Taking indoor plants outside for the summer is such an amazing way to get massive growth on them and develop some unique colours when it comes to fall, for example, Hoyas show some really cool reds and yellows.
At the end of the year however, we have to bring them inside again before the temperatures get too cold at night. Outdoor conditions are much different than indoors not just because of the sunlight, but there are a variety of insects and diseases that can make their way onto/into your plants and soil that you don't necessarily want to bring indoors for the winter. Hydrogen peroxide, diatomaceous earth (DE), insecticidal soap are going to be your best friends here.
Do a 4:1 ratio of water to hydrogen peroxide (3% USP) and put it into a spray bottle. For example if you have a 1L (1 quart) spray bottle you’ll add 250ml of hydrogen peroxide.
Then, add Yucca Extract if you have it handy or a couple drops of a liquid natural soap like Dr. Bronners. It won’t be as effective as Yucca but will get the job done if it’s all you have.
Give them a good shake until foamy and then spray the entire plant down from top to bottom (actually start at the top) and then allow the leaves to fully dry. Fully saturate the soil with this mixture as well to clean up any pathogens that may be in your soil.
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of DE per litre (quart) of water.
Add yucca extract or liquid soap and shake/stir well.
Add to a spray bottle and spray the entire plant down top to bottom just like with the peroxide.
Allow the leaves to fully dry and let the DE sit on the leaves for 3-5 days at least.
Make sure it isn’t going to rain during this period of time or you will have to reapply. Morning is best for applying foliar sprays!
Sprinkle a good layer of the DE on top of your soil after you spray the plant down to catch any insects that may have made a home in your soil and try to come out when brought inside!
Repeat as necessary because you will never burn plants with DE or harm leaves.
Insecticidal soap can be made at home super easy with a few ingredients. What this mixture does is stick to insects and suffocate them. You can add DE as well to make it even more potent! Here is the recipe for this:
>> Click here for our DIY recipe for insecticide
Wondering where to buy diatomaceous earth? Follow this link :)
Have a beautiful week,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.]]>
You now harness the power to get rid of any pests that try to take over your green girls 💚🪴.
]]>
Sodium
Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium
Chloride
Bicarbonate
Sulfate Nitrogen (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite).
I always get extra excited when there is a lightning storm with the rain because lightning will turn nitrogen into a form that can carry down to our plants via the rain and give them a boost. ️⚡️
This is especially important because your leaves are amazing at absorbing this nitrogen which goes straight to its tissues.
Rain water is so amazing for plants and if you ever want to see a huge boost in health/growth, I recommend giving it a try for your indoor green babies.🪴
Rainwater should be collected and stored in a clean, food-grade container to prevent contamination. Ensure the collection system is free from debris and contaminants.
Can seem to collect enough rainwater? Add nutrients to your plants is using our plant products.
Rainwater availability is dependent on weather conditions. If you live in an arid region or during extended dry periods, you may not have a sufficient supply of rainwater for your plants.
Tap water quality varies by region. In some areas, tap water may be perfectly suitable for most houseplants. In other regions, tap water can contain high levels of minerals (especially calcium and magnesium) or other impurities. Some minerals are beneficial for plants, while others can accumulate in the soil and lead to problems like mineral buildup, also known as "water hardness."
Watch out for these three points when using tap water for watering your houseplants:
Chlorine and Chloramines: Many municipal water supplies contain chlorine or chloramines to disinfect the water. These chemicals are generally safe for humans but can be harmful to some sensitive plants. You can remove or neutralize chlorine and chloramines by letting the water sit for 24 hours before using it or by using a water conditioner.
Mineral Content: If you have hard water (high mineral content), you may want to consider using a water softener, filtering the water, or using rainwater or distilled water for your plants to prevent mineral buildup in the soil. Some plants, like succulents and cacti, are particularly sensitive to mineral accumulation.
pH Level: Some plants prefer slightly acidic or alkaline soil. Depending on your tap water's pH level, it can affect the pH of the soil over time. You can adjust the pH by adding soil amendments or using pH-adjusted water if necessary.
Filtered Water
Using filtered water, such as water from a water filter pitcher, can be a good option if your tap water has a high mineral content or you want to remove impurities.
Distilled Water
Distilled water is purified water with most of the minerals and impurities removed. It can be used for sensitive plants, but it lacks the beneficial minerals found in tap water. If you use distilled water exclusively, consider adding a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to ensure your plants get the necessary nutrients.
In summary, rainwater is often a great choice for houseplants due to its natural purity, neutral pH, and minimal mineral content. However, it may not always be readily available, and it's essential to handle collection and storage properly to maintain its quality. If rainwater isn't an option, you can use other sources of water, like filtered or conditioned tap water, depending on your plant's specific needs and your local water quality.
