Soil help please

[totalnoob]

is this growth of what appears to be mold ok on top of my LOS that has been cooking for 10 or so days?

20180318_085344.jpg

• totalnoob
• Mar 18, 2018

 

[Van Stank]

Thats ok, happens. Its the good kind of activity you want to see happening. Close the lid and let it got for another 30 days or so

 

[totalnoob]

Thanks for the info. If I didn't get the rock dust into it will it reset the clock on cook time if I disturb the soil to mix that in?

 

[Van Stank]

Nah....you will be fine. Generally its best to leave it alone but its better to mix something in later than not mix it in at all.

How long do you plan on letting it go before using it?

 

[totalnoob]

probably 20 days or so. I was a bit late getting it mixed, and my girls will be ready to up pot around that time.

 

[Van Stank]

I think you should be fine. Things will continue to break down even as you start growing in it.

 

[totalnoob]

thanks. I'm going to go take a look at your soil thread. I'm really enjoying learning more about it. I did an all organic grow outdoor last year but the yields were not very high. I think I didn't water them enough.

 

[Van Stank]

You gotta go really big pots outdoors. Also you don't want dark pots outdoors. The dark will conduct the heat and can cook the roots. Also dries out the soil too fast.

You can use dark pots but you have to insulate with straw or something similar. Also I would recommend at least 25 gallon pots outdoors.

 

[totalnoob]

I did 25 or 30g smartpots. the gray ones. I think they just didn't get enough water. I read so much about not overwatering that I think I went to far in the other direction.

 

[Van Stank]

Ok, those are good sizes....but that grey will also absorb a lot of heat. I would consider getting a bail of straw and insulating it. Will go a long way in helping keep the soil moist and the roots in a better temp range. Those two things run hand in hand.

 

[totalnoob]

I think you are right. I'm going to create my own raised beds this year. 100ish gal size. chicken wire and hay around the outside to hold the soil. cheaper than bags that big especially since hay is free on the farm.

 

[Van Stank]

Thats what I do for my potato towers....wire mess and straw/hay to hold the soil in.

 

[totalnoob]

The link for your LOS thread in your signature is dead. Is it gone?

 

[Van Stank]

I did a blog entry on the old site, that shows my recipe and the mixing. Supposedly 420 Magazine is planning on bringing those blog links over and making them active. I hope they do, because I made that blog to store my recipe....I can't even duplicate it again if they don't make them active.

 

[totalnoob]

got it.