composting? Is it possible to run a wholee grow using only compost?

As the title states, I want to kno if it is possible to run an entire grow using only compost and compost tea. Any help and or forwards to threads or stickys on this topis would be awesome. I have tried researching this topic but have found minimal on this topic. I'm most certain it's my incompetents why I have failed in my searches.

Possible? Yes, but to grow healthy plants, you would need to adjust the compost mix until it has everything they need. To do this, you either need to have the compost analyzed multiple times as you make adjustments, or make changes over a long period as you test it on the plants, noting any deficiencies. Once you have the perfect compost recipe, you may never have to adjust it again but it'll take a long time getting to that point.

Ok, what items should I add to my compost? I get green items for nitrogen, and dead plant matter for flowering, any other items I am forgetting?

bigbo420 said:

Ok, what items should I add to my compost? I get green items for nitrogen, and dead plant matter for flowering, any other items I am forgetting?

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Yeah, Micro nutrients. Your compost should have a lot of those though, but keep different kinds of meal ready, and use them in the tea if any deficiencies turn up. I read that cannabis likes magnesium, and found that a good source of that is pumpkin seeds. Grind a lot of those up and add to the compost.
I try to run a closed loop system myself - everything i don't smoke goes into the wormbin which in turn makes the soil i grow in ^^

I'd say go for it, but keep an eye out for deficiencies. If you need nitrogen during vegging, your body makes the cheapest fert. itself

Thanks, for the pumpkin seed idea, will def b usin that. Any other items? Im adding newspaper, eggshells, and cardboard as well

Yeah, cardboard and paper are "browns" - they can be added - just avoid to much colour and glossy paper

Yea, we only use black and white paper cuz the ink is made of soy, and wat r ur thoughts of burnt wood ash?

Wouldn't throw that in my self directly - maybe sprinkle some in every now an then. Remember to layer it.

Ok, I remembrr my dad used to use it. And yea I have a 10 gal. Compost tumbler

Nd I +reped ya for all the feedback Stealthy

TYVM.

Found some clips you might find useful:

[video=youtube;ZMOqa541UT4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMOqa541UT4[/video]

[video=youtube;AfV8ARqzpSg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfV8ARqzpSg[/video]

both are one hour long, and pretty informative.

I swear to vermicompost myself, and got a rubbermaid bin in my kitchen

Stealthy thanks billions for thoses videos man. They were awesome. I have been gettin all my shit together for my composting, sadly I don't think ill b ready for this upcoming season, but next year I should b plenty ready.

Yeah, micros for sure and K. Organics seem to be light on both.

I add AZOMITE to my mix for the micros and trace.

Kelp Meal for K and more micros.

Also add both of these and other stuff to my worm bins.

Wet

Wetdog said:

Yeah, micros for sure and K. Organics seem to be light on both.

I add AZOMITE to my mix for the micros and trace.

Kelp Meal for K and more micros.

Also add both of these and other stuff to my worm bins.

Wet

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Ahhh K, gotta use some K. Ca and Mg too often. But in theory those three can be foliar fed to supplement his soil/compost mix.
Worms bins are taking over!

Yup you can grow plants in just compost bagged materials. I still use them but also use an organic 6-12-12 for flower than I get blended for me. I use a number of different things like green sand, glacial sand and other's. But when I just used bag compost I found that I needed twice as much as recommended as the plants used up the easy stuff fast then started to starve in the last 3 weeks. I also used cow and a sea and land blend. The sea helped quite a bit and I also used 20% worm castings. I added new compost every cycle and worked it into the top. I got real lazy for a while and this worked great for me. O ya I did add Bone and Blood meal each time also.

This is what they look like 1 week before harvest



When I did have something missing from the mix I used Cal-Mag to fix it. Did not need it very much and I think I used it once a year.

used coffee grounds are high in N, but can be acidic, egg shells are great for Cal. I've got 3 compost piles going at any time. Yard waste(grass clippings/leaves), all food waste/ scraps( no meat,fats/oils),paper,cardboard- it all goes in to one pile, gets turned by hand every other week then tilled usually twice a yr.The pile I did last yr will get used this yr, I stop adding to it around Sept and start on another pile.Let it cook for at least 6 months.Im thinking of buying some aged manure and mixing it in, should be a good mix for all my gardening needs

For a complete grow, separate your compost. One for veg and one for flower. Anaerobic decomposing will produce more nitrogen.while aerobic is better for N&K. It also depends on what you compost. Ash contains potash ( potassium) and little if any nitrogen.That depends on what you burn as well. Hardwoods contain more potash.Manure is good for nitrigen. Alfalfa and lawn clippings as well. Lawn clippings contain whatever fertilizer was used on them. Usually high nitrogen. I don't know if they would be thus considered organic as a result. Horse manure is pretty much 1-1-1 and is good for both. Microlife can be collected from old growth areas, ant hills,worm castings, termites, and will come with the manure...a little molasses to help it along.
I'm far from expert, still supplement with nutes. I've just been on the same quest and am finding these things work for me. Experiment with what you have locally. Google everything. Some things are bad.Ragweed is a growth inhibitor for example.

I know your asking about compost but another great option is subcools super soil recipe. All organic. You can find it in subcools old school organic thread. That way you only have to let it decompose for about a month (longer is better) but you know exactly what's in it and it is grade A+ primo shit

This is very helpful! Reading this thread is great! Glad i found it!

TheLastWood said:

I know your asking about compost but another great option is subcools super soil recipe. All organic. You can find it in subcools old school organic thread. That way you only have to let it decompose for about a month (longer is better) but you know exactly what's in it and it is grade A+ primo shit

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I think he changed his blend to include Worm Castings a couple weeks ago. It's good to see him update like that, now if we could get him to stop using lime.