The infrared thermometer isn't as good as probing the inside. I'd say it might take an hour before you reach internal target temperature, but it depends on the ambient temperature inside your BBQ of course. Be a bit gentle. You don't want it to catch fire. So slow and low just like ribs. This might be a 3 beer event.
Soil is ready. But there’s aphids!!!
- Thread starter myke
- Start date
myke
Well-Known Member
Managed to cook about 7 gallons worth,the two end burners on low kept the soil at 145-150.Not really a bad smell but you'd definitely not want to do it in your house.I did two batches about 2.5 hrs ea, the soil was wet so its nicely steamed now.I can bring it in the house now to keep it warm.
Nicely done! So now do you have something to inoculate it with to put the bacteria and other life back into it? What is your plan now?
myke
Well-Known Member
I was going to ask you.what do you suggest?
If you have access to fresh worm castings, that would really help get your soil biology restarted. You wouldn't need much, just enough to reintroduce some life. If you have some alfalfa pellets, mixing some in your soil should introduce bacteria, fungi, and some food for them to eat. Keep the soil moist (not wet), at room temperature, and cover it with some straw if you can.
Edit: A good quality compost could be used in addition to, or in place of worm castings.
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waterproof808
Well-Known Member
Pretty sure those are fungus gnats and not aphids. Aphids feed on living plants, so it is unlikely that they would be attracted to cooking soil. Aphids also have a rounder tail end. Fungus gnats are eradicated fairly easily with BT.
myke
Well-Known Member
Thanks,this makes sense.In my garden youll alway see the nymphs around the new growth. What i have hangs around the dirt.I have mosquito dunks floating in my water pail now and have watered a few times. Can I water my cooking soil with this water?
waterproof808
Well-Known Member
yeah, you can water with it if you are having gnats...BT is a bacteria, so its pretty safe. You guys in the states can also order soil nematodes that will kill fungus gnats and other soil dwelling insects...i'm not able to import any kinds of beneficial insects into Hawaii so I often forget its available for almost everyone else.
Cannabis sativa as a Host of Rice Root Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America
Abstract. Rice root aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale (Sasaki), is a cosmopolitan species widespread in North America. Most records of this insect are of
academic.oup.com
Yeah I think you're right. I know they're often mistaken for each other. The site above shows them side-by-side on yellow sticky cards. Wings definitely have to be twice as long as the body, and wide and rounded towards the tips like typical aphid shape. Anyway, at least if it is fungus gnats, they're gone too.
Anyway I think now the issue is to restore the biology in that soil. I suggested worm castings and compost, but I'm sure there are other options as well to rebuild the diversity quickly. Maybe some of those fermented teas might offer benefit at this stage, but I have no experience with it personally.
ComfortCreator
Well-Known Member
Heating the soil can definitely work, as can the mosquito bits.
Neem oil spray works well for control, and diatomaceous earth mixed in or sprinkled over the top of a container also works well to kill them dead and stop the spread.
Neem oil spray works well for control, and diatomaceous earth mixed in or sprinkled over the top of a container also works well to kill them dead and stop the spread.
MustangStudFarm
Well-Known Member
Fuck Northwood! Listen to @waterproof808
MustangStudFarm
Well-Known Member
I don't know how well it will work with other competing bacteria. I tried some in water with EM1 and it seemed to not work as well. Just a thought and it's not proven, just a little hands on exp. From what I understand, you do want the dunks to sit in water for at least 24hrs before you use the dunks/bits.
MustangStudFarm
Well-Known Member
Good compost will have this in there... I'm jealous of the Mn rich soil in Hawaii, it's like the main problem that I have been dealing with for a long time. You probably have to deal with iron chlorosis instead though??? I've been trying to balance my soil and P is always high, so adding iron is a good thing, but then I have to deal with low Mn. Sorry, I'm just rambling. I bet that you don't have the same problems as I do. Do you follow Drake or Chris Trump(no relation to Donald)?
myke
Well-Known Member
Thanks,Ive been letting sit 24-36 hrs.I shave some off and feed with that.Pretty soon i hope to have them killed off.I have plants in veg and my cooking soil has the little uckers. im busy daily killing what i can.
I'm just trying to understand here. You cooked your soil on the BBQ and you still have an insect infestation in this soil?
myke
Well-Known Member
Ive only bbqed 1/4 of my batch. It’s in the bsmt keeping warm. I gave it some ewc.its for up potting in a week or so. The remaining cooking soil still sits in garage I didn’t bbq that yet. It’s getting treated with dunks.
My veg room has some plants that have these same knats.We had a major hatch outside for about 2 weeks mid September unfortunately it was the same time I started my grow back up.i assume that’s where it all started. It’s full on war around here. Lol. Hope that clears it up.
Although I know fungus gnats obviously live outside, I don't think I've ever seen one before LOL!
Fungus gnats aren't normally something I worry about, at least in no-till. Yeah they were a moderate issue in cycle #1 and smaller in #2, after that for me they were not to be seen. Even yellow cards will not get a single one now in cycle #7. Don't worry much about them if you're establishing a no-till.,