mayzee
Just Arrived
Joined: 27 Nov 2008
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 5
PlantStew: 13 |
| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject: Guinea Pig Litter in Potting Soil? |
|
Does anyone know if you can use used Guinea Pig litter in potting soil? It is a mixture of waste, pine shavings, paper shreddings -- they are vegitarians.
It is just a shame to waste if it could be beneficial to my garden.
Thanks.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
gardenmama
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 26 May 2008
Location: Vermont
Posts: 575
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject: |
|
The pine shavings might not be so good for the garden....it can change the PH levels...and then you have to add lime.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Netty
Chaotic Gardener
 Regular Plantstew Contributor (over 1000 edits)
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5a (Map)
Posts: 7064
PlantStew: 10292 |
| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject: |
|
I would probably put it in the compost to "cook" for a while first mayzee.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
Forum Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 14180
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:41 pm Post subject: |
|
It should be OK as long as the soil ratio is around 5 parts to 1 part Guinea pig litter. That way the pine shavings shouldn't have too much affect on the plants. Of course it also depends on what type of plants you are thinking of using it with - heathers and other plants that like a slightly acid mixture would do really well. Netty is right it would probably be best to 'cook' it for a while first.
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
EJ
Allotmenteer Extraordinaire
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Essex
Posts: 2270
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:45 pm Post subject: |
|
I bag my guinea litter and take it to the allotment when I go and pile it on the compost heap. I agree that high quantities of wood shavings won't be great for the soil, and unless you have a really large garden, over the course of a few weeks, I imagine if your guineas are as messy as mine, you will have enough cage litter to cover your garden. If you have a compost heap, that is where I would put it.
_________________
Check out my blog
http://allotmentnews.blogspot.com/
|
|
| Back to top |
|
weeds n seeds
On The Way Up
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Location: Casper, Wyoming
Posts: 71
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject: |
|
I would definately put the used litter in the compost pile, and let it rot down GOOD before using. I recently read that wood shavings, pine needles, etc. have a NEUTRAL PH factor once well-decomposed, will NOT affect the existing PH balance of soils they're added to.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
7144 members, 153575 posts, 340 blogs
