Can you cycle “cook” soil in a bin rather than in the pots you’re using?
- Thread starter Kind Sir
- Start date
WintersBones
Well-Known Member
I've cooked soil in a wheelbarrow covered with a tarp in my basement.
Richard Drysift
Well-Known Member
Why not? After a harvest I toss the root ball into a big ass 60 gal tote bin and hydrate it. I add EWC, fertilizer, and amendments and then gently break it up with a rusty old shovel. Leaving the roots mostly intact usually makes big clumps which I try to leave as they are as much as possible. The stems dry out and break off in time or are left to slowly decompose.
MoroccanRoll
Well-Known Member
Go to the dollar store (or the supermarket or Walmart) and buy a couple of re-useable fabric shopping bags. They do the job. Cook and grow, bro.
Kind Sir
Well-Known Member
I know what you’re talking about. Those ones they say to use for groceries instead of plastic ones? Like I said it’s the coots mix, I dont think there’s anything that HAS to be cooked (maby I’m wrong,) but I know it’d help. I have some ocean forest (for my gf plants,) not sure what I’m going to use for seedlings. Could just use sphagnum, my coast if Maine lobster compost and perlite.
green_machine_two9er
Well-Known Member
The only need to cook comes when you reammend. I personally like a no disturb cook. But if you go from a Rubbermaid to your pots not a huge deal.
Rubber maid are perfect. Lid off.
I just leave entire root system. It will break down fairly quickly to npk and condition soil.
For seedlings and clones. I start my youngins in promix straight up( after plugs) and top with ewc in my "solo" cup size pot. Then right into recycled non- amended mix.
Good luck !
green_machine_two9er
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure this Is helpful. "Cooking" soil or compost has nothing to do with actually adding heat. N sources and microbes break down those elements are what's creating heat.
If your trying to boost the breakfsown process than I would add extra alfalfa or just dried cannibus leaves. Plus a nicely airated compost tea can help jump things into gear.
myke
Well-Known Member
My garage is cold so by itself it won’t compost or heat up. My soil is ready much quicker I found with the added heat. Thanks.
TerrapinBlazin
Well-Known Member
I used to grow mushrooms, and I cook my soil in a bin similar in design to a monotub — essentially a storage tote with some polyfill stuffed holes for gas exchange. The only difference is the tub I cook soil in is opaque.
Kind Sir
Well-Known Member
I’m a mushroom grower myself, so similar to a modified monotub? That’s not a bad idea, your reason being is that a Rubbermaid with the top of may be too much air? And then the pollyfill holes let off enough exchange?
myke
Well-Known Member
I like the idea of dried cannabis leaves,plenty of those around.Grind them up I assume,how much per cu/ft? Thanks.
green_machine_two9er
Well-Known Member
I usually don't measure. xoupple handful per tote.
green_machine_two9er
Well-Known Member
Yes ground up
kratos015
Well-Known Member
I've never used containers, personally. Excluding fabric pots, containers for prepping soil just tends to beg for anaerobic conditions.
I just throw everything in a pile outside on the dirt, water and mix daily. Having a little bit of dirt from your environment included within your soil mix is never a bad thing.
I just throw everything in a pile outside on the dirt, water and mix daily. Having a little bit of dirt from your environment included within your soil mix is never a bad thing.
