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Decatur, IL

In the past, I've used products such as Symbex and Residuce to help breakdown organic matter in the soil to make them more readily available to plants. Does anyone know of an inexpensive substitutes for these products?

3/14/2010 5:41:30 PM

Winston Salem NC

molassas will increase the microboes in the soil and help break it down some.

3/14/2010 6:22:03 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

a good aerobic tea does the job

3/14/2010 8:20:58 PM

[email protected]

Search the soil or compost tea message boards.

3/14/2010 8:33:26 PM

South Hero, VT

I have read that lacto-bacillus 1:1 with 20 parts water helps to breakdown organic matter. I haven't tried it yet, but will start this week on my compost piles.

In the meantime, google gil carandang, BIM, and beneficial indigenous microorganisms.

Or just use a good compost tea with molasses.

I would also ask Tom Privitera at extremepumpkinstore.com for his opinion.

3/14/2010 10:39:57 PM

Macomb County

Gardener posted a basic analysis of soil conditioners on a gardening blog. They turn out to have the same basic make-up that a bottle of stale beer, 1 teaspoon baby shampoo and 1 teaspoon of Adolf's unseasoned instant meat tenderizer per gallon of water would give you.

Also, that soil conditioners, bought or home made, are really to help break-up hard pan and clay. Microbes break down organic matter in compost and loam. The papin enzyme breaks down proteins and can break down microbes too. Not good in our type of growing.

3/15/2010 7:04:40 AM

Macomb County

I forgot to mention, the gallon would be the concentrate to further dilute 2 oz per gallon. In case you wanted to use it on other areas of your property to break-up hard pan or clay with.

3/15/2010 7:16:44 AM

Decatur, IL

Thanks for the comments. I thought maybe spraying some molasses and adding a nitrogen source would do the trick. I'll reserve judgement on things I'm not an expert on, but I do know there's a lot of snake oil out there!

3/15/2010 8:04:48 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Never enough Charlie ;)

3/15/2010 10:09:50 PM