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'Great Big Plants' liquid compost

17 years ago

I'm intrigued by this product I ran across. They say it is an organic compost concentrate that can be used in place of bagged compost. I can't find hardly any independent reviews of this even though it has been out for a few years. The one I did read is an experienced gardener who received a bottle for testing purposes and ended up growing her first successful peppers after years of struggle.

Has anyone else ever heard of this or used it? Do you think it's essentially compost tea? It's not described as such. I have a really hard time finding different kinds of compost, and I haven't been too successful with the home composting yet. I wonder if this stuff really works.

Here is a link that might be useful: Great Big Plants

Comments (10)

  • 17 years ago

    My first reaction was "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". I did some Googling, and the blogger at "Our Little Acre" received a bottle of this from the company way back in 2007. She was going to try it and blog the results, but I couldn't find a follow up. You might email her and ask if it worked.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Our Little Acre-Great Big Plants

  • 17 years ago

    Another blogger tried it and attributed her large bell peppers to using it in 2007, but she doesn't seem to have any follow up on it since either.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Desk-Great Big Plants

  • 17 years ago

    You could always request a MSDS from the manufacturer to get a better idea of what the product contains.

  • 17 years ago

    Those are the only two references I had found, too, Granny! It's just so strange that there isn't anything out there when it has been available for so long. On their own website they say a lot of commercial farmers use it and have used it for 14 years. Maybe it hasn't been widely released to the general public.
    Good idea, Steve, I just dropped them an email.

  • 17 years ago

    peel, I've had good luck checking my local craigslist for people offering variety poo to use in one's compost. I got some kangaroo dung and added it to my compost bin and my aunt saves me the chicken cage cleanings and hay. We have some folks who ride horses down the road sometimes and I toss in black kow compost whenever I find the ripped bags at lowes.

    That's 4 different sources without too much trouble and I add in "home grown" grass clippings, veggie peels, coffee grounds and egg shells. I think my compost is pretty good on the variety with all of the "sources" I use. ;)

    I'm not sure how I'd feel about paying for a bottle of liquid compost, especially when I can make the real thing for basically free.

  • 17 years ago

    Lissa, you're absolutely right, except I don't have a truck or a trailer or anything to haul any other kind of compost than bagged. Most of what I see on Craigslist these days is for sale, not free, especially for delivery. Then there's the issue that I don't have a single spot in front of my house that is street level. There's a stone wall in front of the entire length of my property, and even the driveway is below ground level and walled on both sides. Any time we do a yard project most of our time is spent lifting heavy objects from street level to yard level. So it's a real hassle even before I do any real garden-related work! That's why the liquid compost sounds especially intriguing. Creating a large flagstone patio was a fun project! ;)

    Haven't heard back yet from the owner of the blog that was supposed to test it. I'm skeptical myself, but interested to learn more.

    Oh, I do get coffee grounds from Starbucks.

  • 17 years ago

    peel, I'm not talking about huge amounts of anything for your compost bin. Mine is an old plastic garbage can with a lid and holes drilled all around, so I can only add about half a 5 gallon bucket of any one substance at a time. :)

    The kanga poo came in a plastic grocery sack, about 5 pounds of it, maybe. My aunt delivers the chicken scraps in a 5 gallon bucket. Not huge amounts at all.

    I roll mine around the yard a couple of times a week (great stress reliever because I use my feet).

  • 17 years ago

    For a small space I would suggest vermicomposting. You can make up a bin easily with inexpensive materials or purchase one. I still use a regular bin outside for the things the worms don't eat and yard waste, but my wormies make gorgeous compost for me.

  • 17 years ago

    My guess is the reason you can't find any testimonials is bc it IS all marketing hype. Like granny said, "If it's too good to be true...".

    I doubt if you will get a reply to that email either.

    Can you buy the compost you need?

  • 17 years ago

    Oh, sorry, Lissa, I misunderstood. I do have a compost bin for kitchen scraps, which will make enough for filling around the transplants in the SFG. But I could always use more for the landscaping, such as it is.

    Stitchintime, I've been looking into vermicomposting for next year, thanks!

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