Can you use this in soil mixes? What is Humus? Humus is among the richest and darkest of soils. It is scientifically defined as that which is developed over time by the decomposition of organics (this meaning that it comes from the remains of living things i.e., deceased animal or vegetable life). Humus is generally the shade of dark chocolate and almost appears to have the texture of crumbled chocolate cake or of very dark, ground coffee when viewed from a distance. It is used in most all types of gardening, seeding of lawns and coverage of landscape for an appealing contrast to greenery or even to the color of your home, especially if your house is made of brick or if it is darkly colored. Humus may appear to have specks of white here and there as well. Where can you find Humus once you decide you have a use for it? Humus is in greater supply than many other gardening soils as it is more readily found in nature. A garden store, gardening or outdoor departments of any large brand name department store or a farm supply will have plenty of humus on hand in the Spring and early Summer planting seasons. Humus is also produced purposefully by composting. You may want to consider starting your own compost as a means to maintaining a constant source. What are the several uses of Humus? As is or mixed with fertilizers, topsoil, sand, lime or peat, humus can be used to lay a foundation for planting grass, shrubs, flower or vegetable gardens. It may also be used for a handsome top layering to areas around bushes, trees or other plant life. Humus and flowers. Humus is a light, rich soil. As such you can completely surround the roots of flowers with it if you wish. The most sensibly priced approach would be to dig holes for your flowers a little larger than normal and spread humus in the bottom. Next add your flower holding it straight up in the hole and completely fill in around it with humus as well. You can water a little after adding the bottom layer of humus and around the flower after planted even more heavily. You may want to cover the flowerbed with a thin layer of humus for decoration. This works especially well when contrasting with vividly or darkly colored flowers such as red, yellow or black roses. For crops you will want to take the same approach on a larger garden or mix humus and lime in well on a smaller garden. Humus spread atop the ground will eventually decompose into the soil. This provides rich nutrients when dissolved into the ground by rain, watering or foot traffic. Worms and humus. Those who wish to raise worms or attract them for bird life that may wish to feed on them will find humus prime real estate where the worm is concerned. Worms love humus and you can certainly say that worms are good for the humus as well, further enriching your soil
Thanks E But I'm not sure about using this stuff mixed in with my soil, since its made from living things (well the animal part trough me off). It said organic so I bought a couple of bags. Any one ever used it before?
I love Humus... Great stuff. Another thing is leaf mold.. You can find it lots of placed.. The best is Oak leaf mold imo. http://www.paghat.com/leafmold.html And " target="_blank">http://www.seattletilth.org/activities/newsletter/leafmold.html Nature knows.. Randy
What you have described Rodge is what my worm farm is turning out.Found a link in Australia for ya's.Worhtwhile checking it out as it answer's some of your q's. www.epa.nsw.gov.au/envirom/wormfarm.htm Don't freak out about the govt thing,it i web-site from the Environmental Protection Agency,not related to any LEO thing unless ya pump toxic waste into a river ! Peace.
QUOTE Quote: from llIndigoll on 12:18 am on Dec. 29, 2004 My humus tastes........good? The Humas is connected to the Thai Bone. The Thai Bone is connected to the Toke Bone.. The Toke bone is connected to the .. Uh what was I saying? Randy (Edited" target="_blank">http://www.ar.wroc.pl/~weber/typy2.htm (Edited by Randy High at 5:03 pm on Jan. 18, 2005)
Humus: A nifty page I found.... http://www.ar.wroc.pl/~weber/typy2.htm --------------------- Types of humus in soils Humus occurs in soils in many types, differentates in regard to morphology and fractional composition. A type of humus is it a morphological form of naturals accumulation of humic substances in profile or on the surface of soil, conditioned by general direction of soil-forming process and humification of organic matter. A types of humus in terrestrial enviroment are following: 1. mor 2. moder 3. mull Mor is a type of humus, which occur largely in coniferous forest soils and the moorlands soils. This humus arise under conditions of low-biological activity in soil. The mineralization of organic matter proceed slowly and create layers, which maintain a structure of vegatable material.Acidophilic fungi and low activeinvertebrates participates in transformations of plant residues. Under these circumstances forms a litter of large thickness. C/N ratio of mor humus is always more than 20, or even 30-40, whereas pH is acid. Moder is a transitional form of humus between mull and moder, characteristic for sod-podzolic soils, loesses and mountain grassland soils. The organic horizons with moder humus consist of low-thicknessed litter (2-3 cm), which gradually, without bounds, pass on to humus-accumulative horizons. Moder is a type of medium humified humus. Acidophilic fungi and arthropodan participates in transformations of plant residues. C/N ratio equal 15-25. Produced mineral-organic complexes are labile and weakly bounded with mineral portion of soil. Mull is a type of humus characteristic for chestnut soils, phaeozems, rendzinas and others soils. This type of humus arise under grass vegetation.Mull is a well humified organic matter, which is produce in very biologically active habitat. This type of humus is characterized by neutral pH, C/N ratio nearing to 10 and ability to creation stable mineral-organic complexes. Mull is a type of humus which occurs in soils under cultivation. According to Kononova, the types of humus are divide as follows: First type of humus is characteristic for podzolic soils, grey brown soils and lateric soils under forest communities. In this humus predominate humic acids, thus humic acid/fulvic acid ratio is below 1. Humic acid indicate small extent of aromatic rings condensation and they are approximate to fulvic acids. Considerable hydrophilic properties of humic acids favor to creation of chelates with polyvalent cations and ability to displacement deep into profile of soil. Considerable mobility of this humus favor process of podsolization. Second type of humus is characteristic for phaeozems, rendzinas, black earths and brown soils. Humic acid/fulvic acid ratio is upper than 1, Extent of aromatic rings condensation is high in humic acids, which cause their hydrophobic properties and inability to creation of chelates. Humic acids are strongly connected with mineral portion of soil in this type of humus. Third type of humus is characteristic for semidesert soils. In this humus predominate fulvic acids fraction, whereas arise of humic acids is limited. Beyond this, humic acids are largely bounded with mineral portion of soil. ----- Randy
