Which would be best ??

[PodMan]

Good morning to all,, just about to go on a excursion to aquire my forest soil for compost teas, and would like to ask which is better, Forest soil from hard wood forest , (Dutch, elm oak,ect ) OR soil from man made forest soft wood, ( Pine's )..



:smoke: elps with ma aches and pains,,.

 

[ripster]

Morning PodMan.
Are you going to be growing indoors or outdoors?

 

[PodMan]

Indoors , Stealth Cup'brd, I am composting thou at moment don't have Org Compost for tea's, read to use forest soils, thou not condoning all start to did up forest's, in my uk climate my compost won't be ready til late spring, it's just for now. You now for the Mycorr,, and in flowering to breed Fungi.

 

[ripster]

Ok, indoors then. Are you going to bake your dug up forest soil to kill any bad bacteria, fungi or bug larva that's in it?

Personally, I'd never bring outdoor soil, indoors.

 

[Torched]

If you are using the soil for Compost tea I think there would be little chance of "infection". Most bugs would drown and the fungi/bacteria would be your general mix of good/bad/neutral guys. Don't bake it if you want to make tea that would kill all the friends you brought home. Avoid the pine forest as it would be far more acidic than the hard wood.

You can also buy a bag of high quality compost from the store. Another option is to do a search for "Korean natural farming" or this site: http://gilcarandang.com/ They will show you how to collect a wide variety of local bacteria and fungus to add to soil, teas, or compost.

 

[evol]

The older and less untouched the forest is, the better it is to use. Also avoid pine as torched said.

 

[PodMan]

Thanks all, have gone with hardwood forest. Was tending to go that way and when I got to the spot I chose, brushed back the leaves to scoop some soil up and there it was, a clump of fungal spores (phone bat was low so did't take photo). So I can presume all the Microbes are there. Wil be giving my babes there first tea from it next brew



:Sharing One:elps with ma aches and pains

 

[Torched]

Let us know how it goes.