Re: [compost_tea] Re: Standardized recipe to give to the general public.

From: Tad Hussey <tadhussey_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 10:48:17 -0700 (PDT)

John,

First of all, you won't get mycorrhizal fungi to grow in ACT anyway as it r=
equires a host (plant roots).  Some people will add it to the tea afte=
r they're done brewing, but I believe it is best applied separately, with a=
 direct root application (root injection, sprinkled into the pot when trans=
planting, etc..).  That being said, ACT could still have benefit for y=
our orchids, provided they're planted in a media that will support biologic=
al activity.  If you're misting your plant, make sure to use a sprayer=
 that does not damage the tea.  Those handheld sprayers where you pull=
 the trigger don't work well.

As for recipes, you will find many different ones out there on the internet=
.  Some will be better than others, because many "experts" don't actua=
lly test their recommendations with lab test or microscope work.  Your=
 recipe will ultimately be dependent upon your brewer and it's ability to m=
aintain dissolved oxygen levels throughout the brewing cycle.  You may=
 want to read the other articles here too, but this one has some ratios fro=
m Tim Wilson that would be a good starting point for you in regards to reci=
pes.  http://gardeningwithmicrobes.com/teaarticle2.shtml

Lastly, while it is true that some plants prefer a microbial dominance to t=
heir soil (ex.-vegetables/annual like bacterial dominated soil, trees tend =
to prefer fungally dominant soil), think of ACT as a shotgun approach.You'r=
e putting out all the beneficial aerobic organisms you can (bacteria/archea=
, fungal hypahe, flagellates, ciliates, etc...) and allowing the plant to b=
e in charge of what it wants on the leaf surface and in the rhizosphere bas=
ed on the exudates it puts out.  If the plant doesn't need for fungi, =
then it will select for the types of bacteria it needs and the fungal hypha=
e will go dormant or become food resources for other organisms in the soil.=
  In my opinion, the main benefit of ACT is nutrient cycling, which is=
 best achieved by having all the organisms present and being balanced by na=
tural prey and predation.  I would apply the same ACT to my lawn, tree=
s, and garden.


Hope that helps!

~Tad


________________________________
From: somydi <somydi_at_gmail.com>
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 10:53 AM
Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Standardized recipe to give to the general publi=
c.


 


Being new to tea making (I have yet to make my own yet) I have a couple of =
questions as to recipes. First of all my main use for the tea will be for v=
egetables, lawn and orchids. In my research on tea recipe's I found that or=
chids do not benefit from mycorrhizal fungi so I would like to know if a no=
n fungal dominate tea would be beneficial to orchids or are orchids just no=
t a tea accepting plant? I would still think that they would benefit from b=
eing misted with tea.

My other question on tea recipes is that do the ingredients change during t=
he growth cycle of the plant? Example, would you use the same recipe for a =
tomato plant from seed to fruit or are there changes to the recipe at each =
stage, i.e. vegetation, flowering and fruit production.

Thanks, John
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "JB" <jbridgestx_at_...> wrote:
>
> Is it possible for you to post the name of your stores? As I think such a=
 practice by any retail store is just awesome.
>
> John Bridges,
> Texas
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "dz" <orgdro4all_at_> wrote:
> >
> > I have been a member of the group for years, and work in a retail orga=
nic gardening/hydroponic store. We have recently built some 15 gallon vort=
ex brewers with Eco Plus Commercial 7 200L/min air pumps to give out Free c=
ompost tea to our customers. The problem is we have more than 1 location, =
and we all think our recipe is right.....One guy uses bat guano, and coffee=
, while the other uses multiple nutrients sources, while I stick to the bas=
ics.
> >
> > We are looking for a standardized recipe that will produce the best res=
ults for the customer so they can expect the same thing from each brew, I'd=
 love recommendations, or recipes.
> >
> > We have just about everything you could imagine at our disposal to use.=
 Including but not limited to: Ancient Forest, Farmer D Compost, Earth Worm=
 castings, humic/fulvic acid, dry and liquid kelp, liquid fish, azomite, an=
d every sunleaves variety bat guano.
> >
> >
> > What I have been doing per 13 gallons:
> > 6 Cups of farmer D compost
> > 6 Cups of Wiggle Worm earthworm castings
> > 60 ml of molasses(Nutrilife heavy weight)
> > 60 ml of fossil fuel humic acid
> > 15ml of concentrated sea kelp extract
> >
> > I have a scope and this brew seems to be giving a good qty and variety =
of organisms we give the tea out in the 20-40 hour range, then thoroughly c=
lean the brewer rinse and repeat.
> >
>


 

Received on Tue Nov 01 2011 - 13:55:12 EDT

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