]]>You may have heard that playing music for your plants can help them grow and this is 100% true.
Nikola Tesla (inventor far ahead of his time) said to think of our world as waves of frequency and energy (thoughts of the week are going to touch on this too). Matter (plants, animals, you, me) are simply frequency slowed down into a form we can see. With our human senses we can only see 1% of the frequencies that are all around us!
Think of radio waves; they are buzzing past you right now as you read this, and if you could tune into them, you would be able to access whatever is on that station, but you cannot see them.
Our emotions and thoughts emit frequencies outside of our bodies which plants are very sensitive to and can tune into. Give your plants some love and they will do the same back to you 💚.
Check out the video below to see the effects of a plant being bullied with verbal abuse vs. a plant that was given nothing but kind words, the effects are eye-opening!!
]]>Fertilizing plants during the winter months has been a hot topic for a while so let's talk about it 🧐
Fertilizing in the winter is completely fine but there is a proper way to do it so you don’t burn your plants. 🔥
It’s definitely a myth that plants stop growing during the winter time. Our homes provide a pretty solid environment (temp, humidity) for plants during the winter months, but the reduced hours of sunlight and intensity are what really slow down growth.
If you plan on using a liquid fertilizer of any kind whether synthetic or natural cut the dilution ratio by a quarter. This will make sure that you don’t get nutrient burn because plants just don’t need the same amount of nutrient during this time.
The best way to fertilize during the winter months is to add a slow release fertilizer that contains organic matter or minerals. Bios is perfect for this but so are things like worm castings, rock phosphate, cottonseed meal, kelp meal, etc. – Anything that will break down slowly and add to the composition of soil so that your plants get a head start when spring hits.
Load up the soil with microbes during this time with something like Plant Probiotics. Microbes will culture the roots of your plants, and work together to give them all the nutrients they need ONLY when the plant asks for it. This means no burning and continued growth throughout the winter months.
Our fertilizer and probiotic are a winter game changer 🪴
]]>Do a 4:1 ratio of water to hydrogen peroxide (3% USP) and put it into a spray bottle. For example if you have a 1L (1 quart) spray bottle you’ll add 250ml of hydrogen peroxide. Then, add Yucca Extract if you have it handy or a couple drops of a liquid natural soap like Dr. Bronners. It won’t be as effective as Yucca but will get the job done if it’s all you have.
Give them a good shake until foamy and then spray the entire plant down from top to bottom (actually start at the top) and then allow the leaves to fully dry. Fully saturate the soil with this mixture as well to clean up any pathogens that may be in your soil.
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of DE per litre (quart) of water. Add yucca extract or liquid soap and shake/stir well. Add to a spray bottle and spray the entire plant down top to bottom just like with the peroxide. Allow the leaves to fully dry and let the DE sit on the leaves for 3-5 days at least. Make sure it isn’t going to rain during this period of time or you will have to reapply. Morning is best for applying foliar sprays!
Sprinkle a good layer of the DE on top of your soil after you spray the plant down to catch any insects that may have made a home in your soil and try to come out when brought inside!
Repeat as necessary because you will never burn plants with DE or harm leaves.
Insecticidal soap can be made at home super easy with a few ingredients. What this mixture does is stick to insects and suffocate them. You can add DE as well to make it even more potent! Here is the recipe for this:
BONUS:
Adding our fertilizer or plant probiotic to the leaves and soil after the hydrogen peroxide cleaning will reintroduce essential bacteria & fungi that will help your plants prevent disease and ensure they get a steady source of nutrients throughout the winter months 👍.
…Breathing
As always, I encourage you to respond to these emails. I honestly love hearing from you and as much as this is an outlet for me, I hope it brings you at least a sliver of value.
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
ps. Check out these tropical plants that have been rediscovered 100 years later 😍
Happy Thursday!
Here are 3 plant health tips, 2 thoughts of the week, and 1 question for you.
…Script writing
"This thought is not me.
This thought is not true.
This thought hurts me, and the people I love most.
Let me respect and appreciate others growth and success. Let me experience my own growth and success by celebrating other and allow it to me mine."
Write it down in your phone or a notebook so you can access it daily.
As always, I encourage you to respond to these emails. I honestly love hearing from you and as much as this is an outlet for me, I hope it brings you at least a sliver of value.
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
Happy Thursday!
Here are 3 plant health tips, 2 thoughts of the week, and 1 question for you.
As always, I encourage you to respond to these emails. I honestly love hearing from you and as much as this is an outlet for me, I hope it brings you at least a sliver of value.
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
ps. This is how plants fertilize themselves with the help of microbes
Happy Thursday!
Here are 3 plant health tips, 2 thoughts of the week, and 1 question for you.
