Composting is a way of recycling organic matter Like leaves and food scraps,
and converting them into a free plant fertilizer. You really can't more organic than that!
By this point, you probably understand the role that microbes play in your soil, decomposition and conversion of
organic matter in into plant usable nutrients. Basically anything that that grows & lives is also decomposed by microbes when it dies.
composting is a way of speeding up the process by providing the perfect environment for bacteria, fungi, and other decomposing organisms to thrive.
The other organisms being small insects that break down large materials like earthworms and arthropods.
When done right, Compost ends up looking like really rich fertile soil. Compost is rich in nutrients from the materials its made of and can be used as
a stand alone fertilizer. You will need to carefully choose the composting materials insure you have a balanced fertilizer. But even if you don't plan or pay much attention to whats going into it, your still guaranteed the three primary nutrients N-P-K ( nitrogen - phosphorous and potassium ) .
Compost in its final stage holds water really well. Mixing it into your soil mix will improve the soil’s ability to hold water. It also has a really good cation exchange capacity, which means its able to hold nutrients in one place long enough so that the plant roots reach and absorb them. The most common way of composting is to mix an equal amounts of brown material and green material in a pile, keep it moist and turn or aerate regularly.
examples of brown materials are dried leaves, sawdust, or paper. Green materials are fresh materials like grass
clippings, fresh leaves, or green kitchen scraps. If there is too much green material you run the risk of creating an aerobic pink pile that stinks. I you don't have enough greens, the compost pile stalls and will take a long time to finish or not finish at all. The ratio is important! 1/2 is best. Balance is key!
The second method is one of the oldest forms of composting that exist. This is something Ive been doing for a while but haven't seen many other cannabis cultivators do. Its called direct bury composting. In this method, you dig a hole, bury the green materials and leave it. 4-8 weeks later you have compost. Direct bury composting has been practiced for thousands of years. Native northern and southern Americans buried fish and eels in corn fields to provide nitrogen and other trace minerals.
There is a little bit of controversy behind this method. Some say its a breeding ground for pathogens. Others say , its too hot and will burn seedlings and plants. I have personally only had good results and experiences with this method but.. that's just me. Maybe Ive been lucky.
and converting them into a free plant fertilizer. You really can't more organic than that!
By this point, you probably understand the role that microbes play in your soil, decomposition and conversion of
organic matter in into plant usable nutrients. Basically anything that that grows & lives is also decomposed by microbes when it dies.
composting is a way of speeding up the process by providing the perfect environment for bacteria, fungi, and other decomposing organisms to thrive.
The other organisms being small insects that break down large materials like earthworms and arthropods.
When done right, Compost ends up looking like really rich fertile soil. Compost is rich in nutrients from the materials its made of and can be used as
a stand alone fertilizer. You will need to carefully choose the composting materials insure you have a balanced fertilizer. But even if you don't plan or pay much attention to whats going into it, your still guaranteed the three primary nutrients N-P-K ( nitrogen - phosphorous and potassium ) .
Compost in its final stage holds water really well. Mixing it into your soil mix will improve the soil’s ability to hold water. It also has a really good cation exchange capacity, which means its able to hold nutrients in one place long enough so that the plant roots reach and absorb them. The most common way of composting is to mix an equal amounts of brown material and green material in a pile, keep it moist and turn or aerate regularly.
examples of brown materials are dried leaves, sawdust, or paper. Green materials are fresh materials like grass
clippings, fresh leaves, or green kitchen scraps. If there is too much green material you run the risk of creating an aerobic pink pile that stinks. I you don't have enough greens, the compost pile stalls and will take a long time to finish or not finish at all. The ratio is important! 1/2 is best. Balance is key!
The second method is one of the oldest forms of composting that exist. This is something Ive been doing for a while but haven't seen many other cannabis cultivators do. Its called direct bury composting. In this method, you dig a hole, bury the green materials and leave it. 4-8 weeks later you have compost. Direct bury composting has been practiced for thousands of years. Native northern and southern Americans buried fish and eels in corn fields to provide nitrogen and other trace minerals.
There is a little bit of controversy behind this method. Some say its a breeding ground for pathogens. Others say , its too hot and will burn seedlings and plants. I have personally only had good results and experiences with this method but.. that's just me. Maybe Ive been lucky.