Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread

Midwest Weedist

Midwest Weedist

Well-Known Member
greasemonkeymann said:
it's just a liter man, that isn't much at all, a three gallon pot will have a more dense rootball and therefore slurp up the water quicker.
especially if he has good airflow
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I guess it's just my experience with using bagged soil that makes me think like that. Obviously my views are going to change as I get more used to rols and notill. Heck, even just mixing my own soil has changed it a bit.

Has anyone used rice hulls for aeration? I'm using them for my current run.
 
C

CannaBare

Well-Known Member
greasemonkeymann said:
cannabis likes a lot of drainage, more than most plants, and them being a fast-growing and relatively high-feeder and you can see why it's sorta challenging to grow them indoors in pots.
Check out biochar, and either pumice or the red volcanic rock, those work nicely for aeration, and it's not "dead space" especially the biochar, its full of little places for microbial life, which in turn helps the soil-health
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In addition to the biochar. Go to your local pottery stores and ask for broken unglazed pottery. Great porous aeration! :)
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
Midwest Weedist said:
Has anyone used rice hulls for aeration? I'm using them for my current run.
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Yes.

It's cheap, and it's a bi-product of an existing industry so it fits nicely with organics IMO. The downside is that it will degrade over time unlike a lot of other aeration options. I'd say you're safe for 2, 3, possibly 4 runs of no-till before it stops serving it's purpose.

The plus side is that when it breaks down it does benefit the soil, albeit in a different way. Rice hulls are composed mostly of lignin and silica. Lignin will decompose in to a rich source of humus, and obviously the silica (whatever portion is bio available) is greatly beneficial to the plant as well.

I like using it, but I don't use it as my sole source of aeration. If possible I'd suggest cutting it with something else that does not break down at maybe a 50/50 ratio.
 
Midwest Weedist

Midwest Weedist

Well-Known Member
I'd like to stay away from Perlite but are there other organic alternatives to rice hulls?
st0wandgrow said:
Yes.

It's cheap, and it's a bi-product of an existing industry so it fits nicely with organics IMO. The downside is that it will degrade over time unlike a lot of other aeration options. I'd say you're safe for 2, 3, possibly 4 runs of no-till before it stops serving it's purpose.

The plus side is that when it breaks down it does benefit the soil, albeit in a different way. Rice hulls are composed mostly of lignin and silica. Lignin will decompose in to a rich source of humus, and obviously the silica (whatever portion is bio available) is greatly beneficial to the plant as well.

I like using it, but I don't use it as my sole source of aeration. If possible I'd suggest cutting it with something else that does not break down at maybe a 50/50 ratio.
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DonPetro

DonPetro

Well-Known Member
Zeolite is great for aeration and moisture retention. I've also been looking at oyster shell for aeration. I have so much perlite though i almost feel bad not using it. I don't really mind it too much but it is really dusty.
 
SouthernSoil*

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
I wanted to get Pumice or Rice Hulls but i was low on funds at the time & just opted for perlite which was dusty like Don said, i did however rinse it out though, not my favourite thing to use as i have also had my fair share on reading about it, apparently the heavy aluminium content in it can be absorbed by the bud ?

Peace
 
smokey the cat

smokey the cat

Well-Known Member
Perlite here is really expensive lol, so it was cheaper when I switched to pumice.

I think perlite had the issues with aluminium back in the 90s and new stuff is ok. Or am I misremembering? The dust is still an irritant and I'd mask up if using it again.
 
smokey the cat

smokey the cat

Well-Known Member
foreverflyhi said:
Currently running a vermiuclite/perlite mix and a pumice/ricehulls/lava rock mix. Believe it or the vermiculite mix seems more richer and aerated.
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I own vermiculite and the bag is unopened cause I have no idea how to use this stuff.
It has become an unfashionable thing to use on these boards, but the info below and your experience makes me think about reconsidering using some...