As always, I encourage you to respond to these emails. I honestly love hearing from you and as much as this is an outlet for me, I hope it brings you at least a sliver of value.
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
Happy Friday!
Here are 3 plant health tips, 2 thoughts of the week, and 1 question for you.
As always, I encourage you to respond to these emails. I honestly love hearing from you and as much as this is an outlet for me, I hope it brings you at least a sliver of value.
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
ps. Check out this 600’ long marble pothos. I’d want to work in an office like this ⬅️
Happy Thursday!
Here are 3 plant health tips, 2 thoughts of the week, and 1 question for you.
Do you dig these weekly blogs? If so, please let me know when you answer my question lol. 👇
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
ps. They just found the largest Poison Ivy plant in the world here in Ontario. It’s 68ft (20m) tall 😐
Happy Friday!
Here are 3 plant health tips, 2 thoughts of the week, and 1 question for you.
This is something new I’m introducing to give you weekly tips on plant/soil health, life philosophy, and contemplation. Life is an interesting journey that has so many different lessons, challenges, and opportunities for growth. I hope this can bring you more successful growing with plants and life. Now lets dive in...
Did this bring anything to mind plant wise or personally? I would love to hear your story in the comments below 👇
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
Happy Thursday!
Here are 3 soil health tips, 2 thoughts of the day, and 1 question to for you to ponder.
3 Soil Health Tips:
2 Thoughts of the day:
“You become what you think.”
This is an interesting one that's been on my mind the past couple days. I’ve been checking in with myself by asking “what am I thinking about right now, and do I want to become that?”. You’d be surprised by your unconscious thoughts 💭
Why try and predict our future?
We never know how things are going to happen, or when. It leads to so much rushing and fighting against the natural current of life. Instead, allow the gift of life to present itself to you and just keep doing what you love.💚
1 Question (technically 2):
When was the last time you said something nice to your plants? When was the last time you said something nice to yourself?
Do you have a question about soil or plants? Let me know and I’ll include it in our weekly newsletter 😊
Have a beautiful weekend,
Aaron
Founder of Bios Nutrients Inc.
]]>Recently I got an email from Ben about a persistent mealy bug issue and wanted some advice on how to fix it.
But first we need to know more about mealies. Therefore we'll cover:
Mealybugs are soft-bodied insects that look like white oval bugs with legs surrounding their body.
Adult females deposit up to 600 eggs at a time.
Egg laying is continues for about 2 weeks with the female dying shortly after all eggs are laid. Hatching occurs within 1-3 weeks and the small active yellow nymphs
Small nymphs called crawlers are light yellow and free of wax. They are active early on, but move little once a suitable feeding site is found.
Waxy cottony-appearing mass mostly found on the underside of leaves
They feed by piercing leaves and drawing sap out of the tissue. Higher numbers can cause leaf yellowing and curling.
Feeding is usually accompanied by honeydew, which makes the plant sticky and encourages the growth of sooty moulds.
Alright here is my response to Ben about his infestation:
1. **Diatomaceous Earth** I love adding to water, then spraying down leaves & soil. Let it dry on the leaves and it will dehydrate anything that crawls over top of it.
Apply as needed without worrying about burning plants. Mealy bugs live in soil as well so sprinkling it dry on top of the soil will clean up anything that is present in the soil.
2. **Insecticidal soap.** Super important you have these ingredients in proper ratios: water, wetting agent/surfactant, and oil (vegetable, olive, etc.).
Take a litre/quart of water, 1/2 tablespoon of oil, and then I add .5 ML yucca extract (you can also use a castile or natural liquid soap but NO DETERGENTS). If using liquid soap, just add a couple drops at first.
Shake the bottle extremely well or blend mixture. Let sit for a couple minutes and if you notice oil rise to the top of the water, you need to add more yucca/soap. The goal is to emulsify the oil in the water like a vinaigrette. This is the only way to make insecticidal soaps effective. You can add diatomaceous to this mixture to help it stick to the leaves and have a double effect on pests.
3. **Repot your plants with fresh soil**. Mealies can hide in your soil and breed which make it feel like you can never get rid of them.
Take all affected plants outside, bag up the soil, spray the roots and leaves down with a sprayer (not so much pressure that it causes damage but enough to rinse off pests), and place them in a clean dark container in a cool spot while you finish with the rest of the plants.
Before you start repotting anything, throw your clothes in the wash, take a shower, and put on a new set of clothes. Pests can travel you and after this hard work you don't want them coming back in. From here you can start repotting everything in fresh soil. I would still do the diatomaceous spray and soil sprinkle after this process and hit them with the insecticidal soap mixture once per week just to be safe for the first month, and then monitor closely after that.
The last one is a lot of work, but may be necessary depending on duration of infestation and severity.
