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#1
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compost tea
Going organic, making compost tea for solution, from yard waste, plantain leaves, kitchen scraps, growing peppers, herbs, cukes.... tight budget, should this work?
ebb/flo, can plants be spaced tighter than seed pack recommendations |
#2
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Plants in any type of hydroponic system can be placed close together especially while young/small, but you need to keep in mind the size of the full grown plant and allow the plant the space to grow. Hydroponic plants generally grow faster and sometimes larger than plants in soil when given the right conditions. |
#3
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Naaaahhh... what Pete is talking about, is TEA from compost. Actually a liquid extract from compost or fermented plant residues, It can be improved and purified by mechanical recirculation and aeration as well.
Well, I have been interested in it too but it is a rather inexact science, compared to what I use to do. It's hard to tell the general and NPK composition and hence how to use and dose it. Also, due to some "polluants" and unsolved components, it's difficult to measure in concentration (EC or PPM). Another disadvantage is that most Nitrogen content is not directly available and needs to decompose first (unless it's highly fermented) - and this is only possible if you use a setup with lots of media (coconut choir for example) that allows bacterial activity. You may use it in specially designed setups that work like the ones in Aquaponics (processed excrements from fish tanks provide the nutrients). You can always try it on a experimental base with salads and other leafy low feeders. Still, if you do not know the basics of its use and handling - you're looking for green trouble only! PS: Pete, how's the monsoon doing in Belize? Guess we've got a El Niņo this year... Last edited by Luches; 08-06-2009 at 04:20 AM. |
#4
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I hadn't heard of that process before, makeing liquid nutrients from compost. It is an interesting concept although without the right lab equipment I would think it would be just about imposable to tell if it was a complete nutrient solution. That is, knowing if it has all the required elements and/or in the proper proportions. Because of all the variables I would think it would be be just about imposable to duplicate time and time again also, even with the right lab equipment. Though if you were able to isolate each element and tell their exact concentrations it would be reasonable to add the missing or lacking elements and dilute the over concentrated ones. But I cant really see it as being cost effective.
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#5
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Well, there are ways of knowing though. There are existing analyses of plants, you can get (or deduce) data from.
Examples for NPK: Potatoe Vines (dried): 0.6/0.16/1.6 Soybean Hay: 1.5-3.0/0/1.2-2.3 Orange Skins: 0/3.0/27.0 Banana Residues (ash): 1.75/0.75/0.5 Apple Leaves: 1.0/0.15/0.4 Coffee Grounds: 2.0/0.36/0.67 Grapefruit Skins (ash): 0/3.6/30.6 There are ways to get to it, but it's not an easy task. The easiest and most useful application of compost tea in my opinion is the use as complementary foliar spray. I always and only use self made nutrients (based on commonly used raw materials) and they are extremely cost effective with around 3-4 US$ per 1000 Liter of solution. And with self calculated and tested formulas, I have exactly what I want and need. A batch of 8 Liter of concentrate (lasting for 1000-1200 Liter of solution) takes me 1 hour of work, preps and cleaning included. |
#6
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I am hoping to have a hydroponic farm growing produce for the local area some day in the future, and would find making my own nutrient concentrates quite useful if it is as cost effective for me as it is for you. I was hoping that you may have some tips on the subject, and maybe even be able to tell me where I can get the information I need to learn the right way to make my own as well? |
#7
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#8
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diy hydroponics, nutrients |
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