Question with Cooking SS indoors & How to activate without cooking

[BHGz]

Hey everyone so I've been wondering how you can cook a soil indoors instead of outdoors because of my living situation. Any suggestions would help. I've seen someone say to dump one bag into a mixing tote and then mix your soil with your amendments. Add water and put it into the original bag and let it sit for a month. I'd prefer to put it into a tote, maybe wrap it with a sheet to keep the warmth inside since it won't be in direct sun.

The other thing I was wondering was how to activate the soil without cooking. I've read a dispensary grower say that in times that he couldn't cook a soil he would add Glacial rock dust, humic acid, epsom salt & azomite to activate some of the amendments, then add Mychro & Kelp extract to water to activate the rest to jump start the soil. How true is this? I know with some amendments such as Dolomite lime needs time to break down and it turns into ammonia & it'll burn the root hairs. So I'd just buy a soil with lime in it already for a "base" soil to work with.

 

[hecno]

What sort of temperature would it be inside . that alone makes a difference . A month would get the soil started . I am starting to think cooking is the wrong word ,--- Balancing --- is a better word , With the soils I make they are no less than 3 months old , The next lot I am going to use will be close to 6 months old , I have found the more time you can give the soil , the more the soil Ph settles closer to Ph 6.5 a bit more either side wont matter in true organic soil . .

 

[BHGz]

What sort of temperature would it be inside . that alone makes a difference . A month would get the soil started . I am starting to think cooking is the wrong word ,--- Balancing --- is a better word , With the soils I make they are no less than 3 months old , The next lot I am going to use will be close to 6 months old , I have found the more time you can give the soil , the more the soil Ph settles closer to Ph 6.5 a bit more either side wont matter in true organic soil . .
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Well cooking is a slang term for composting. I had an idea that I would take my old hygrometer/temp meter AIO and put it inside my tote with my soil mix and stick it inside my grow tent with my current grow. It’s 78*F with a humidity of 50/rh.

I know outside is best because the sunlight but because my situation I’m thinking of alternatives.

I might just buy a 55gal plastic trash barrel, drill some holes in it for air and then make shift a lock on it and keep it outside with my grill. I just don’t want neighbors to think its a trash

 

[hecno]

I recommend to you as you are here , Spent a week looking around the organic thread and you will find a number of awesome organic growers . Climate has a lot to do with your soil . I may not be the best person to advice you because I live in the tropics . but in saying that the fundamentals are the say . So if you know your climate you will understand you inputs . Just spend bit of time mate looking around . The we would be better off to advise you . ---- Time ---

 

[BHGz]

I recommend to you as you are here , Spent a week looking around the organic thread and you will find a number of awesome organic growers . Climate has a lot to do with your soil . I may not be the best person to advice you because I live in the tropics . but in saying that the fundamentals are the say . So if you know your climate you will understand you inputs . Just spend bit of time mate looking around . The we would be better off to advise you . ---- Time ---

Appreciate that my friend, but I’ve spent the last 2 months browsing here & roll it up. I already have a organic grow going and a soil recipe . I just had these 2 questions really because curiosity. I live in New England and it’s in the summer rn so best time to compost. I think I’ll just go with a barrel outside because I know you need heat and the sun is needed.

 

[WildBill]

Appreciate that my friend, but I’ve spent the last 2 months browsing here & roll it up. I already have a organic grow going and a soil recipe . I just had these 2 questions really because curiosity. I live in New England and it’s in the summer rn so best time to compost. I think I’ll just go with a barrel outside because I know you need heat and the sun is needed.

I'd do it in a tote. Doing it in a barrel will compact the bottom part of your mix more than a less deep rectangular tote. Doing it in a tote will keep more air in your mix.

 

[BHGz]

I'd do it in a tote. Doing it in a barrel will compact the bottom part of your mix more than a less deep rectangular tote. Doing it in a tote will keep more air in your mix.

Probably get a tote with lock loops on it and throw 2 pad locks on it, then drill holes in it for aeration, buy some screen for windows and cover the holes with that so it’ll keep bugs out and keep it outside.

 

[BHGz]

I'd do it in a tote. Doing it in a barrel will compact the bottom part of your mix more than a less deep rectangular tote. Doing it in a tote will keep more air in your mix.

Would it be smart to also drill holes in the bottom of the tote also for drainage just incase?

 

[hecno]

Yes mate , but holes in the bottom , and add some worms if you can , they will help big time .

 

[WildBill]

Yes mate , but holes in the bottom , and add some worms if you can , they will help big time .

Naturally AFTER it stops cooking.:smoking:
I turned over my 6cu/ft tote again yesterday, second time in 5 days. I mainly wanted to make sure the mix was evenly distributed, but also to check the heat and check fungus growth. Hot as hell, great growth with just a couple of cool areas.
I'm still a bit surprised at the rate of activity from this mix I used. Not a lot of nitrogen added, just enough to offset the micronized biochar added and to help with inoculation. 5 hours later I could feel the heat on the sides of the tote. 16 hours later I got 130F temps in areas. I use to make compost with my dump truck and tractor for 30 years. LOL! Never seen a pile fire off like this.