I hope this helps if you have mealies now or if you ever have them infiltrate your home from bringing a plant home 😳.
ps. Prevention is always easier than controlling a pest infestation. Keeping a diatomaceous spray or insecticidal soap handy for when you bring new plants home will save you a ton of time and frustration! Even using diluted hydrogen peroxide (4:1 ratio of water to peroxide) to water the soil once the plant is home will clean up any disease or larvae. Then follow up with Bios or a probiotic to add all the beneficial microbes back in 🪴.
We carry 100% food grade freshwater diatomaceous earth in store and the finest quality yucca extract. Head over to our online store to check them out 🪴😊]]>Why are foliar sprays good for your plants?
1. It’s the only way to get rid of common pests like spider mites, mealy bugs, thrips, etc.
2. Plants can eat through their leaves and foliar sprays are the quickest way to feed them. WARNING: Its easy to burn your leaves with foliar sprays so use a very diluted nutrient if its high in NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium).
3. Cleans dust off leaves. Dusty leaves are like snow on a solar panel. Foliar sprays are a great way to clean them off and get your plants back to full photosynthesis!
They aren’t effective because water has a really hard time sticking to leaves and ends up beading up on the leaf and just rolling off. Leaves are covered in a waxy surface that you can feel just by rubbing one between your fingers.
If you’ve ever seen freshly waxed car with water on it, the water beads up into big droplets and rolls right off the car.
Plants have this ability because if it rains during the day and then the sun comes out in full force, it would burn the plants if they held water on their leaves.
You need to lower the surface tension. Surface tension can be seen by filling a cup of water slightly past the brim. You’ll notice that the water doesn’t sit flat, but creates a slight dome on the top of the cup.
You can use liquid soap but some soaps may not be effective and others have antimicrobial additives which mess up the micro flora of your leaves and soil.
For the past 6 years I have been using Yucca Extract to lower the surface tension of water to get the most out of foliar sprays and is the best natural option I have found. That is why I offer it today.
You can also use soap but some soaps may not be effective and others have antimicrobial additives which mess up the micro flora of our leaves and soil.
- Mix .25ml (1/16 tsp) of yucca extract per litre of water. (Add fertilizer or any other liquids you'd like)
- Shake well.
- Spray the tops & bottoms of your plants leaves.
Learn more about our Yucca Extract here
One bottle of our yucca extract makes 35 gallons of product. Which is seven 5-gallon containers.
Looking for plant products made in Canada? Our plant products are handmade with love and care in Guelph, Ontario. Our batches are lab tested to ensure you're getting the best for your indoor plants, gardens, or farms.
What is yucca extract?
Yucca extract is a natural surfactant made to increase the effectiveness of foliar sprays and increase nutrient absorption. Bios Nutrients yucca extract is a natural insecticide and helps to keep soil and moss hydrated–that’s right, keep your moss pole nice and moist with this all-natural yucca tincture.
- Helps water stick to leaves, making foliar sprays much more effective. 🚿
- Acts as a natural insecticide! 🦟
- Keeps soils & moss hydrated (Great for moss poles!) 💦
- Increases nutrient absorption
Our yucca extract is an all-natural game changer. Made from the roots of the Yucca Schidigera plant which was used by ancient cultures as a natural soap. Bios Yucca Extract for plants is one of the strongest extracts of the Yucca plant available on the market today. I added yucca extract to our lineup because I wanted to offer a natural and organic way to make foliar sprays more effective and rehydrate soils that have become hydrophobic due to Peat Moss content (which is the majority of house plants).
Our yucca extract works simply by adding a small drop (0.25 mL) to a litre of water. Shake it well, and then spray directly on your leaves. You can also add our yucca oil to your water and apply it through means of your regular watering.
Use it on its own or mix it with Bios Nutrients Probiotics every two weeks to keep your leaves healthy and pest free. When using it to water soil, add it every single time you water. This will make sure that you’re soil stays really nice and hydrated and allow plants to absorb more water. Plants absorb nutrients through the absorption of water.
- Mix 0.25 ml (1/16 tsp) of yucca extract per litre of water.
- Stir in, or shake well.
- Mix in a spray bottle and spray on leaves OR mix in a watering can and water your plants as regular
- Soak your cuttings
- Use with every watering, and as needed for foliar applications
One bottle of our yucca extract makes 35 gallons of product. Which is seven 5-gallon containers.
Looking for plant products made in Canada? Our plant products are handmade with love and care in Guelph, Ontario. Our batches are lab tested to ensure you're getting the best for your indoor plants, gardens, or farms.
Spend less time worrying about your plant babies, purchase our yucca extract via our product page or purchase in store at any of these locations.