------
http://www.vermiculite.org/pdf_word/Vermiculite_Horticultural_Brochure.pdf
Vermiculite possesses cation exchange properties, thus it can hold available to the growing plant ammonium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Vermiculite, when combined with peat or composted pine bark compost, promotes faster root growth and gives quick anchorage to young roots. The mixture helps retain air, plant food and moisture, releasing them as the plant requires them.

Vermiculite eliminates the problem of packed-down soil in flower pots. Mix half and half with soil, peat and/or composted pine bark. It provides excellent air and moisture control for house plants.

Lightens and aerates soil. Roots can spread out through the pot. Less frequent watering is required.
 
bicit

bicit

Well-Known Member
More questions for the knowledgeable folks here.

1: What botanical's would be a good match for growing in an aquaponic environment?

2: Those of you who raise your own aloe, what sort of soil mix and amendments do you recommend?
 
Chronikool

Chronikool

Well-Known Member
yeah mate...not your usual design...one big flat plate/heatsink...140cm x 30mm x 6mm and LEDs stuck to it..i think my current grow is in my signature...(havent checked lately)

Being using this LED since July
 
Bueno Time

Bueno Time

Well-Known Member
I have a question for the No Till guys.

I have a tiny flowering tent 2x3 ft footprint and I have two batches of ~20 gallons soil mix each. I am at about 4 weeks left in this flower cycle in 6x 3 gallon bags and 3x 1 gallon bags and I have a batch now that has been cooking for somewhere around 6 weeks now so far and I was going to just break down root balls and re-amend soil and wet with lacto b serum, ACT or both and let sit to cook until next round and alternating rounds with the two batches of soil mix.

But the deeper I get into organic and natural gardening, the more I want to try a no till bed. I think it is the next logical step for me.

I think I might combine the freshly cooked mix with the batch from current run into a single bed that I would custom build for my tent. 2' deep x 3' wide to fit the entire footprint of the tent and my soil quantity of ~40 gallons would give me a depth of 10-11" to start and room to add plenty of ewc, amendments, mulch, etc all the goodies which over time should increase the depth of the bed to an extent. I would make the bed myself to fit the max dimensions of my tent with landscaping fabric and possibly even a wood or pvc framing system.

Do you guys think this seems like a reasonable idea to make a bed for my tent and just top dress and cut in little holes for my plants on the next run and just plug and chug? Or do you think roughly 40 gallons of soil is a bit overkill for a 2x3 tent that is only 5 ft tall (lol). I think its just enough but want to make sure Im not getting too crazy here.
 
DonPetro

DonPetro

Well-Known Member
Chronikool said:
yeah mate...not your usual design...one big flat plate/heatsink...140cm x 30mm x 6mm and LEDs stuck to it..i think my current grow is in my signature...(havent checked lately)

Being using this LED since July
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Nice! Passive or active cooling? Im just getting into the DIY game myself. Im hoping to have a fixture built soon. How many watts per sq.ft are you running?
 
Chronikool

Chronikool

Well-Known Member
DonPetro said:
Nice! Passive or active cooling? Im just getting into the DIY game myself. Im hoping to have a fixture built soon. How many watts per sq.ft are you running?
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Active for sure....it has 5 x 140mm fans running down it...

New journal pretty much starts here.............>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-chronikool-of-the-crytochrome-and-the-all-conquering-cree.794758/page-6#post-10664202

So it is about 417w's all up in a.....80cm (high) x 160cm (long) x 80cm tent (width) ......i let the plants tell me if it is not enough light...so far its all good... :)
 
SouthernSoil*

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
Nice buds Chronikool ! looking dope!

I have a problem though, i have some type of tiny flies flying around my grow when i water the soil, i think i might be keeping it too wet though, what type of mulch is good to keep these away while protecting the soil from drying out cause its quite obviously the reason its drying.. no mulch, i have watered now with a lacto b. serum 25 ml to 500ml water hopefully that while help for now but i guess there are plenty of different organic ways to get them on their way out of my grow, any help will be lovely! Peace & Much Respect
 
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