Subcool Supersoil UK version a few questions.

[Grim Reefer]

She's alive......View attachment 485113View attachment 485114View attachment 485115View attachment 485116View attachment 485117

Great the soil is alive for sure, that webbing is a great sign.
I noticed you have worm casting in your soil mix, did you read the article about super charging them using oats and molasses.
Its what i do when i make the root rot tea and its seems to work fantastically.
Here is the article if you dont have it already.

 

[Duggy]

I use oat washes on my girls and add oats to my compost. I once watered the compost with an oat wash and the whole surface was covered in 1/2" deep white carpet after 48 hrs...good stuff...

 

[Dazed]

This thread is a wealth of information! Hope your new soil mix does the business for you dazed mate. And well done for perserveering

Hay bro, yes it really is isn't it. Glad you stopped by and hopefully leant as much as I have! Cheers bud.

Great the soil is alive for sure, that webbing is a great sign.
I noticed you have worm casting in your soil mix, did you read the article about super charging them using oats and molasses.
Its what i do when i make the root rot tea and its seems to work fantastically.
Here is the article if you dont have it already.

Hi Dazed
Thats great i just didn't want to cause a fuss is all, i cant wait to watch your experiment.
Yes this thread is a great source of knowledge.
Do you know what beans you are going for next dude?

Not sure yet mate, I was going to go for some TGA seeds, not seen too many grows on here with TGA and being as though it's a version of Sub's recipe I thought it would be fun...his seeds are all regs though. I just don't have the space or resources to germ a bunch of seeds to see which is female though which is a shame because I really like the look of his Brian Berry Cough and Jilly Bean but maybe thats for down the line.

I'm trying to get a flight out to Dam this week or next so might try pick something up there, who knows-might get a freebie in some bud lmao.

Thanks for the link man just reading up now, I was literally going to put a link to that site up earlier, I get my stuff from there and love the blog posts he does, the fermented plant juice is a good read, lots of ace info there for sure.

I use oat washes on my girls and add oats to my compost. I once watered the compost with an oat wash and the whole surface was covered in 1/2" deep white carpet after 48 hrs...good stuff...

Cheers Duggy! You think I could supercharge my mix while it's cooking?

 

[Duggy]

If you need to add water then some oat or rice wash wouldnt hurt...

 

[Dazed]

I think I'll give it 3-4 weeks then give some. Cheers brother!

 

[Dirt Weed]

Very nice job my friend, lots of grow karma headed your way...✌

 

[Dazed]

Just took a quick peep at my soil which has now been cooking almost 8 weeks. It's certainly alive in more ways than one lol. Lot's of red wrigglers in there which must be a good sign but also lots' of tiny white insects, they seem to jump a little, I've done some research and from what I can tell they are predatory mites? This is a video I found which shows exactly what I have, question is, are they a problem or a bonus lol. From what I've read they don't harm plants and go about their business eating up decaying matter in soil, any thoughts, would prefer not to soil drench with Azamax as it's very expensive to have it imported from the USA!



I'm hoping to be able to put this soil into action very soon, hopefully lol.

 

[blue]

Spingtails? The white jumpy things. I'm no expert (far far from it), but have a suspicion that these are a good thing.

Here's some info on springtails

• springtails are the kangaroos of the insect world
• .04-.1 inches long (1-2 mm)
• move 3-4 inches per jump
• that's about 100x body length
• use springlike mechanism under abdomen to jump
• wingless
• almost blind
• white, yellow, gray, blue-gray, purple
• under microscope, many species have patterns on bodies
• similar to fleas
• congregate en masse
• look similar to curled shell-less shrimp
• can be long and narrow or globular
• six legs
• some species have hair/fur/bristles along top front of body
• descriptive nicknames:
  • jumping dirt
  • snow fleas

​

LOCATION

• many species live in soil of house plants, though most live outdoors
• prefer moist locations
• they also appear in moist locations in house where there are no houseplants

MULTIPLICATION

• they exist in droves and masses
• can be in the 10s of thousands

DESTRUCTION

• springtails do no destruction to houseplants
• do not bite humans or pets
• actually good for the soil
• become a nuisance due to numbers

DETECTION

• You probably won't notice them if they're in the houseplant soil until they multiply and overpopulate the container. Then they may swarm and head off to look for another moist place to live in your home.
• can swarm around and under the container
• jump on top of soil when watered
• can rise like cloud of tiny spots when disturbed

SOLUTION
Note: Since springtails are garden pests only because they become bothersome by their sheer numbers - and are otherwise beneficial to the soil - you probably want to use non-toxic means of extermination, such as organic insecticide, even if the cost is a little higher. Have some patience: you can usually get rid of them by changing your watering schedule.

• Prevention:
  • allow your house plants soil to dry out between watering
  • clean dead plant material off soil surface quickly
• use insecticide dust or spray on soil surface
• spray cracks and bottom of plant container
• be sure insecticide lists springtails and follow directions
• pyrethroids effective
• a good source also listed Neem and Malathion
• be sure to treat nest areas not just the visible swarms
• try watering with Safers soap (follow label instructions)
• Chemicals: Bifen granules (poisonous to pets) with liquid insecticide
• chemical treatment is probably unnecessary unless all your houseplants have been overrun with hordes of springtails

 

[blue]

Edit: Duh, didnt realise it was a video - then clicked it and saw no jumping! (perhaps/probably not springtails)

Double edit: But then again ... you're better off listening to DubV and EOF

 

[DubV]

Hey brother there is also a possibility if they jump that they could be springtails and if they are. You are blessed as I am. They are the second most common nematode alive. They break down organic matter so that it can be used by the plants. They are no harm at all if they are springtails. First infestation I got, I freaked out when I saw thousands of tiny bugs jumping around the soil when I water. They curl there tail under them and spring around when threatened. I have seen full grown adults jump over 8 feet before. Do not kill them and don't let the soil dry out too much. Here is a pic in different stages