]]>There are so many potting soils out there for your indoor plants but knowing which one is best can be tricky. Potting soil is what feeds your plants and gives them a home for roots to grow freely so we want to be sure that we are using the correct ones, or amending them to suit your specific plant!
In this guide, we’re sharing 6 tips to help you choose the right soil for your indoor plants so they can thrive. They include:
Let’s dive in to get you started on growing healthier plants!
You’re on your way to a strengthening your green thumb!
Knowing what’s in the soil your buying is key. Shoot for something that has ideally a mix of coco coir/peat moss, compost, perlite, and lime. These ingredients are perfect for a base soil that most plants can thrive in. Learn more about each ingredient here: https://modernfarmer.com/2018/02/potting-soil-labels-and-ingredients/
Choose an organic potting soil as it won’t contain any harmful chemicals that can make it harder for your plants to grow in the long run. If you can find one with mycorrhizal fungi it’s a bonus! https://www.pthorticulture.com/en/products/pro-mix-bx-mycorrhizae/
Plants like a variety of soil types. For tropicals, they prefer a loose well-draining soil with lots of organic matter (peat moss, cococoir, compost, etc.). Cacti prefer a well draining soil with more sand than organic matter. Research your plant and find out what it likes.
Now comes the fun part. Once you know the soil type your plant prefers, you can do some customizing. Soil amendments are endless and you can really hone in on exactly what your plant needs. Perlite helps increase drainage & aeration, while vermiculite helps to increase water retention. Compost, kelp/alfalfa meal will increase organic matter and nutrient availability!
Watering is oh so important and you may need to water some mixes more often! We love the bottom watering method (buttchugging) as it prevents the soil surface from becoming too moist, and ensures the root zone is getting watered. For cacti we recommend top watering as it should contain more sand and won’t as efficient at absorbing water.
As your plant grows it will require fertilizer to keep it healthy. Our favourite fertilizer is BIOS as it contains organic matter, essential minerals, and beneficial microbes that feed and protect plants 24/7. Otherwise we recommend sticking to a granular natural fertilizer so it remains in the soil, or a good quality local compost.
You’re ready! You’re now able to go out and grab a bag of potting soil and customize it with confidence so that your plant babies will have everything they need. Refer to this blog if you ever need a refresher.
]]>In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to start understanding soil, including:
Read on so you can create your own thriving soil to grow healthier plants!
Soil is a mix of minerals (rocks), organic matter (decomposed plants & animals), and living creatures.
Minerals work their way into soil thanks to weathering (wind & rain breaking down rocks), chemical reactions (ever see fungi growing on rocks? Its slowly chipping them away!), and from decomposed plants/animals. There are 83 different types of minerals that plants need for life that we currently know about. They are an essential component of any healthy plant and unfortunately are the most common missing component.
Organic matter is the beautiful soft texture of soil that holds onto moisture and nutrients. It’s made of decomposed plant & animal matter that can take hundreds, if not thousands of years to create. Most soils are lacking in organic matter and can cause the soil to become hard and unable to absorb moisture. Adding it back is as simple as using compost.
Now this is where the magic really happens. There are billions of different living organisms in a teaspoon of healthy soil. Most are invisible to the naked eye, but all have specific functions. Larger organisms like worms and insects burrow through the soil allowing oxygen and moisture to penetrate the soil. Smaller organisms like bacteria and fungi attach themselves to roots where they protect plants from disease & pests. All of these organisms are also pooping in the soil! This is free and extremely nutritious fertilizer for plants and is happening 24/7.
You can build your own healthy soil at home in a snap! First you need to get a few simple ingredients:
Peat Moss or Coco Coir – We will call this our base, it gives soil structure and allows it to stay nice and fluffy.
Compost – You can use whichever type you like here, but the best ones are made locally.
Perlite or Vermiculite – Plants need oxygen to survive. Using a porous material that has lots of spaces for air is what we want and also helps with drainage.
A great starter mix is a 1:1:1 ratio. This just means that you’ll mix an equal part of each. For example if you wanted 3 gallons of soil, you would mix 1 gallon or coco coir, 1 gallon of compost, and 1 gallon of perlite together.
You’re on your way to making some beautiful soil that your plants will absolutely love. So get out there and get your hands dirty!
