IIRCC the bacteria when sprayed into leaf surface form a bacterial slim so to say kinda like a coating is how I understand it like a armor protection just like when making teas at the foam that forms at the air/ water interface it tough to get off and shouldn’t be left on from batch to batch .
Thanks for clarifying @Shanti-ri I was thinking that may been a bit too much sugar!
I will admit , I once half filled a white 40ltr bucket with fish scraps and topped it off with rain water banged the lid on dropped it behind the shed under the house and promptly forgot about it for a month. Then one day the lid on the bucket popped off , I assume caused by a gas build up ,anyway what was unleashed by this was an odour …so foul ,soooo tangible , so all powerful that you could taste it
It dominated its way up through the floor boards - lay siege to the senses and laid waste to all before it. I nearly got a black eye and divorced at the same time . Valuable life lesson for me lol
On the up side …the end result after moving the bucket far far away from the house and letting most of the stank die down . Was a noticeable lift in the garden .
Lactobacillus bacteria are facultative anaerobes meaning they can use oxygen or fermentation to generate energy.
Great of ya to point that out @ReikoX and on a side note EM1 by teraganix has that in it as well along with like a purple sulferizing bacteria as well .
Good to know! I’ve noticed since I’ve started spraying with labs that some leaves have spots of what looks like a white, waxy residue on them. I assumed it was some byproduct of the labs eating stuff
My uncle used to do the same thing back in the late sixties. I heard stories of how big his plants were. Any problems with animals digging at it? Give it 30 days or so before you plant? Maybe put a rock over the hole so the Bears and coyotes can’t dig at it?
You had me cracking up with that description about your fish exploits. I did something similar. I left the bucket in the backyard and forgot about it until my wife decided to have a picnic with her girlfriends . One of them knocked into the container and knocked the lid off. I nearly got divorced over that one myself LOL! But damn it does work good. I was winging it when I made it. Pretty much just put water in and left it alone. Anyone have any idea how long it would take to make this so it’s not laying around indefinitely until it’s spilled? Edit. I just finished reading above. I didn’t know there have been so many posts. My fish question has been answered thank you.
@Upstate
Happy to say I don’t have to worry about those particular 2 beasts digging the frames up .
The fish carcasses are around 2 to 3 ft underground , I only have to contend with rats cats and a few dingo dogs where I am … at that depth I’ve never had any dug up … not sure how you’d deal with a bear if he decided he was hungry … possibly high velocity lead
I only have to fight my way through everything down here that wants to see you dead lol
That’s right. You’re from that very rainy area of Northern Australia right? Lots of fog and Mist if I recall? I remember something about fires not too far away on one of your friends property? Is that you i remember? I sometimes forget we’re not all from the same continent LOL. It’s really neat to be able to chat with somebody from around the other side of the world. Cheers! Perhaps I’ve had issues with fish fertilizers Outdoors because they were done on the surface with liquids. Something would always paw the ground a little bit around the plants. It never really bothered them, but I stopped using fish fertilizer( in the bush) all the same. I love the stuff if I’m able to babysit my plants. I’m not sure my back could handle two or three feet down but that’s the way to go. Those carcasses must get loaded with all sorts of beneficial organisms. Just supercharging the soil. I don’t even think a bear would get it down that deep. Maybe the ol back has one more deep hole in it…
You would need an electron microscope…
Example we introduce lactobacillus to milk to create an anaerobic environment -> we introduce them because we want them to breakdown the milk protein (breakdown into nitrogen) also sugars and other salts and minerals to achieve simple nutrients.
which the bacteria need to grow and thrive, but then we take our serum and spray it onto leaves in the light and breeze of a grow environment (aerobic). Wouldn’t the bacteria all just die?-> they do but it’s the serum that is beneficial, broken down yummy food
Also, assuming they do colonize the leaves, what are they eating to stay alive? And if lactobacillus is everywhere in the air -> not exactly in the air, more on surfaces ,objects hands they are usually transfered from surface to surface.
why wouldnt they be colonized already-> because the surface of the leaves don’t have what the lactobacillus like to eat, milk that’s why they are called like that lacto > milk bacillus> cilindrical shaped type of bacteria.
I’m pretty sure they are lactobacillus because they turn sugars into lactic acid. The reason we add the cultures to the milk is because the lactobacillus are more tolerant to the lactic acid than other bacteria. They do feast on the sugar, lactose for us intolerant folks, and propagate.
This is also why you can tell a ferment is done by testing the pH. When it drops to around 4.0, the lactobacillus have converted the sugars to lactic acid.
Talking about colonizing leaves with lab has me thinking. It seems like this would also be good for frost resistance. Frost occurs first on a plant not on the leaves themselves, but on the bodies of the microlife that live on the leaves. These natural occurring organisms are not Frost tolerant. By making a compost tea and spraying your leaves, you replace these organisms with more frost hardy organisms. Plants can handle an extra couple degrees this way. Down to 30 degrees or so with no damage. It seems to me that spraying with lab could have similar results. Any opinions?
Nothing very scientific about his method. He would fill a bucket about halfway with compacted plant matter. Cover it with water and put the top on the bucket. He let it sit out in the sun I believe this way for about a week. Then he would uncover and stir a couple times a day. I clearly remember the manure smell when the top came off. I remember carbonation of some sort as well. I definitely heard fizzing. And I saw the results when he watered his plants with the mixture… 6 in of growth in 24 hours. This was with Nettles. I don’t think he took only shoots. Pretty sure he took the whole plant. I will get in touch with his son today and find out exactly how he did it. Thanks for all the great information on using fish. I can tell I’m going to really enjoy this method of farming. I need to get going on a larger compost pile. What would you guys use as a soil base if you lacked compost? I have that massive pile of rotted horse manure, but it’s very deficient in some nutrients. Mainly calcium and phosphorus. Or the lack of calcium prevented phosphorus uptake I’m not sure. I attempted growing plants in this rotted horse manure one year and the plants did not bud normally. Very leafy skimpy purple bud sites, showing extreme lack of phosphorus. I’ve been kind of shy about using too much of this ever since. Mixed in with garden soil it has performed great.
I don’t think you need an electron microscope to see bacteria…?
Also, the entire point of brewing lacto serum is to create a living colony. If I was just spraying on my plants to die and be basic nutrients I could just foliar spray kelp or something for the same results.
Everything I read says the living bacteria is actively helping the plant on the leaves and in the soil by colonizing and forming a symbiotic relationship with the plant.
Looks like a 1000x microscope can see most bacteria:
https://opticsandlab.com/best-microscope-for-viewing-bacteria/
If I was less poor I’d get one and do me some science
With a 1000x or a 900x you can see them, but as little specks, worm looking or capsules. But that’s about it, they are very small… even with an ampliation of that amount. Only with an electron one you could really see what they are up to.
Horse poop can be quite agressive as it is. But as you say, it is very rich in some and very poor in other nutrients. But mix it with some straw and button mushrooms or Portobello mushrooms and booyahh the mushroom love it and when the are done you have some really nice compost. Plus free food
Yup mushrooms are amazing, they turn crap into food.
Thanks for sharing