tutorial Beginner's guide to AACT/Compost Tea

[Cayennemist]

Nice!
 
As for the "cal-mag and ph" thing, I fully agree. Let nature do all the work and sit back and drink a IPA and catch up on Game of Thrones.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Cal-mag! hahahahahahahaha

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

Cal-mag! hahahahahahahaha

I see I am not the only one who laughs when people say, "give that plant some cal-mag." Makes me laugh every time.

 

[Ragnar]

Hey peeps,
 
I'd like to make a very small batch of tea - like maybe 1.5 liters. How much molasses would you use for such a small batch?

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

Hey peeps,
 
I'd like to make a very small batch of tea - like maybe 1.5 liters. How much molasses would you use for such a small batch?

I would use about 1 tablespoon or slightly less.

 

[Ragnar]

Hrm.. That's about what I put in with no luck I figured it was too much for such a small batch.

I used - unsulfured molasses, homemade worm castings , distilled water, and great white mycorrhizal / bacteria

No action after 40 hrs. I don't have any other fancy stuff to put in. Temp range was 60-75f.

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

What do you mean by "no action?"

 

[Ragnar]

No froth whatsoever..

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

No froth whatsoever..

Foam means nothing. Try brewing some without the Great White and see if there is a difference but as I said foam is NOT an indicator of microbial population.

 

[Ragnar]

Oi! Seems like everything I've read says foam is the indicator that good things are happening. Why is everyone waiting for the foam then?

One other thing I should note before I go and start over is that I didn't realize that the airstone was a separate thing. So I just have a pump and a tube with a marble tied on to weigh it down. Thing bubbles like a mofo in the little 2L jar I'm brewing in so I figured it was enough for now.

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

Why is everyone waiting for the foam then?

Because they don't own a microscope? Haha

 

[Ragnar]

Foam means nothing. Try brewing some without the Great White and see if there is a difference but as I said foam is NOT an indicator of microbial population.


Without the powdered myco? How does that make sense? That stuff is choke-full of good guys.

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

Without the powdered myco? How does that make sense? That stuff is choke-full of good guys.

I meant just to see if you did get foam without it. Some added ingredients will kill the foam but it doesn't matter because foam is only a reaction to the carbohydrates being aerated in the mix.
Personally I would use worm castings, molasses and water only and add any other ingredients after it's brewed.

 

[Ragnar]

Cool, thanks a lot for your insight PMD, much appreciated.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Because they don't own a microscope? Haha

This.

 

[Cayennemist]

Foam is a good indicator that it is working, but not concrete evidence.
 
Try adding grass clippings... I bet it foams like Cujo
 
Foam is a byproduct of rapid microbial growth, but isn't always going to happen.

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

 
Foam is a byproduct of rapid microbial growth, but isn't always going to happen.

I don't believe that is true my friend. It is caused by the presence of carbohydrates. If I were not at work I would look it up for you.

 

[Cayennemist]

I don't believe that is true my friend. It is caused by the presence of carbohydrates. If I were not at work I would look it up for you.

 
 
Well after 20 minutes of research devoted to proving you wrong...
 
I have found that you are correct.
 
Research keyword Sapotins.
 
If anything, it is a sign that you have good carbohydrates for your microbes to snack on. However not all carbs have foam causing sapotins.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Good discussion!

 

[cndij]

Jesse
 
Tell me you're not using Adagio tea tins to store your compost tea ingredients?  LOL, I treasure my tins, and would empty a bottle of pickles out before I resorted to that.  Great thread, just refreshing my memory while I gather my air stones etc., for this year.
 
Cindi