Microorganisms

[Malgorzata]

The mildew this year on some of my Clematis made me look up more organic treatments I haven't tried before (or I even did not know that existed). As often it happens, one article led to anther... and my adventure with microorganisms has begun.

I have more questions than answers but have been exited with my new research. If you are bored with the weather, curious, also late for the party or already experienced: lets exchange the notes!

Compost tea, I really had fun with this one and many different recipes. Almost like nothing can go wrong here.



Next trying out some of Gil Carandang's formulas.

Collecting Lactobacillus?



It seems to be working!


Feeding it with the molasses and next step: dilute with water...and again dilute with water. Good that I experimented only with a few milliliters of the starter! I don't have a farm!



Bionutrients? Also a nice challenge (only banana for now).



Will they work?

Some things did go down the drain. Just tried again...

More on BIM here.





Next? EM-1 (Dr. Hita/effective microorganisms) and bokashi composting! Bucket ready!!

Hope my more conscious gardening with microorganisms makes a difference in years to come. Who knows, may be I can even see first flower on that Clematis with chronic systemic mildew?

[CLematisGuru]

wow, you are really experimenting. i am not so adventurous, but did start planting with RootZone Mycorrhizal Fungi granules a few months ago. not doing any head to head tests, but should be able to tell if it is beneficial to plant start up time (my basic goal) by next spring. i have a good feeling about it so far. also using worm compost when planting and top dressing clems. keep us posted on your natural concoctions.......of course we do compost in huge bins, grass, leaves, kitchen scraps, wood chips, leftover fertilizers are dumped in it too.
i know some very experienced folks who really recommend grass clippings as a top dressing and mixed into soil.
right now, with dormancy just settling in, spring seems like a dream...but it will be here before we know it!

[Daniel]

Thank you, Malgorzata, for all the great links and wonderful info! I think I might have to order the book + try out at least one of the concoctions!
I really hope you will get great results with the micro organisms! I expect to hear all about it.

About all I knew about use of these beneficial microorganisms were that there are commercial products that can be used, like PreStop Mix or Trianum (fungus against mildew) and such. Not that they can be home brewed! Yes!

And I'm totally for the idea of cultivating the soil (its beneficial microbes and all) and not just the 'crop plants' weather they are Clematis in our gardens or food plants in the fields.

[Malgorzata]

Deborah and Daniel, thank you for looking up and for your comments!

Mycorrhizal Fungi is something I read about but still haven't figured out how to grow these other than in compost tea (?).

Originally Posted by Daniel Not that they can be home brewed!

For me that is the whole beauty of it and excitement! More "growing", more anticipation, more fun gardening! And FEED THE SOIL is a great line!

Daniel, there have been some great discussions going on on different forums (like Cannabis Word) since around 2006. I just came across them a few weeks ago. Worth Googling for if you are interested. Youtube has some great videos as well. We all have experience with brewing and fermenting or least we have seen our grandmas making homemade yogurt, wine or starter for borsch and rye bread. It's like "cooking" for our precious plants!

Fermented plant extracts

EM Manual

Bokashi composting (home made)

I just started filling my first bokashi bucket. No need for much space and I always wanted to have my own compost. It is cool already so it may take more time to get the final product: 4-6 weeks?



If my Clematis does not appreciate my cooking I guess some of the problematic ones have to face good-bye next season.

[Arlene]

Mal you have become a scientist and turned your home into a laboratory. Good luck with all this.

[maggiepie]

Malgorzata, thanks bunches for posting this thread, I have finally got around to reading it and following some of the links. ( rest later, my poor old brain can only take in so much at a time)
Not sure if now would be a good time to start making these concoctions , I could keep some in the basement but after reading about the exploding one not sure I should.
Please keep us informed of your results.
The newspaper bokashi bucket is particularly interesting, I had only seen them done with bran before. I could make these throughout winter with my compost buckets.

[Malgorzata]

Arlene, it has been fun, exiting and I a have been learning something "new over the old". It is true, the kitchen is full of bottles and jars... for now.

Originally Posted by maggiepie Not sure if now would be a good time to start making these concoctions

Helen, you could play to get acquainted with the method but spring is the time you will need the mixtures. Usually it takes around 2 weeks to get the stuff ready to use (but the compost tea). I do let the gasses out daily. I live in a warmer climate so I had the chance to use some of the stuff already. I actually felt more comfortable to try them in fall at the end of the season with lower temperatures ... For one I wasn't sure of the "stink" factor (no problem and anything mixed with molasses smells sweet). So far my brews did not burn any leaves either. I did manage in those few weeks to multiply the worm population a bit... very visibly. But I used more "tricks" to do that. I am just learning/experimenting now and hope to start the "real program" from spring. I do have some questions. Like can I use lime sulphur in dormant season? And my biggest problem seems to be the water... city chlorinated water.

[DawnLL]

VERY interesting stuff. Sure looks like you have been busy with the experimental stuff. Good for you!!

[Weather]

Malgorzata, this is a very interesting read. I haven't finished checking your links but think this is something to pursue in the cabin-fever days of Jan-Feb.

I have been adding Bio-tone's Starter Plus 4-3-3 when planting anything -- including bulbs. I have lost several plants but generally in areas that have become saturated from water (two rainy summers) and runoff from my neighbors chemically treated lawn.

It contains 5,678,685 colony forming units (CFU's) per lb. of bacillus proven to enhance plant growth - 378,579 CFU's per lb. of 15 different species.
Ectomycorrhizal Fungi: 44,200,000 propagules per lb. of 8 species:
Endomycorrhizal Fungi: 1,200 propagules per lb. of 2 species
All Natural Organic Plant Food with Mycorrhizae

I remember your posts about mildew from a few months ago and was thinking the same thing that you are trying except not quite as extensive as what you have found! If we were to bet I'd put my money on your experiments being successful.

[Daniel]

I decided to give the Lactobacillus a go tonight!
I will use the concoction as a foliar spray for all the plants indoors - including some Clematis seedlings. I will feed it to my cats, too. And will do tests in the aquariums! Though they are not densely populated I think they might benefit from this. We'll see.

Come to think of it... this probably is good for my health too! LOL.