EM/AEM Question

[Farang]

this is particularly for those into being as organic as possible.

organic gardening sites (vegetables, flowers) generally advocate using EM (Essential Microorganisms) or AEM (Activated EM), but I don't read much if anything about using this in cannabis cultivation. my question is why or why not?

where I am, it's easy to obtain, sold in most gardening shops.

I've been using it for a couple of years but certainly couldn't point to anything and say, voila! perhaps it's an entire waste of money, although it's cheap.

so I'm curious as to whether anybody has any first hand experience with it and what they think about its use.

thanks in advance for your input.

[CaptainOrganicsCO]

Great question,
In regards to organic cannabis cultivation, the EM's are just that, essential! If u read up on it folks are always talking about microbes, micro herd, micro beasties, etc etc.
simply put, in organic gardening ( cannabis or otherwise), we are introducing micro life to the soil. We feed the micro life and it in turn feeds our plants. A natural symbiotic relationship. There are benificial fungi, bacterials, and micro organisms in my soil. The whole idea that cannabis has to be cultivated different from other plants is a hydrofarm sham. Cannabis, like tomatoes for example can be cultivated in a variety of ways. But everyone who has eaten a ripe organic tomato knows it tastes far superior. Smoke some quality organic weed and you won't want to ever go back...

[CaptainOrganicsCO]

296460
This is some sweet organic smoke. Bubblegum.
I grow this stuff very similar to all my organic veggies.

[CaptainOrganicsCO]

Ok if your into reading... Buy this book. True living organics. Also buy teaming with microbes. Then grow some weed and I wanna smoke it. :)

[Farang]

I agree. in theory, it should be great, yet I haven't read anyone using or recommending it on these forums and I wonder why. it's not something so new that people wouldn't have heard of it.

I've been using it, thinking that it doesn't seem to harm the plants and if it helps, so much the better.

[Shovelhandle]

Well, I grow organically and I have been posting my grow logs here for years. Like the ad for Prego tomato sauce, "it's in there". The microbes are from the organic composts, it is called Bio-Tone in the Espoma line of organic nutrients, Plant Success I use contains mycorrhizae. Brewing earth worm casting tea or compost tea I am feeding microorganisms in the EWC or compost to give them a good start before I introduce them to the plants. You won't see me using the same terms (EM or AEM). But, "it's in there".

[Farang]

if you've had good luck with it, then what dosage and how frequently?

[CaptainOrganicsCO]

Did you buy and read either book? Have u looked at shovelhandles previous or current grow logs? I am doing a grow log currently also of an all organic grow. U could follow that. Ill be posting recipes, methods, and techniques that I use to grow organic herbs. The EM and AEM u speak of are apparently certain specific products ( only found a little info in a google search). If they are introducing benificial bacteria, mycos, and beneficial micro organisms there great! Use them. Use them by the directions on the package and see how it works. If your growing organically the micro beasties are very important, and there is a lot of different products on the market to get them in your soil..

[Shovelhandle]

^^^ ditto
google TLO plants for more information

[Farang]

sorry. I'm NOT in the US and where I am simple possession of such books would also bring jail time, so no. I have not read any book other than what's on line.

perhaps EM is only labeled and sold as such in this part of the world, though I've seen it mentioned on organic farming sites which do not address cannabis.

though I have looked through some grow journals, they don't appear to be applicable to my situation/style of cultivation. I was just asking a generic question and looking for someone with hands on experience.

[CaptainOrganicsCO]

I would sure be scared to cultivate MJ if I could be jailed for possessing a book. Is this China? Lol. The police state I'm sure can track Internet history easier than anonymous cash book sales. Be careful, I guess.

[Farang]

I thought I responded to this earlier tonight. don't know what happened to that post.

no, I'm not in China.

luckily, this country isn't good at technology. still, I don't push the envelope too far.

books can put me in jail; if I'm caught cultivating, it's good night Irene.

on the other hand, I'm old and have done most everything I had on my bucket list.

[Farang]

I guess my response stuck that time.