Living Soils Organic Dry Amendment Fertiliser Bundle (3 x 400ML)

Product Information

Nutrients – Plants need about 20 nutrients for good health. Plants use these chemicals to complete life functions – from growing the first root to setting seeds at season’s end, these nutrients provide what a plant needs to live. And most of them come from the soil. Good for both the stretch and post-stretch stage of the plant’s growth (so you shouldn’t need anything else – except maybe a bit of our Malted Barley Powder to feed the enzymes).

You can also use liquid additives such as seaweed extract, liquid fish hydrolysate or emulsion, amino acids, humic and fulvic acids, coconut water, and Aloe Vera extract. If you are keen on using bloom boosters, be sure to do your research and find out what’s in them. You don’t need to apply PK booster with living soil, but some organic bloom boosters from fermented plant extracts are compatible. Many no-till growers use Korean Natural Farming (KNF) techniques to make their fermented plant extracts. She is originally from Engcobo, Eastern Cape, but moved to Cape Town as a teenager where she completed her schooling. She is a dynamic individual who started her own business as a hairstylist in 2005. She conducted her business for 15 years, but decided to further her education when she discovered the AgroEcology Academy where she completed her studies. Phuthuma was happy to be one of the twenty people chosen among the three hundred applications. The most attractive aspect of growing using living soil and no-till methods is what happens at the end of the growing cycle. Rather than throwing away the soil or adding it to outdoor beds, growers can retain the same containers of soil for reuse. That means no tipping out containers, no dust, and no re-filling. If you look after the soil, it will improve over time, and your harvestable goods will also get better. If intending to re-use the soil from the start, you should already have worms doing their work and a mulch layer creating a compost effect from the top. This way, all that is needed is the addition of new plants as space becomes available. Just dig a little hole and go again! Reinvigorating Living Soil Growing an AUTO has never been simpler: this soil has been balanced out and mixed multiple times, so just place your soil in a pot, plant your seed and water it lightly.

Unwanted visitors are, unfortunately, a problem you might have to deal with, mainly if you use living soil that is self-made from compost. You might bring a population of aphids or other pests in with the mix. Also, seeds from other plants might be inside the mix and germinate. One solution here is to heat up and cook compost before mixing it in, although this also kills a lot of the beneficial life. A more natural method for dealing with pests in living soil is to promote the growth of predatory organisms, like mites. If growing long term in containers, a regular top dressing of amendments and a fresh layer of compost at the start of bloom and again at the end of each cycle keeps everything status quo. If adding some inputs you didn’t have in the soil initially; top dressing is also ideal. Compost teas have been widely used and recommended within the no-till scene. If using compost teas, we suggest making a compost extract instead of a brew. Add compost to water, agitate thoroughly, and then apply straight away. This allows microbial development in the soil, not in a tub of bubbly water. The same can be said about instant microbial teas, which are equally effective. Wood ash– high in potassium and phosphorus, calcium, zinc, manganese, and iron. Useful for reducing acidity; a little goes a long way.

If you will be sending into a lab, take your collected samples and either drop it off or mail it to a lab. In a few week, you should have your report. Because mealworm frass is made entirely from digested plants, it’s full of the nutrients plants require to grow robustly. Plus, millions of beneficial microbes from the guts of insects. Water retention is better than less enriched soils because the living soil is rich in organic matter, minerals, and beneficial microorganisms. This means less need for watering. 5. InvestmentCrustacean meal– also known as crab meal is another gift from the ocean and provides nitrogen and phosphorus.

Organic Bat guano, Organic Scottish Seaweed, sterilised Bone meal, mined Sulphate of potash, Dolomite Lime, Diatomaceous earth. The first and second parts of this series look at living organic soil, its benefits and how to build it following nature’s lead. This final part will help you maintain and improve it over time. There are DIY tests you can buy online. However, if you want a more accurate and complete analysis, you can consider getting a professional test from your county extension service or a commercial testing company.

Agricultural soils represent a little over 7% of the planet’s surface. Soils are fundamental to feeding our global population. Taking care of soil is essential to ensure agriculture’s resilience and the sustainability of our food production. Around the world, women and men are already transforming agricultural practices to work with Nature instead of working against it. They conciliate productivity and ecology by reducing tillage, ensuring permanent plant cover on fields and multi-cropping. These practices enrich soils in organic matter and improve soil fertility while boosting ecosystem services. Chitin is a naturally occurring molecule that is found in the shells of crustaceans like lobsters and crabs, as well as the exoskeletons of insects, in this case the mealworm. Chitin triggers the immune system of your plants causing them to rev up and defend itself against predators like root-feeding nematodes and disease pathogens in the soil. Keep the top wet without water-logging the bottom. Water will sink to the bottom of the pot, which means there is a risk of overwatering while trying to keep the top moist. You may need a pump sprayer or fine rose watering can to moisten the top layer regularly rather than drench the whole container. While the plants are small, it is best to be extra careful, but once in full bloom, they will be able to drink much more. Typically, a grower using 40L pots will water each pot up to 2-4L daily, but some plants may even need a bit more every few waterings. Almost always, a dirt analysis is going to recommend adding organic matter! Healthy soils have a good loamy texture, are nutrient-dense, hold water but are well-draining, and support root growth. Step 2: Understand The Nutrient Cycle