Strong seedling starts... anybody else try volcanic rock powder?

[CheerioLounge]

I just keep a mini weight set near them so they can work out as much as they want, a mini tread mill, exercise bike, etc.

Deb - Will you be taking your stand-up comedy act on the road?

 

[Denim Deb]

Nope, I can't be a stand up comedian. W/my Meniere's, I can't always stand up! Or, as I like to tell people who say (in a superior tone of voice), "Oh, you have problems w/your vertigo", "Yes, my verti go, but my horizontal is fine.

 

[me&thegals]

I use Cowsmo compost and have been really happy with it. I used to make a mix with compost, green sand, bone meal and other goodies, but I actually like the Cowsmo even better.
I make sure I have good planting practices, good light height, water amounts, etc.

And I put fans on my plants when they're up a bit to keep them strong and prep them for being outside.

 

[Joel_BC]

I use Cowsmo compost and have been really happy with it. I used to make a mix with compost, green sand, bone meal and other goodies, but I actually like the Cowsmo even better.
I make sure I have good planting practices, good light height, water amounts, etc.

And I put fans on my plants when they're up a bit to keep them strong and prep them for being outside.

That sounds good. The fan seems like a great idea... not too strong a breeze, I'd assume? But one thing a fan would do is discourage fungi - like damping-off. And you're probably right that it would mechanically promote healthy stalks, when the plants must stand up to the breeze.

I wonder if Cowsmo is a regional product? I haven't heard of it up here.

 

[me&thegals]

Hi Joel--

You're right--the air circulation would prevent disease AND promote strength. I especially focus on my tall plants like tomatoes. Otherwise they grow rather weak stems that haven't been challenged. I transplant them into an area that gets very strong spring winds. With the fan, I start out with the fan on low, but I gradually work up to high before they go outside.

Cowsmo is created in Wisconsin. Cow compost, straw, sand, etc.

 

[cheepo]

not sure where I would get volcanic rock powder here...
sounds very interesting though

I was planning or making a willow tea...start...
willow is not only suposed to be good as root starter...
but is good for when transplanting plants...

 

[Wannabefree]

Can't you get volcanic rock to go into a fish tank? Maybe a landscape type store would have it too. I'm gonna look in the garden section at Lowe's. I can crush it to powder myself, if I can just find volcanic rock.

 

[rebecca100]

I couldn't find any place that sold it but I found this.
http://www.greenstringfarm.com/products-rockpowder.html

Found it sold here
http://www.fertilizeronline.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=A&Category_Code=am
$6.00 for 5 lbs doesn't sound bad.

 

[Niele da Kine]

Volcanic rocks? There's loads of folks around here who would love to just give them to you if you'd just come pick them up! A lot of folks around here don't have soil, they have lava rock to plant in. Things grow and there's tons of drainage, but "tilling the soil" is best done by a Caterpillar D9, preferably one with a ripper blade on it.

For strong seedling starts, we use Bunny Berries! :bun :bun Dig them out from under the bunny hutches and they are half composted and just perfect for adding to the seed starting soil. For tomatoes, a little Epsom salts are added so the stems will be stronger. I've been starting the seeds in a big flat container and then digging them out with a trowel and transplanting once they get big enough. Much easier than fussing with individual containers.

Technically, the bunny berries are a by product of the angora fiber production so I suppose this is free fertilizer. I could see someone keeping the bunnies just as fertilizer producers, though, since the bunny berries are so effective.

Baby fertilizer factories! Can't get much cuter than that!

 

[Denim Deb]