Compost question.

Gtjoker420

Gtjoker420

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, so I got a tote from ace hardware and some malibu boos compost. The guy at the grow store told me I should put the compost in the tub with some kelp meal and it would grow hypoasis mites which would help with my gnat problem.
I was gonna use down to earth bio live fertilizer since it has kelp meal in it.
I was curious if I should start taking food scraps from cooking and egg shells and what not and putting them in the tub of compost to just start composting in the apartment.
Is this a option or kinda stupid? Honesty is appreciated.
I was told the boos compost typically contains hypoasis mites and apparently is a great compost to use as well. Sorry for the lost post guys.
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
I would get some diamacetous earth! Its fossilized micro organisms that get in between the little exoskeleton plates of bugs and since they get water that way the dehydrate and die. Its 100% organic, but it is still fine dust so just be careful your eyes and don't breath in the shit. :-)
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Gtjoker420 said:
Hey guys, so I got a tote from ace hardware and some malibu boos compost. The guy at the grow store told me I should put the compost in the tub with some kelp meal and it would grow hypoasis mites which would help with my gnat problem.
I was gonna use down to earth bio live fertilizer since it has kelp meal in it.
I was curious if I should start taking food scraps from cooking and egg shells and what not and putting them in the tub of compost to just start composting in the apartment.
Is this a option or kinda stupid? Honesty is appreciated.
I was told the boos compost typically contains hypoasis mites and apparently is a great compost to use as well. Sorry for the lost post guys.
Click to expand...
I have heard that stuff is great compost.... no idea how that dude would know what kind of bug eggs are in it... unless maybe a batch he used personally had it. I think he just wanted to you to buy that stuff... that being said I have heard it is a great compost... soooo still seems ok?
 
Gtjoker420

Gtjoker420

Well-Known Member
meangreengrowinmachine said:
I would get some diamacetous earth! Its fossilized micro organisms that get in between the little exoskeleton plates of bugs and since they get water that way the dehydrate and die. Its 100% organic, but it is still fine dust so just be careful your eyes and don't breath in the shit. :-)
Click to expand...
I have diatomaceous earth all over the pots but the small plants in plastic pots that have drain holes were allowing the gnats in and out through the bottom of the pots.
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Gtjoker420 said:
I have diatomaceous earth all over the pots but the small plants in plastic pots that have drain holes were allowing the gnats in and out through the bottom of the pots.
Click to expand...
I would put it on the bottom too, it won't hurt if it gets wet. It will then coat them and when they dry out they ded.
 
MustangStudFarm

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Gtjoker420 said:
Hey guys, so I got a tote from ace hardware and some malibu boos compost. The guy at the grow store told me I should put the compost in the tub with some kelp meal and it would grow hypoasis mites which would help with my gnat problem.
I was gonna use down to earth bio live fertilizer since it has kelp meal in it.
I was curious if I should start taking food scraps from cooking and egg shells and what not and putting them in the tub of compost to just start composting in the apartment.
Is this a option or kinda stupid? Honesty is appreciated.
I was told the boos compost typically contains hypoasis mites and apparently is a great compost to use as well. Sorry for the lost post guys.
Click to expand...
The reason to use Malibu is inoculate the soil, so you really don't need to use much of it. Careful with Kelp because it will raise you sodium levels and cause major problems, it also has arsenic and people have failed heavy metals testing over it. If nothing else, just use some peatmoss as bedding and add rock dust to raise the Ph. A little Malibu to get the microbes in there but it shouldn't be more than a couple of handfuls, because it is finished compost.
 
Gtjoker420

Gtjoker420

Well-Known Member
MustangStudFarm said:
The reason to use Malibu is inoculate the soil, so you really don't need to use much of it. Careful with Kelp because it will raise you sodium levels and cause major problems, it also has arsenic and people have failed heavy metals testing over it. If nothing else, just use some peatmoss as bedding and add rock dust to raise the Ph. A little Malibu to get the microbes in there but it shouldn't be more than a couple of handfuls, because it is finished compost.
Click to expand...
I put it in a bin and have it sealed off away with down to earth rose and flower mix because I had it and it has kelp in it and added a small amount of work castings. I am planning to add a little into each plant in the top dress and then use some in a compost tea to water in the fresh bit I throw on
 
