Composting and Compost Teas
Composting. If you aren’t doing it, you should. The benefits far outweigh any downsides you could see.
So what is composting?
Composting is the act of breaking down or decomposing organic matter into a rich soil amendment, via the assistance of microorganisms or worms. Composting is a great way to add many necessary nutrients to the soil of your cannabis, hemp, and other plants. Not only is composting beneficial for your plants, it is also an environmentally friendly way to lower your household’s trash output and carbon footprint. At Vermont Grow Coaching, we believe composting to be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your plants and our planet. Composting comes in many different forms. Some of them include vermicomposting or the use of words to breakdown organic matter, bokashi or an anaerobic process using inoculated bran and effective microorganisms to ferment the organic matter, and traditional aerobic composting or decomposition of the organic matter via microorganisms and oxygen.
When it comes to composting in New England and the Northeast, you will always battle with outdoor climates. Cold weather in the winter will slow the composting process considerably. Direct sunlight in the heat of the summer will also hamper decomposition by overheating and drying out the compost pile. Heavy rains can also leach nutrients from the pile and cause mold issues if the weather is also cold. There are many composting bins and systems that can be purchased to help combat these issues. However, at Vermont Grow Coaching, we like to leave nothing to chance. So, we bring the compost inside. With an average indoor temperature of 62 to 80 degrees and a lack of direct sun or rain, the compost will not run into the same issues as it otherwise would outside. While there are also many indoor machines and devices to speed the composting or recycling process of food scraps, most of them are rather expensive and unnecessary when creating composting indoors. Although both bokashi composting and vermicomposting can also be done indoors, bokashi is a bit more in depth than most starting growers will wish to take on and also do not want to share their home with the necessary worms for vermicomposting.
Make Your Own
For a simple compost bin, all you need is:
- a 5 gallon bucket
- a lid
- a water catch tray to fit under the bucket
Start by drilling several holes in the lid and the bottom of the bucket. We like to put a hole every 2 to 3 inches on both the lid and bottom of the bucket. If you aren’t too concerned with the mild smell from your compost, you can also add a couple holes to the sides of the bucket for additional aeration. The bucket can be placed on the tray. Now, you will want to layer some soil and newspaper to start your compost, as well as add a compost starter. Compost starters can be purchased at your local garden center or grow shop. They are a great way to add microorganisms to your compost bin and speed the decomposition process. Start by mixing about 1.5 gallons of soil with the recommended amount of compost starter. This will ensure the compost starter is equally dispersed throughout the bucket. Add about half of organic soil to the bucket, followed by a thin layer of moistened and shredded newspaper, then the remainder of soil and another layer of newspaper.
You are now ready to begin adding your food waste. It’s best to cut up or shred the waste before putting it in the bucket. This will speed up the composting process. Feel free to add things like fruit and vegetable scraps, crushed egg shells, yard clippings, and coffee grounds. Make sure to avoid things like meats, dairy, and citrus. Stir or turn your compost roughly once or twice per week and make sure to add a thin layer of about an inch of soil over the compost once stirred. This will help the composting process and help prevent fruit flies. As the tray fills with liquid runoff, you can easily mix that runoff with water to create a beneficial compost tea for your plants. Make sure you are emptying the tray on a regular basis to prevent smells.
Once your bucket is about 3/4 full, start a new compost bucket. The new bucket will start to receive the scraps. Continue to turn the compost in the first bucket on a weekly basis, until all of the organic matter has decomposed. It is not necessary to add any additional soil during the final weeks of composting. On average, a proper indoor compost can be complete and ready to use in roughly 3 to 6 months from the time started in the bucket. Once the organic matter is completely decomposed, start using the compost to top dress or mix with your soil. You can also use it to make compost teas.
Compost Teas
So, if compost is so great on it’s own, why are we bothering with compost teas? Teas are one of the easiest ways to feed your organic soil, to help maintain a healthy soil environment and proper ecosystem. When using teas, you are watering the beneficial contents throughout your entire soil, as opposed to top dressing and only hoping the compost makes it throughout. At Vermont Grow Coaching, we start by feeding our no til grow beds a compost tea every couple of weeks. As the soil ages and is reused, the soil will become richer and richer. Eventually, only needing a tea once at the beginning of the vegetative cycle and once at the beginning of the flowering cycle.
Now, Let’s talk about how to make a compost tea. You’re going to need to following items:
- 1 gallon of compost(you can make your own or you can buy from a local supplier. Just make sure the compost is high in the nutrients you are looking to feed your soil. For instance, a compost with a lot of wood ash from your fireplace or fire pit can have high amounts of potassium, where as a compost with a lot of grass clippings or green waste, will have a higher nitrogen content.)
- 4 gallons of water(you can use drinking water from a well or buy bottles of spring water. You can also use buckets to collect rain water. Vermont Grow Coaching usually recommends against city tap water, due to chlorine and other chemicals added to the water, even though most can be evaporated from the water.)
- 1 cup non sulfured black strap molasses(the molasses will help feed the microorganisms in the tea and your soil.)
- watertight bucket(we like to use 5 gallon water jugs. The hole is small enough to prevent many contaminates in, while still allowing airflow. It’s also the perfect size for a funnel.)
- air stone and air pump(A small air pump is fine, as long as there are constant diffused bubbles across the surface of the water.)
- mesh bag to hold the compost(there are specific tea bags you can purchase or you can just use an old pillow case without a problem.)
- funnel(Any funnel that will fit the opening and allow compost through, is sufficient.)
Mixing up a batch of compost tea is pretty easy. Start by placing your air stone and airline into the bucket. Stuff your mesh bag or pillowcase into the opening and drape it over the top of the opening, so that you can fill the mesh bag with compost after the bag is already inside the jug. Using the funnel, fill the bag with your compost and tie off the bag. Add the water and the molasses to the bucket and turn on the air stone. You can give the bucket a couple of good shakes to help mix the contents.
Now, after about 24 hours, you now have a compost tea, ready to use. You can easily apply it as a soil drench or use it in a non clogging drip system. At Vermont Grow Coaching, we don’t like to waste anything. For that reason, we save the compost from the bag and use it in our outdoor gardens and grow beds, or we add it right back into the compost pile. You can even top dress the soil for your indoor plants. If you are not worried about the amount of particles in your tea, you can skip the mesh bag and add the compost directly to the bucket. This will leave a lot of particles and sediment in the water, but this is not an issue if you are using the tea in a method such as a soil drench.
If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to contact us or check out our pricing page. We offer an array of services, from virtual consultations to harvesting assistance, and even how to make feminized seeds! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram or contact us directly at (802)342-5381 or Service@VermontGrowCoach.com At Vermont Grow Coaching LLC, service is our commitment and plants are our business.
Vermont Grow Coaching LLC
(802)342-5381
Pittsford, VT 05763
Service@VermontGrowCoach.com
Disclaimer: Please note that this article is the opinion of Vermont Grow Coaching LLC and should only be viewed as such. Vermont Grow Coaching LLC takes no responsibility for any damages, or legal concerns regarding the cloning or cultivation of Cannabis. The responsibility to ensure operation within governing law, is placed solely on the person or entity that chooses to cultivate Cannabis. Be smart and remember to keep it legal with your local and state governments.
