fish tank and the more it smells like fungus. This may be my anecdotal evidence but it works for me and my plants, EVERY kind of plant. The more tree like or brushy like roses prefer the long bubble method. the annual floors and veggies prefer short bubble time. I also use earth juice, aerated.
 
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