In my backyard I have a relatively old elderberry tree.
That tree, for the last 5 or more years, has been ridden with spiders and spider mites and I haven’t been able to get rid of em yet without taking the chemical route.
But that is not why I am making this post.
Directly below the elderberry tree, I have 2 compost bins that, I kid you not, have been standing there for at least 10 years. That stuff should be pretty much gold right now and I am considering to use it for my indoor grow, particularly my flowering bed.
So far I have been hesitant to harvest that compost though, because it is sitting below the spider mite infested elderberry tree and I am worried to bring in spider mites into my grow space if I use that compost.
Since it has been below 0 °C i.e. freezing the last week or so, I wondered if it would be safe to harvest the compost at the moment. Put it into bins, leave it in a different spot with a roof above to “thaw” and then introduce it into my grow space.
So, I’m in a tropical region but from what I’ve read about spider mites is that they can survive below freezing temperatures by going into diapause or even a dormant state. If you move the compost though you may be able to use inputs to neutralize the spider mites that may be in it and you’d just treat, tumble, and observe it closely for any signs of life.
Id have to agree with @CADMAN here. Its not worth the risk to knowingly introduce pests.
The predatory beneficials are a good idea, but its a tree. If this is something that you harvest for its berries, ok… if its worth it to you.
The compost in question here tho, its 10yrs old. Has it been covered to prevent leeching of nutrients? Added to and enriched over time?
If not, id suspect your nutritional value of said compost is little to none. And again, in this instance, is it worth it to you?
Personally, IMHO… id exercise caution and avoid the potential for mishap regarding anything indoors. Outdoors tho, why not, go for it! At worst the compost will add texture and water retention to any planting.
So would i , so there’s many things to take into consideration and the previous responses take most into account but heres one more being outside i would wait till it warms up outside this infestation is an abundant food source for either natural preditory mites or soil borne predators of the mites larvae and in such cold temps they are just not active enuff to start to multiple in the numbers in which to properly control the population so i would wait till atleast mid spring before using this compost , good luck and thanks for the post its a good one
Spider mites won’t be hanging in soil or compost unless there is something growing that they can eat. But it pays to be cautious.
Your compost is pretty old, was there a lid on it?
Personally, I would try to cut that compost 50/50 with some used grow dirt, put it in a fabric pot and grow potatoes for a season. Then cover crop it. But I won’t ever bring it back inside, learned that the hard way.
I have for many years now made my own leaf mold and compost outdoors. Bokashi is an indoor thing and ive never seen anything attempting to get into that. (Bug wise)
Outdoor i have my compost tumblers and leaf pile. Nothing ever comes indoors before a 1year aging in the garage. If there are pests, and there most likely will be, after 1yrs time theyll move on.
But for this reason, i do introduce beneficials macro and micro to my indoor no-till. If your trying to grow some straight fire and have it on that “medicine” level, its best to stay on the conservative side of caution.
Its nothing to start a new compost heap, id recommend that before using something thats that old and questionable.
I will check it out.
In the past I drove 4 hours to the Netherlands to a bio farmer since it was impossible to source stuff here so no biggy haha. Thx for the tip mate
would have everything but the compost and neem cake here. Ima check the compost source you posted and see if I can find something nearby and yeah I think just mix up a new batch, no need to cling to the old one if it causes so many issues.
would you take it in powder form or as pellets or in those literal “cake” shapes?
also:
I asked around and I can get a literal ton of compost for 30 bucks lol
Thanks for the tip. And I can pick it up in whatever amounts and whenever I want until the ton is used up.
Literally no use to start my own compost with that price. Maybe EWC still though
