Do You Sterilize Your Compost?

[Jack Harer]

www.itsaulnatural.com Best store bought EWC I've found. Call them and they'll tell you where you can get them nearest you.

 

[snew]

I have worm farm about 25 miles away so that would be my most likely source of EWC. The issue becomes as always the expense.

 

[Jack Harer]

True that!! But what are ya gonna do? I can't imagine growing without EWC.

 

[snew]

I have about 2.5 gallons Of EWC from my worm bin that died, so I'll mix in 2 gallons to cook with my soil. And keep about 1/2 gallon for tea. Then I can add more in 2 months when I start using it. I should be able to buy some by then and have my worms up and running again for the future. I do feel like it goes further in teas so I want to keep back enough of mine for that.
I just did a foliar feed with EWC, my fresh compost and molasses. I have been wanting to try some mushroom compost. Maybe this would be a good time. There are a few options.
Have any of you used mushroom compost? indoors?

 

[Cooter@666]

I have worm farm about 25 miles away so that would be my most likely source of EWC. The issue becomes as always the expense.

I've had luck digging small holes in my garden and gathering up worms for my worm bin...you'll be looking for Perionyx excavatus, & Eisenia fetida worms.... if your soil has both worms us them both...it's worth a try and you can’t beat the price

 

[Wetdog]

I had a bad experience using BOTH mushroom compost AND EWC in the same mix. A *good idea* that wasn't. In one of LC's mixes he mentioned that you could substitute MC for EWC if you didn't have any, so I got the bright idea of using both.

The mix turned to mud no matter how much perlite I added. But I also used the full amount of each instead of 1/2 the amounts. Ended up dumping it on my wife's flower bed. LOL

Wet

 

[Cannabisculture]

Look into soil solarization, It's the only method using heat that won't destroy your beneficial microbes and goodies in the soil. And 100% Natural :]
It will accelerate the breakdown of your compost as well which helps nutrients become more available to your plant.

 

[malignant]

only sterilize if your doing mycology work.. otherwise you want the beneficials in your compost

 

[snew]

only sterilize if your doing mycology work.. otherwise you want the beneficials in your compost

I'm not sure what you mean by mycology work.

Look into soil solarization, It's the only method using heat that won't destroy your beneficial microbes and goodies in the soil. And 100% Natural :]
It will accelerate the breakdown of your compost as well which helps nutrients become more available to your plant.

I hadn't thought of solarization for compost but it would be a little late in the year hear to try that. But wouldn't the heat also kill the beneficial as well?

 

[malignant]

growing shrooms...

 

[Gr33nCrack]

Why would you sterilize an organic soil? Organic soils are alive and sterilizing it would kill off everything that is beneficial to the soil. I think you might have limited knowledge on how organics actually works. Since you seem interested in the topic I encourage you to go to the library or a book store and read as much about Organic gardening as possible.

' Never do some shit like that, it will just smoke up your entire house, You don't need to sterilize it, just let it break down completely, takes around 6 weeks '


R u stupid

 

[Gr33nCrack]

and wet dog yes, but if you let it sit in the sun and get rid of the moisture it gets rid of bad bacteria and should kill most of the bugs.

 

[hyroot]

letting it sit in the sun and bake is what you do when using used soil ,

 

[snew]

and wet dog yes, but if you let it sit in the sun and get rid of the moisture it gets rid of bad bacteria and should kill most of the bugs.

So the sun destroys bad bacterial not good? Is that right.

' Never do some shit like that, it will just smoke up your entire house, You don't need to sterilize it, just let it break down completely, takes around 6 weeks
So your saying the compost breaks down in 6 weeks or what? '


R u stupid

 

[DIYguy]

Gr33nCrack, I don't mean to put you on blast but it seems you have got it all wrong. I would never tell you what to do in your own garden but its impossible to sit here idle while you post blatant misinformation.

Outdoor garden compost will have a gang of insects that could potential infest your indoor garden. When you bring garden compost indoors you have the issue of not having the predatory bugs that keeps these pests in check like you would outdoors. STERILIZING YOUR COMPOST NEGATES THE WHOLE POINT OF COMPOST unless you are only using it to amend the soils texture. Worm compost from worm farms is a great alternative. I recommend it highly if you plan to use indoors.

I'm not here to bash on you but facts are facts my friend.

If you dry out your soil all life in it will be diminished.

I feel like this goes without saying it but any one who resorts to petty name calling on forums should shoot up a red flag to others about the reliability of information they provide.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cooter@666]

Originally Posted by Cooter@666
Why would you sterilize an organic soil? Organic soils are alive and sterilizing it would kill off everything that is beneficial to the soil. I think you might have limited knowledge on how organics actually works. Since you seem interested in the topic I encourage you to go to the library or a book store and read as much about Organic gardening as possible.

' Never do some shit like that, it will just smoke up your entire house, You don't need to sterilize it, just let it break down completely, takes around 6 weeks '


R u stupid

HAHAHA thanks for the great laugh!

 

[Jack Harer]

I compost in 55 gal drums in my garage. I have three, and when one fills a bit over halfway, I start another. I'll put the lid and band on and roll it periodically, which translates into when ever I feel like it!!! By the time I'm working on the third, the first one is about ready. I compost my coffee grounds, tea bags (without the bag) lettuce, fruits and peels, etc. I don't compost any paper, as there are chems used in the paper making process I don't like. I do dump my used soil in, and put in some alfalfa as well. About 8 months to cycle a drum, and I generally have a drum ready every month and a half or so.
Outdoor compost belongs in an outdoor garden. I do know folks that do use it indoors without problems tho...but not me.


WHAT?? you guys don't believe that about the 6 week compost breakdown???? REALLY??

 

[Cooter@666]

WHAT?? you guys don't believe that about the 6 week compost breakdown???? REALLY??

Yes of course it can be done using bokashi and worms,

 

[Endur0xX]

' Never do some shit like that, it will just smoke up your entire house, You don't need to sterilize it, just let it break down completely, takes around 6 weeks '


R u stupid

cmon gr33nCrack... you are making me nervous of asking questions!! I heard something simliar once when I said I wanted to use dirt from my garden to grow indoor someone told me to cook it in the stove!!

I compost in 55 gal drums in my garage. I have three, and when one fills a bit over halfway, I start another. I'll put the lid and band on and roll it periodically, which translates into when ever I feel like it!!! By the time I'm working on the third, the first one is about ready. I compost my coffee grounds, tea bags (without the bag) lettuce, fruits and peels, etc. I don't compost any paper, as there are chems used in the paper making process I don't like. I do dump my used soil in, and put in some alfalfa as well. About 8 months to cycle a drum, and I generally have a drum ready every month and a half or so.
Outdoor compost belongs in an outdoor garden. I do know folks that do use it indoors without problems tho...but not me.


WHAT?? you guys don't believe that about the 6 week compost breakdown???? REALLY??

you mean you have an inside compost (in your garage) and an outdoor one for your garden? How is it possible that you have a drum ready every month and a half, you have 3 compost it doesnt add up to 8 months!? unless you have a 4th bin for the good to go soil?

 

[Wetdog]

Outdoor garden compost will have a gang of insects that could potential infest your indoor garden. When you bring garden compost indoors you have the issue of not having the predatory bugs that keeps these pests in check like you would outdoors. STERILIZING YOUR COMPOST NEGATES THE WHOLE POINT OF COMPOST unless you are only using it to amend the soils texture. Worm compost from worm farms is a great alternative. I recommend it highly if you plan to use indoors.

+rep for saying that better than I could. Or, the guy just didn't read my reply closely enough, more than likely. IDK and really don't care, except for the bad information part.

Wet