Organic Humus??

JLB · Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 19 Location: Monticello

Can anyone tell me what "Organic Humus" is? Is it the same as Organic Compost? I now live in SE Arkansas and I saw some at Walmart and I was wondering if I could use it as a replacement for Compost.

bmarable · Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 20 Location: terrell,TEXAS

See if this helps you any
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/organic/2002121127011493.html

After reading it myself, it appears that compost is better than humus

CaptainCompostAL · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 875 Location: Irondale,Alabama

To me, humus is the final end of all living things. Humus is black, and looks like dirt. For me it takes at least 6-12 months to make humus. Humus is mostly composed of carbon and beneficial soil microbes full of insoluble nutrients inside their bodies. Humus is mostly a soil conditioner material.

I make and sell tons of compost. I can make a ton of compost in 1-2 months. Compost doesn't have to be black, nor does it have to look like dirt. Compost has both soluble and insoluble nutrients in it, so it acts like a soil conditioner, as well as a slow release plant fertilizer.

Compost is always ready when it mostly homogeneous, dark (but not necessarily black), crumbly, not hot to touch, has no ammonia smell, and most of all has that pleasant earthly aroma.

JLB · Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posts: 19 Location: Monticello

Thanks for the useful info. It was very helpful.

tommyr · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 53 Location: Breckenridge,TEXAS

I have used this, seems to help the plants a little. Seems to have more sand than anything, little bit of gravel. Black when I put it down, black goes away when I water, that bothers me. I get better results from manure compost from a local garden center. $2.99 a bag but 10 times better.