]]>As covered in our last series, bacteria are called Prokaryotes. They are single celled organisms and their DNA is contained in a single chromosome that is not enclosed within a nucleus (they actually don’t have a nucleus!), much different to our bodies that are multi cellular and house DNA within the nucleus. This means that all of the programming that drives the actions of the bacteria culture is specifically contained in the DNA code. I have read a few books that mention the magic of DNA within our bodies, one of them being the Gene Keys by Richard Rudd. This book is actually based on the teachings and science from the ancient art of the I Ching that is fascinatingly based on the number 64 (64 codons within the human body). It basically states that through the practice of awareness, we can actively change the coding of our own DNA, resulting in a more fulfilling life. With DNA being a part of our cells nuclei (the control center for our cells), it makes it even more amazing to think of the potential if we could change even one small part. All living organisms have already been doing this over time to help then become more resilient to life (disease resistance, ability to live in inhabitable areas, ability to live without oxygen, etc.). The power of our bodies is beautiful, and I believe we can make great change over not only ourselves, but also the world with just the magic of our thoughts. The body and bacteria are so interconnected so I feel that it’s fitting to ensure we include ourselves in this discussion as well! Fun Fact: There are approximately 10x as many bacteria cells as human cells in our bodies! Are we more bacteria than human?
Photo: BD Editors. (2020, November). Eubacteria. Retrieved from https://biologydictionary.net/eubacteria/
Bacteria are nutrient immobilizers. This means that they have the ability to break down nutrients and store them within their bodies for future use by plants or other microbes, which significantly reduces nutrient run off. They do not have mouths to ingest food, and therefore must employ other methods to break down organic/inorganic materials for ingestion. They get their food from three sources: organic matter, inorganic matter, and root exudates (cells left over from root tip growth) For organic matter, bacteria prefer fresh plant material (also known as ‘green’ material for you composters!), as it is high in sugar content and easier to digest. Now for the science: all organic matter is made up of large complex molecules, which contain smaller molecular chains that usually contain carbon. Bacteria have the ability to use enzymes that break down these chains into even smaller forms such as sugars, fatty acids, and amino acids. They then employ proteins in their cell membrane to accomplish molecular transport (absorbing food directly through their cell wall). The proteins act as pumps to allow the nutrients to pass directly through the cell wall. A great example in Teaming With Microbes by Lowenfels & Lewis goes as such: “think of an old-fashioned fire bucket brigade, in which the water was passed from its source to the fire: these proteins pass “buckets” of nutrients into the cell”. When these buckets of nutrients are processed by the bacteria, they are officially ready for plant absorption when the bacteria die, or are consumed by another microbe and pooped out. Therefore, they provide little nutrient packs to your root zone 24/7!
This concludes our topic of What is Bacteria! Thank you very much for reading and I hope this gave a little more insight into what bacteria is.
Cheers,
Aaron Deacon
]]>I will be kicking the series off with one of the most amazing microbial species: Bacteria
When I was in College at Humber, we had to learn how to write a technical report. I was actually failing the technical writing course at the time and the technical report was our final project. I knew that I couldn't let myself fail, plus when I called my parents about it, they said I would be paying to retake the course, so that was motivation enough to pull up my socks. As I found my topic (passive architectural design) and began diving into the research, I found that I couldn't type fast enough. Soon after, I found myself with a beautifully structured document that clearly expressed valuable information, and was very easy to navigate for the reader. I ended up doing so well that I passed the course with almost a 70. Therefore, the structure for the Bacteria series will be as follows:
1.0 Who, What, Why, When & Where
1.1 Who
1.2 What
1.3 Why
1.4 When
1.5 Where
2.0 Good, Bad & In-Between
2.1 Good Bacteria
2.2 Bad Bacteria
2.3 The In-Between
3.0 Bacteria Keeps Us Alive!
3.1 Where Bacteria Lives
3.2 Bacteria & Our Bodies
3.2.1 Our Skin
3.2.2 Gut & Intestinal Tract
3.3 Fermentation
3.3.1 Aerobic (In-Presence Of Oxygen)
3.3.2 Anaerobic (In-Absence of Oxygen)
4.0 Conclusion (Hands On Activities You Can Do At Home)
4.1 Bacteria Is Amazing!
4.2 How To Culture Your Own
I am going to do my absolute best to release a new blog & accompanying video every Monday to get everything off my chest that I want to share with the world about soil! All information provided in these blogs/vlogs are going to be an accumilation of what I have learned over years of fermenting and growing, as well as the beautiful wisdom shared in a book called: Teaming With Microbes by Lowenfels & Lewis. If you haven't heard of these books, check them out! It will honestly change your view of the world, and what is happening right underneath our feet 24/7.
Without further ado, our next post on Monday will cover the topic of: 1.1 Who
Thank you for reading!
Cheers,
Aaron
]]>As weather warms and the days become longer, it feels that spring is finally here. Along with this feeling of freshness comes the beautiful urge to bring life to dormant seeds of so many varieties. It is truly such a gift of life that we can nurture, and reap the rewards of the seeds we sow, just as we should do with ourselves throughout life. To ensure these seeds (and ourselves) have everything they need for healthy growth and fruitful harvests, we must ensure that our foundations are strong and alive. Sometimes some of us can feel lost when it comes to soils and understanding what it needs can be difficult. With this article I hope to break it down a little further and make it more digestible.
