Organic in the Workings

budwich · Jan 29, 2012

I said I would post the super soil process in another thread... seems as that's died though. This batch will be ready for use in 6 weeks. I am not going to bother with the recipe (search Subcools Super soil) but the total cost and preparation.

I bought everything except the 8 bags of Roots Organic on Amazon. I have Prime shipping, so free shipping on 50LB of worm shit is not bad at all. It too about 1 1/2 weeks for everything to get here. Bought my soil at the local hydro shop, called ahead to make sure they had enough because I got 12 bags.

Total cost for everything needed including the 3 32gallon trash cans was $396.00. Subtract about $45 if only getting 8 bags of soil. Once everything is well mixed and put in the trash cans I put about 1 or 1 1/2 gallons of water in each. It will activate for 6 weeks and be ready for use then.

cerberus · Jan 29, 2012

suggestion:
when you think the SS is ready for your plants, take a cup to your local nursery and have them test the soil. Most real nursery's or UM S or O can do this, they will also be able to tell you what they think of the dirt. it will give you an idea of wether the proccess is valid AND if your real OC (like myself) you can have the soil tested after you finish a grow and see exactly what was taken out of it.

edit:
stirring that shit's a bitch right? :cuss:

budwich · Jan 29, 2012

Great fucking idea... I would of never thought of that. I watch the weed nerd, and caught that the roots was running real hot lately. Also heard they had a big problem with thrips. Any thoughts

cerberus · Jan 29, 2012

well its winter, i cold compost now but that proccess takes all winter. some how heat that shit, if you can get the dirt to a cert temp any living org's will die, you'd then make a good healthy tea water your dirt and let her sit for the 4 weeks.. but how to heat that shit i got nothing and the exact temp is escaping me, but any book will tell you. good luck man, i ran SS for a while, it was real hit or miss for me but i didn't start doing tests till later in the proccess, you got a chance to get a jump on the learning curve

budwich · Jan 29, 2012

yeah, the soil was pretty frozen still, I pulled it in the basement from the barn last night. The cold will slow down the chemical reactions for sure.

Maine Brookies · Jan 30, 2012

You can speed the seasoning process by inoculating with an AACT. Should get it "ready" in a two weeks instead of the four the Sub recommends.

driftwoodg · Jan 30, 2012

I mix mine in a fifty gallon tote .. the blue ones from wali world come with a lid that snaps on after the mixing is done, and wheels to move them around in the cellar.. good to see some others doing some good organics...

driftwoodg · Jan 30, 2012

I would add some hypoaspis miles to the top of the mix prior to letting it rest.. they should colonize if the temps are decent. I've done this in the past... the miles will eat any thrips, mite, and knat larvea... and you could cut the roots with coco.. works well.

(sp)

budwich said:
Great fucking idea... I would of never thought of that. I watch the weed nerd, and caught that the roots was running real hot lately. Also heard they had a big problem with thrips. Any thoughts

nl3004.kind · Jan 31, 2012

cerberus said:
well its winter, i cold compost now but that proccess takes all winter. some how heat that shit, if you can get the dirt to a cert temp any living org's will die, you'd then make a good healthy tea water your dirt and let her sit for the 4 weeks.. but how to heat that shit i got nothing and the exact temp is escaping me, but any book will tell you. good luck man, i ran SS for a while, it was real hit or miss for me but i didn't start doing tests till later in the proccess, you got a chance to get a jump on the learning curve

i would tend to agree, but if you heat it to above 275 (which should kill all pathogens) you're also gonna kill all microryzzae present in the soil as well... if you're gonna bake it (which is the method most growers agree on (or flame sterilize it, if you've got the firepower), you're gonna want to do that before you mix everything and let it cook for the 4-6 weeks to activate the super soil...

budwich · Jan 31, 2012

driftwoodg said:
I would add some hypoaspis miles to the top of the mix prior to letting it rest.. they should colonize if the temps are decent. I've done this in the past... the miles will eat any thrips, mite, and knat larvea... and you could cut the roots with coco.. works well.

(sp)

Im thinking I will add the miles in a couple weeks (still pretty cold, not sure if the temps will slow the activity down?) I did cut the roots with biobizz light mix. hopefully it will be fine. We will see in a month or so

cerberus · Jan 31, 2012

nl3004.kind said:
i would tend to agree, but if you heat it to above 275 (which should kill all pathogens) you're also gonna kill all microryzzae present in the soil as well... if you're gonna bake it (which is the method most growers agree on (or flame sterilize it, if you've got the firepower), you're gonna want to do that before you mix everything and let it cook for the 4-6 weeks to activate the super soil...

right on, exactly what i was saying. I'd bubble up a good healthy tea and water the soil down with that after I sterlized it, to reinocculate the soil with good guys. word, 275, in my had i thought it was either 250 or 350 lol glad i just kept the trap shut.

scroglodyte · Jan 31, 2012

nice mix.....

Maine Brookies · Feb 1, 2012

cerberus said:
right on, exactly what i was saying. I'd bubble up a good healthy tea and water the soil down with that after I sterlized it, to reinocculate the soil with good guys. word, 275, in my had i thought it was either 250 or 350 lol glad i just kept the trap shut.

Most pathenogenic bacteria die at temps of 140F+, which is why meat is cooked to an internal temp of 160. It not necessary to bake soil at temps of 275F in order to kill off the bad guys.

cerberus · Feb 1, 2012

nice, I never did the bake tech, so its good to have some people throwing out what they know of temps. I like the good old compost when i do soil.

Biological Graffity · Feb 2, 2012

I never really bothered to activate my soil...I mix it all together (great white or roots for culture) and than water with brewed fert (add mollasses + great white to your veg ferts, the way I figure, it dont bother plants in veg, and by the flower time its nice and ready...of course I dont put as much solid fert in while mixing...not to burn the girls...

budwich · Feb 2, 2012

Thats a good thought, activating while the vegging plants are growing into it. That is how I read it? Seems like you make smaller batches of soil, nice to be able to dial it in like that. BTW..happy bday

Buddy232 · Feb 4, 2012

Looking good BG! The initial purchase was great, wonderful mix of items.

One thing though. There is a lit butt on the floor in one of your pictures. You might want to get that before it catches that rug on fire.

Biological Graffity · Feb 5, 2012

Buddy232 said:
Looking good BG! The initial purchase was great, wonderful mix of items.

One thing though. There is a lit butt on the floor in one of your pictures. You might want to get that before it catches that rug on fire.

HA! U made me look!!! Just a paper with the cord over it....

budwich · Feb 16, 2012

just wanted to update on the super soil. All seems well, and some incredible webs are forming.

tet1953 · Feb 16, 2012

Cripes. Ok, so you get quite a community going in there then what? You mix it all in when ready to use?

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