MustangStudFarm

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Gtjoker420 said:
I put it in a bin and have it sealed off away with down to earth rose and flower mix because I had it and it has kelp in it and added a small amount of work castings. I am planning to add a little into each plant in the top dress and then use some in a compost tea to water in the fresh bit I throw on
Click to expand...
I've had Malibu and HappyFrog tested before and they were both VERY high in sodium. I'm just trying to help here. The agronomist that I use hates kelp and thinks that it's way overused. I'm just a dude on RIU, so you don't have to listen to me...
 
natureboygrower

natureboygrower

Well-Known Member
Gtjoker420 said:
Hey guys, so I got a tote from ace hardware and some malibu boos compost. The guy at the grow store told me I should put the compost in the tub with some kelp meal and it would grow hypoasis mites which would help with my gnat problem.
I was gonna use down to earth bio live fertilizer since it has kelp meal in it.
I was curious if I should start taking food scraps from cooking and egg shells and what not and putting them in the tub of compost to just start composting in the apartment.
Is this a option or kinda stupid? Honesty is appreciated.
I was told the boos compost typically contains hypoasis mites and apparently is a great compost to use as well. Sorry for the lost post guys.
Click to expand...
I make my own compost that has those miles so I understand what buddy at the grow store is saying. You're not going to be able to compost indoors. Yes, bad idea lol
 
natureboygrower

natureboygrower

Well-Known Member
Gtjoker420 said:
Ok. I'll just keep the compost stored in the bin and won't add food scraps and what not.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you'd have a mess adding scraps. You need heat ( like 150° f kinda heat) to help break scraps down. And to kill any nasties as well. Sun, wind, nitrogen. Nothing beats homemade compost if you can do it. I was really hesitant at first using my compost indoors. The first few runs using it in my SIPS I'd usually see gnats for a few weeks or until the miles took care of them. Now I see no gnats and the miles crawl out of the drainage hole looking for food :-(
 
Gtjoker420

Gtjoker420

Well-Known Member
natureboygrower said:
Yeah, you'd have a mess adding scraps. You need heat ( like 150° f kinda heat) to help break scraps down. And to kill any nasties as well. Sun, wind, nitrogen. Nothing beats homemade compost if you can do it. I was really hesitant at first using my compost indoors. The first few runs using it in my SIPS I'd usually see gnats for a few weeks or until the miles took care of them. Now I see no gnats and the miles crawl out of the drainage hole looking for food :-(
Click to expand...
I used compost on my first grow and everything was great. I never checked the soil closely to see if there were mites crawling in it. But I never saw gnats in the house or on my traps.
 
R

rembrandt100

Well-Known Member
For a composter to work properly there has to be insects as well as micro-organisms. Long before any of the usual things that go into a composter would break down enough to have usable material the apartment would smell pretty bad. I think what you are looking for is what I know as a redworm composter. It is a bin that goes under the sink with a lid. Stuff goes in the top and worm shit comes out the bottom. See these pages:

Vermicomposting Under Sinks - Worm Composting Bins For Indoors (gardeningknowhow.com)

Anyone with a worm bin under their sink? (houzz.com)
 
Gtjoker420

Gtjoker420

Well-Known Member
rembrandt100 said:
For a composter to work properly there has to be insects as well as micro-organisms. Long before any of the usual things that go into a composter would break down enough to have usable material the apartment would smell pretty bad. I think what you are looking for is what I know as a redworm composter. It is a bin that goes under the sink with a lid. Stuff goes in the top and worm shit comes out the bottom. See these pages:

Vermicomposting Under Sinks - Worm Composting Bins For Indoors (gardeningknowhow.com)

Anyone with a worm bin under their sink? (houzz.com)
Click to expand...
Hmm I've never seen this. Thanks for the link
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
Gtjoker420 said:
I have diatomaceous earth all over the pots but the small plants in plastic pots that have drain holes were allowing the gnats in and out through the bottom of the pots.
Click to expand...
Put some rocks or anything to elevate in your tray spray with insecticide soap so you have a puddle in the middle.The pot wont absorb it but when the gnats land they sink and die.Worked well for me.
 
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