Soil is such a special medium on earth, not just dirt, but a thriving ecosystem that could put all of the cities in the world combined to shame in a single tablespoon! (There are over 50 billion microbes alone per tablespoon of healthy soil!) Nikola Tesla once said, "If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have the key to the universe.", and I have found that the number 3 has been quite common in my research of soil. Therefore, we are going to focus on 3 major components of soil: soil structure, nutrient balance, and thriving microbial life.
Soil Structure
Soil structure is also generally based on 3 main components: drainage, water holding capacity, and aeration. You may have come across the terms sand, loam, and clay which all express the qualities of soils around the world and all vary in their abilities to achieve the 3 main components. All plants will require a varying degree of each of these components to ensure healthy root growth, and the ability to uptake nutrients (based on electrical conductivity; or EC, which will be discussed in nutrient balance).
An interesting way to determine the quantity of each of these components is to take a handful of soil from wherever you intend to grow, and place it in a mason jar (be sure to remove rocks, and plant matter if possible). Fill the jar with water and give it a good shake. Then leave it undisturbed for 24 hours. The heavier particles (clay and sand) will begin to separate and sink to the bottom quickly while it will take longer for the lighter materials to separate into a distinguishable layer. After 24 hours, you should be able to see your 3 separate layers and determine the soil structure of your sample.
Most plants will prefer a sandy loam (good drainage & aeration, but also good water holding capacity) to a high content of clay, as clay has very poor drainage and aeration properties. Do not count out clay though as it has a very high EC which will help your plant uptake essential nutrients. This should help you determine which amendments you need to add to your garden this summer! Generally you will not need to add clay so just focus on balancing the soil with sand or loam. A 1:1:1 mix of peat moss, compost, and aeration (ricehulls, perlite, vermiculite, etc.) is a great place to start to provide a balanced soil structure and sustain healthy plants for years!
Nutrient Balance
In nature, soils receive their nutrients from decaying organic matter (plants & animals), and rocks. Organic matter is decomposed by the help of animals (through digestion), and most importantly the microbial life beneath our feet. Minerals from rocks are generally deposited into soils through weathering, and chemical reactions from bacteria & fungi (more on this in Thriving Microbial Life). All of these nutrients & minerals play a pivotal role in the fertility of soil.
Everything in this life in made out of energy, and energy can come in many forms. The form most commonly associated with soils when referring to nutrients is Electrical Conductivity (EC for short). All nutrients within soils, as well as the main components that make up soil structure has an EC associated with them. It is extremely important to ensure that this energy is balanced between nutrients, or they will begin opposing each other; ultimately causing deficiencies. An extremely beneficial resource to view this relationship on paper is called the Mulder's Chart. This chart shows how an increase, or decrease of one nutrient, can lead to the decrease, or increase in uptake of another. I believe this explains why it is sometimes so difficult to assess a plant deficiency. *For example: Your plant may be showing signs of a calcium deficiency, so the obvious answer is; add more calcium! But as you will see from this chart, there could simply be an imbalance somewhere else in the system that is causing this, and by adding more calcium, you actually create an even bigger problem that eventually becomes impossible to diagnose! The best way to ensure your system is balanced is to get it tested. Most Universities or local laboratories offer soil testing for very reasonable prices and can save you a lot of headache down the road! Another option is to purchase ready-made soil blends which already have this taken into consideration. But it is just so much more fun and rewarding to get your hands dirty, and learn about the way our earth has provided us food to live for millions of years!
Although this part may seem a little more science based and complicated, there is one rule of thumb in growing & soil that I want to leave you with. KEEP IT SIMPLE! As with life, you can make anything as complicated as you want. Compost is your best friend and will contain a healthy balance of nutrients and minerals to support plant life. #supportlocalfarms *Note: You can always top dress to provide soils with extra nutrients & minerals down the road.
Thriving microbial life
I truly left the best for last as this topic really is the most important part of this article, and so dear to my heart. Depending on the microbial content of your soil, it can actually completely change the structure! Microbial life, especially bacteria and fungi create a slime that binds particles together. There have actually been sandy soils that have acted exactly like a loam due to this!
Microbes are the magic that makes plants grow; and there is debate whether or not plants would grow at all without them. Plants excrete proteins, enzymes, DNA, sugars and amino acids through their roots which allow microbial life to survive. In turn these microbes increase water retention, increase nutrient cycling/availability, and best of all, protect the plant. We should all model this symbiotic relationship in our own lives. If we continue to take and never give back, there will be nothing left. We need to also emulate this mindset when looking at soil. Give back to your soil and you will harvest for life. *There is a very thought provoking section of "Teaming With Microbes" that goes as such: "Soil bacteria and fungi are like small bags of fertilizer, retaining in their bodies nitrogen and other nutrients they gain from root exudates and other organic matter.". The bacteria and fungi consume nutrients and fertilize the soil directly at the root zone when they poop, die, or when they are consumed by larger microbes and continue the same cycle. When you have a healthy microbial population in your soil, it feeds itself!
