Activating or “charging” your biochar is essential before using it in your garden, potted plants, or in your landscape. The reason for this is simple. Biochar acts as a storage compartment for microorganisms and nutrients. Think of activating as “colonizing” the biochar before use. If they are not present in the biochar, it will absorb them from the soil and negatively impact plant growth for the first growing season.
There are many methods to activate your biochar. Some are simple and require just a few ingredients, and others have a more complicated recipe. Each way carries its own maturation time from a couple of weeks to several months to fully activate the biochar.
Tip: All of the methods require the use of water. Rainwater is preferred, but if that is not possible, tap water should sit uncovered for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
Short Activation Methods
Worm Castings
- Ingredients: worm castings, biochar, flour or molasses
- Combine a 50/50 mix of worm castings and biochar.
- Add 5% flour or molasses to promote microbial expansion.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Keep damp and out of direct sunlight.
- Optimal temperature: 70F.
- Activation period: 2-4 weeks.
Compost
- Ingredients: compost, biochar
- Combine a 50/50 mix of compost and biochar.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Keep damp and out of direct sunlight.
- Optimal temperature: 70F.
- Activation period: 2-4 weeks.
Urine
- Ingredients: human or animal urine
- Steep the biochar in a bucket and urine.
- Stir occasionally.
- Keep out of direct sunlight.
- Optimal temperature: 70F.
- Activation period: 2-4 weeks.
Livestock Bedding
- Ingredients: livestock bedding (chicken, cow, horse), biochar
- Spread 5-15% biochar by volume in the bedding area..
- Collect the floor bedding after 2-4 weeks.
- Activation period: none.
Long Activation Methods
Grass Clippings
- Ingredients: grass clippings, biochar
- Combine a 50/50 mix of untreated grass clippings (no chemicals, insecticides or fungicides were applied) and biochar.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Keep damp and out of direct sunlight.
- Optimal temperature: 70F.
- Activation period: 3-4 months.
Compost Pile
- Ingredients: compost, biochar
- Combine a 50/50 mix of compost and biochar.
- Mix thoroughly and turn pile 1-2 times a week.
- Keep damp and out of direct sunlight.
- Optimal temperature: 70F.
- Activation period: 3-4 months.
Biochar Only
- Ingredients: biochar
- Till or turn biochar into the soil at a 4-6” depth.
- Activation period: 6 months to 1 year.