What’s the best mulch IYO

Obepawn

Obepawn

Well-Known Member
I’ve searched through the organic threads high and low and I have not found a thread about mulch, which I find strange, because mulch and organics go hand and hand. I have a bag of orchid bark mulch that I was thinking about using, which is pine bark. I’ve also read that coco coir is a good mulch, as is hay.

Which mulches do you prefer and why?
 
Ozmap

Ozmap

Active Member
I don't know about mulches in general, but hay has always kept the ground around my vegetables from drying out. Plenty of worms choose to hang out under it.
 
Obepawn

Obepawn

Well-Known Member
PadawanWarrior said:
I started using rice hulls, and the worms and other beneficial insects are loving it. When I move the mulch layer, I can see more and more worms every time. I don't take many pictures, but here's an up close pic of one of the pots with rice hulls I took a few weeks ago. Plus it adds silica.
View attachment 4390707
Click to expand...
Where do you get your rice hulls?
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Obepawn said:
Where do you get your rice hulls?
Click to expand...
I got lucky and had my hydro store order them for me so I wouldn't have to pay shipping, and they couldn't get the original ones they ordered for me, so I wound up getting the 20 lb bag of Build A Soil rice hulls for like $16. That's when I realized they can get my BAS stuff cheaper than I can on my own. So I can't hate on my hydro store too much. Just make sure they are parboiled wherever you get them. I've just started using them, and have been impressed so far.
 
radiant Rudy

radiant Rudy

Well-Known Member
I mostly use alfalfa straw. I get a get a bale for about 22$ and use it on pretty much every plant i grow. The bale still lasts 2 years in pots used year round the straw is gone in about 12 months. I also use rice hulls and shredded bark and cover crops. I think they all are effective and promote healthy soil biology. One thing i learned which is useful for peace of mind and to rule out residual insecticides or gmo issues is to specify organic when selecting mulch material.
 
Ozmap

Ozmap

Active Member
Just to excite thoughts on (hijack) the original post:

I have heaps of woodworking shavings. (Thicknesser outcasts). Would they make good use as a mulch?

...I'm asking for the OP, of course. :)
 
FunkeyMunkey

FunkeyMunkey

Well-Known Member
I’ve seen a bunch of people using types of straw or hay but I normally will just top dress with a fresh layer of my soil mix(compost/coco). Right after a nice watering so it’s serves as a mulch/top dress combo. Also I don’t see why wood chips wouldn’t work. Just make sure it isn’t treated wood and the chips are small enough to eventually break down. You don’t want to end up with soggy rotten wood as your mulch lol
 
Obepawn

Obepawn

Well-Known Member
Ozmap said:
Just to excite thoughts on (hijack) the original post:

I have heaps of woodworking shavings. (Thicknesser outcasts). Would they make good use as a mulch?

...I'm asking for the OP, of course. :)
Click to expand...
No cedar and no walnut, other than those you’re good.
 
IIReignManII

IIReignManII

Well-Known Member
I've noticed that using a cover crop drastically stabilized rH in my tent, I feel like without it there is just a ton of evaporation wicking off the top of the pots after you water them. I grew out some thick crimson clover and it seemed to work nicely. I wasnt exactly sure how to topdress without destroying the cover crop so I just decided to chop it all down, topdress, and cover it all in a layer of compost, the dead clover turns into a hay/straw like texture when it dries out. The local compost I get almost has a fine wood mulchy texture that seems to be able to double up as a mulch as well as a soil component.
 
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