Vermicompost Leachate in A.A.C.T?

ekim046

ekim046

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone! I've read that vermicompost leachate is anaerobic and can contain many harmful pathogens. I brew Actively Aerated compost Tea every week for our garden and use our vermicompost as the base. Do you think the leachate could be used in the A.A.C.T? I'm hoping the oxygen will kill off the anaerobic microbes. What do you think? Do you think there could be any added benefit of using leachate in the aact? Thanks everyone!

Edit: I got this response from a comment on G+:
Anaerobic bacteria requires a low oxygen level to breed (down below 1%) so by actively aerating your compost tea you kill off the anaerobic bacteria. So if the leachate is anaerobic and you give it oxygen it will die off.

But I have also been told via facebook comment that the leachate should not be used in AACT as it could possibly burn the plants. This comment got me really confused, is it really that easy to burn your plants via AACT?
 
LordDiesel

LordDiesel

Active Member
Lots of people use leachate from their own bins and lots of companies sell leachate bottled (Worm Juice). There are many beneficial anaerobic bacteria that you do want. It's all about breeding a diverse group of the right bacteria and fungi to do the heavy lifting for the plant. Many people, including myself, swear by fermented botanical extracts using Lacto. B. and other such things. I would add it in, spangly at first, at the end of brewing then let it sit for several hours (up to 12), no aeration, to bump up active levels a bit. I normally test things like teas on a small group (3-4 plants) to see side-by-side for myself before implementing garden wide. I would dilute any juice at least 5:1 water:juice.
 
green_machine_two9er

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
I need have gotten any out of my bins. I keep plug open and never add water. And I doing something wrong? Only harvested bin so far. Fairly young setup 4-5 months
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
ekim046 said:
But I have also been told via facebook comment that the leachate should not be used in AACT as it could possibly burn the plants. This comment got me really confused, is it really that easy to burn your plants via AACT?
Click to expand...
I can't see anything coming out of a worm bin burning your plants.
 
ekim046

ekim046

Well-Known Member
st0wandgrow said:
I can't see anything coming out of a worm bin burning your plants.
Click to expand...
right??? I think he did not know what he was talking about?. I've posted the question on fb and g+ and it was utterly amazing what kind of responses I got lol. Thanks for your input guys
 
ekim046

ekim046

Well-Known Member
LordDiesel said:
Lots of people use leachate from their own bins and lots of companies sell leachate bottled (Worm Juice). There are many beneficial anaerobic bacteria that you do want. It's all about breeding a diverse group of the right bacteria and fungi to do the heavy lifting for the plant. Many people, including myself, swear by fermented botanical extracts using Lacto. B. and other such things. I would add it in, spangly at first, at the end of brewing then let it sit for several hours (up to 12), no aeration, to bump up active levels a bit. I normally test things like teas on a small group (3-4 plants) to see side-by-side for myself before implementing garden wide. I would dilute any juice at least 5:1 water:juice.
Click to expand...
Wow that is awesome! I think soil microbiology is fascinating and I am learning little by little on how to make the microbes happy haha. I saw a video online where you add oatmeal in worm bin to culture the organisms for a supersoil. Other than that, how can you be sure what bacteria or fungi is present in the bins?
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
ekim046 said:
Wow that is awesome! I think soil microbiology is fascinating and I am learning little by little on how to make the microbes happy haha. I saw a video online where you add oatmeal in worm bin to culture the organisms for a supersoil. Other than that, how can you be sure what bacteria or fungi is present in the bins?
Click to expand...
The microbes that will populate your bin will be indigenous to your area and will be most beneficial because they have evolved, adapted, and flourished in your particular enviornment.
 
