Re: [compost_tea] Re: Vermi tea as foliar fertilizer

From: Chuck Barker <chuckiebtoo_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:47:19 -0800 (PST)

My knowledge is based on usage & observed results over about 10 years.Â=
  Not being a certified authority, I can only explain it the way I see it=
 working for me.  AVCT is NOT a very good fertilizer, but then it's no=
t intended to be.  What it does is help plants & soils become so=
 healthy & robust that they don't need fertilizers. 
 
Vermicompost and AVCT do this by introducing the good critters back in=
to soils and plants where they have usually been eradicated by all those ch=
emicals people love to slather on their stuff.  
 
People have become so accustomed to the instant results that arti=
ficial and chemical enhancements produce that they think of those stra=
tegies as "natural".  They ain't.  They produce consequences with=
 the "good & noticible enhancements" they provide.  But they=
 do not improve the soils on a continuing basis & actually are detrimental =
to all the good critters you are trying so hard to introduce into your gard=
ens/lawns/soils (they kill the bad guys and good guys indiscriminately.Â=
 Â 
 
It all works for me and I haven't used chemicals...or anything not nat=
ive to my own lawns & gardens.... for the last decade.   As I write th=
is, I'm looking at a 6 year old Mexican lime tree with about 100 limes and =
countless blooms setting beside my office window in a nursery tree containe=
r. 
 
Chuck


________________________________
From: Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com>
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 3:49 PM
Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Vermi tea as foliar fertilizer


 
Jason;

ABSOLUTELY READ TEAMING WITH MICROBES! But it is not just about compost tea=
 and it will validate what you just stated concerning using compost and mul=
ch. It is probably the best book for the regular person to introduce and ex=
plain the microbial activity going on in the soil. Compost tea is just one =
tool for organic growing.

I did not say there was no benefit from spraying ACT on leaves, just that I=
 doubt nutrient uptake is one of them.

As Jeff mentioned it helps to populate the leaf surface with microorganisms=
 which help deter pathogenic microorganisms (eg. powdery mildew)

Tim

--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Jason Kalka <shortstop42000_at_...> wrote:
>
>
> I suppose I will have to read Teaming with Microbes to figure out why I n=
eed to use ACT instead of simply composting and mulching. If you aren't get=
ting a benefit from spraying it on the leaves, why use it?
>
> Tim, you sound like you know what you are talking about, but you are on a=
 whole other level that is beyond my grasp at the moment.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tim Wilson <thegoodjob_at_...>
> Sent: January 18, 2012 11:30 AM
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Vermi tea as foliar fertilizer
>
>
> Hi Burkhard;
>
> When I mentioned soluble nutrients I was actually referring to chemical f=
ertilizers which are already in ionic form. I was not recommending them but=
 asking what you intended to foliar feed with. There is very little in solu=
ble form in organics. As stated, I am dubious about the efficacy of foliar =
feeding.
>
> There was a powerpoint posted by another member but because it was a sale=
s pitch it is hardly credible.
>
> If indeed, foliar feeding is an efficient way of providing nutrients, I'm=
 very interested in reading solid data on the subject. There are attibutes =
to spraying certain substances onto plant leaves, including compost tea. Je=
ff has already covered this.
>
> I used to spray (back in my chemical days) my plants with chemical
> 20-20-20 and thought I was feeding them because they all perked up and lo=
oked 'happy' afterwards. Later I learned that they were just responding (mo=
st likely) to the moisture.
>
> I suggest that you feed your soil as Jeff has recommended. You can use fi=
sh hydrolysate, compost tea, humic acid, etc. in liquid form and you can to=
pdress [vermi]compost (and vermicompost slurries), kelpmeal, alfalfa meal, =
etc.
>
> Tim
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Burkhard Kiehne <burkhardkiehne_at_> wro=
te:
> >
> > Thank you for all your input, especially the one from Tim. It always le=
ts me see things clearer. To summerize my point again I assume it is a good=
 idea to prepare the soil with plenty of compost, plant my peppers, t
>
> [The entire original message is not included]
>




Received on Wed Jan 18 2012 - 17:50:36 EST

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