Using chemical fertilizers & pesticides absolutely destroy these populations. We wonder why we need to keep using more fertilizers and more pesticides to grow and protect our food. We killed off the things that have been doing that naturally since this earth was born! Rivers, lakes, and oceans are polluted by fertilizer run-off that can't be kept in the soil because there is nothing to bind the soil particles together to create structure. It is time to give back to the soils, and create a better world for not just us, but all of the life that we cannot see on this planet. *Sad Fact: Did you know that salt based liquid fertilizers are only 10% efficient? This means if you spent $100, you are only getting $10 worth. On top of that, the salts in it probably killed whatever microbes were left meaning you need even more next time! Get the beneficial biology back in your soils and if you use liquid nutrients, make sure they are from natural sources. I know I know, salt is natural, but not when it comes to your plants.
To finish on a bright side, here is one more *Fun Fact: Did you know that plants have an extremely hard time uptaking most nutrients on their own? Most nutrients are considered "immobile", meaning the roots cannot absorb them in their raw form. Mychorrhizal fungi excretes acids as it moves through the soil that break down these raw nutrients and the hyphae (stands of fungi) will absorb the broken down nutrients and send it directly back to the roots! The bacteria will consume these nutrients at the root zone, breaking them down through digestion and pooping out high quality plant available nutrients! This reinforces the idea that microbes truly are small bags of fertilizer, just waiting to feed your plants.
I hope this wasn't too scattered and gives you a bit of a better idea of what is going on beneath our feet, and hopefully gives you some direction for this years growing season. If you ever have any questions, please text, call, or email me anytime, I love talking about these topics and would be happy to speak with you!
Thank you,
Aaron Deacon
]]>Soil is generally comprised of three main components: Base (Peat Moss, Coco Coir, etc.), Compost (Leaf, Animal, Mushroom etc.), and Aeration (Rice Hulls, Grow Stones, Vermiculite, etc.).
These are all mixed in a variety of ratios to determine how much water it can hold, how well it drains, and how well it can hold nutrients (EC; electrical conductivity).
The compost component (and peat moss depending on where it is sourced) is responsible for adding microbial content to your soil in the form of bacteria (like those found in BIOS!), fungi, nematodes, and many many other living organisms that all play a part in creating healthy, living soil as found in nature. What many of us aren't aware of is that bacteria & fungi actually hold all of the tiny bits of soil particles together (bacteria create a slime, while fungi uses its hair like strands to weave them together) which aid in moisture, and ultimately nutrient retention!
Using the proper soil component ratio is the first key step in ensuring healthy plants, but ultimately, the microbial content in that soil keeps things running as they should. BIOS is a fantastic, and easy way to add these beneficial microbes back into your soils and will make sure your plants continue to thrive year round!
Happy planting friends.
Cheers,
Aaron Deacon
]]>Plant Nutrients: how do plants absorb nutrients?
Now, what if I told you that majority of nutrients in the soil couldn't actually be absorbed by plant roots, how would the plants grow? The answer lies in the microscopic world of soil. Billions of bacteria and fungi cultures live in soils of all types, helping plants deal with stress (environmental, pests, etc.), and breaking down nutrients into an absorbable forms for the plant to eat and grow.
It is debated whether or not plants would actually grow at all if they did not share a relationship with bacteria & fungi; which also raises the idea of fungi being on earth before plants.
Now, when roots begin to form, they release sugars as a bi-product of photosynthesis. Bacteria & fungi love this sugar and strike a deal with the roots. If the roots keep releasing sugar, the bacteria will stay close to them and create a defensive system to fight off disease and other microbial life.
Some bacteria can even pull nitrogen from the air which helps your plants stay green and growing. As the bacteria dies, it contains absorbable nutrients that the roots can break down easily, creating a cycling nutrient system at your roots! The fungi however will begin close to the roots, and will then begin to burrow through the soil searching for nutrients the plant is asking for. Fungi breaks down these nutrients and sends them directly back to the plant through its tube structure. This ensures the plant has access to a variety of nutrients and minerals. Although there are many other moving parts in this system, for the purposes of this article, it gives a great understanding into the fundamental relationships of soil, and your plant.
Bios fertilizer is packed full of good bacteria for plants. Bios is a fermented plant fertilizer that contains billions of healthy bacteria & fungi helping to improve your plant & soil health.
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