LordDiesel

LordDiesel

Active Member
ekim046 said:
Wow that is awesome! I think soil microbiology is fascinating and I am learning little by little on how to make the microbes happy haha. I saw a video online where you add oatmeal in worm bin to culture the organisms for a supersoil. Other than that, how can you be sure what bacteria or fungi is present in the bins?
Click to expand...
They're there, the bacteria is partially excreted by worms, black flies etc... Fungi spores float freely in the air everywhere, indigenous just like wild yeasts, and will populate in areas that make a suitable home. Adding oats is a big carb loader and will cause a big spike in microbe population.
There are a few ways to ensure strong fungi population:
Bokashi is a composting method that utilizes fermentation to break down waste. Lots of use in Japan, needs very little room 1 - 2 ft^3, can be done in the kitchen and produces little odor, uses inoculated oats or wheat to start the process off.
Gro-Kashi is an inoculated oat/wheat bran that was developed as an americanized type of Bokashi substrate, with cannabis and ease of use in mind. Lots of buddies use it as a direct soil conditioner, tea brew, put it in septic tanks to cure the funk, feed it to their animals to help digestion, the list goes on and on.
Mushroom Compost (not just shrooms but it contains their growing medium as well) in your top dress will carry lots of spores into soil.
You can brew a strong tea using any of the above just watch aeration (less is more in this case) and temps when doing so.

green_machine_two9er said:
I need have gotten any out of my bins. I keep plug open and never add water. And I doing something wrong? Only harvested bin so far. Fairly young setup 4-5 months
Click to expand...
Yea still a little young, more will come with growth of worms (both size and population). You can tilt your bin a little, like 5° to 10° to pool leachate to one end. As temperatures swing the bio-mass of the worms and processes at work will cause condensation in the bin which will add to the leachate some. But for the most part, more worms = more excretions = more leachate. Local worm farms sell it by the 5 gal bucket here, plus bring your own bucket and it's cheaper whats not to love. The only thing to be aware of is what they feed their worms and what they're kept in, stay far away from farms that keep their worms in 5 gal buckets year round in a barn, perfectly fine at winter to keep populations thriving but useless the rest of the year besides allowing them to be lazy. Also avoid farms that feed their worms feeds like "worm chow" instead of roughage, land scape trimmings, a food scraps; that crap is just used to make big fishing worms.
 
ekim046

ekim046

Well-Known Member
LordDiesel said:
They're there, the bacteria is partially excreted by worms, black flies etc... Fungi spores float freely in the air everywhere, indigenous just like wild yeasts, and will populate in areas that make a suitable home. Adding oats is a big carb loader and will cause a big spike in microbe population.
There are a few ways to ensure strong fungi population:
Bokashi is a composting method that utilizes fermentation to break down waste. Lots of use in Japan, needs very little room 1 - 2 ft^3, can be done in the kitchen and produces little odor, uses inoculated oats or wheat to start the process off.
Gro-Kashi is an inoculated oat/wheat bran that was developed as an americanized type of Bokashi substrate, with cannabis and ease of use in mind. Lots of buddies use it as a direct soil conditioner, tea brew, put it in septic tanks to cure the funk, feed it to their animals to help digestion, the list goes on and on.
Mushroom Compost (not just shrooms but it contains their growing medium as well) in your top dress will carry lots of spores into soil.
You can brew a strong tea using any of the above just watch aeration (less is more in this case) and temps when doing so.



Yea still a little young, more will come with growth of worms (both size and population). You can tilt your bin a little, like 5° to 10° to pool leachate to one end. As temperatures swing the bio-mass of the worms and processes at work will cause condensation in the bin which will add to the leachate some. But for the most part, more worms = more excretions = more leachate. Local worm farms sell it by the 5 gal bucket here, plus bring your own bucket and it's cheaper whats not to love. The only thing to be aware of is what they feed their worms and what they're kept in, stay far away from farms that keep their worms in 5 gal buckets year round in a barn, perfectly fine at winter to keep populations thriving but useless the rest of the year besides allowing them to be lazy. Also avoid farms that feed their worms feeds like "worm chow" instead of roughage, land scape trimmings, a food scraps; that crap is just used to make big fishing worms.
Click to expand...

Ha, I tossed in some old shiitake substrate into the worm bin, dont think those spores will benefit me much though ):
 
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