ghengiskhan
Well-Known Member
I never find the need for vermiculite anyways, it seems my mixs with coco have more water retention that I need.
*** bigger and faster in soil ***
- Thread starter DR. VonDankenstine
- Start date
I never find the need for vermiculite anyways, it seems my mixs with coco have more water retention that I need.EverythingISayIsPRETEND
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yea look at that buddy before you talk shit. Peace and Love. And you know your shit first
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
Wow, that is totally sweet of you, Dr.But, there's really no need, I really REALLY like the vermiculite and how it behaves.
I see no nitrogen or nitrogenous compounds in the chemical formula of vermiculite.
This is vermiculite: (Mg,Ca,K,Fe[SIZE=-1]11[/SIZE])[SIZE=-2]3[/SIZE] (Si,AL,Fe[SIZE=-1]111[/SIZE])[SIZE=-3]4[/SIZE]O[SIZE=-3]10[/SIZE](OH)[SIZE=-2]2[/SIZE]O4H[SIZE=-2]2[/SIZE]O; or, also known as hydrated laminar magnesium-aluminum-ironsilicate.
It is a mined mineral, and it got its name because when heat is applied it has a very unique property of exfoliating into odd, worm-like shapes (vermiculite is derived from the Latin, ''vermiculare', to breed worms). Now, if you noticed the "hydrated" bit of its name, then you may have an idea as to how it gets into those worm-like shapes when heated. It is because water trapped between the layers expands, et voila, mineral worms.
The perlite was specifically Miracle Gro, pretty much all that's available here, and they add their own fertilizers.
sorry---I meant vermicast (worm shit)---Vermicompost (also called worm compost, vermicast, worm castings, worm humus or worm manure) is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by some species of earthworm. Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. The process of producing vermicompost is called vermicomposting .
The earthworm species (or composting worms) most often used are Red Wigglers (Eisenia foetida) or Red Earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus). These species are commonly found in organic rich soils throughout Europe and north America and especially prefer the special conditions in rotting vegetation, compost and manure piles. Composting worms are available from nursery mail-order suppliers or angling (fishing) shops where they are sold as bait. Small-scale vermicomposting is well-suited to turn kitchen waste into high-quality soil, where space is limited.
Together with bacteria, earthworms are the major catalyst for decomposition in a healthy vermicomposting system, although other soil species also play a contributing role: these include insects, other worms and molds.
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DR. VonDankenstine
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Worm shit folks!!!----not cancer candy...
----I was stoned at the first post-so shoot me
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----I was stoned at the first post-so shoot me.DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
SPEEDHABIT-----Give the cups a try---you might just shock yourself
s.c.mtn.hillbilly
Well-Known Member
and who are you? "roger the shrubber"?! who do you call when you harvest? davey tree?!! I'm starting next years outdoor now! I could use a shade tree for the patio!this ................. View attachment 161796
equals this ........................ View attachment 161797
plus lots of this of course .......... View attachment 161798 View attachment 161799
s.c.mtn.hillbilly
Well-Known Member
my next round, I'm gonna' try coco coir 50/50 with my biodynamic compost, over a base of lava...I'm trying to get the perfect balance of water retention, and a lattice structure to the soil for more o2 to the roots. straight vermiculite or perlite like the hampy buckets would be ideal, but I can't drag myself away from real living soil(my blog explains).
Little Tommy
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I have only done 4 grows. I am still a novice but spend hours reading every day. My friend that gave me my first 2 clones told me to mix 1/3 of each - neutral soil - perlite and vermiculite. This has worked well for me.
Seamaiden
Well-Known Member
Read again, if you're able. Then hit us with the information you've found, if you can regurgitate it properly.yea look at that buddy before you talk shit. Peace and Love. And you know your shit first
Vermiculite is not a cancer-causing agent. There is one source, and from what I have been able to find there has been one source only, of vermiculite that is associated with asbestos. That mine, again from what I have found, seems to have been shut down.Worm shit folks!!!----not cancer candy...
Oh! Well that stuff, definitely. Sorry, I took you literally. We can see the confusion, what with all these vermis.Worm shit folks!!!----not cancer candy...
Da Kine 420
Well-Known Member
i am going to mix 70/30 ocean farm/light warrior. hope it works. nre to the game.
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
Sorry---- I will stick to worm shitRead again, if you're able. Then hit us with the information you've found, if you can regurgitate it properly.
Vermiculite is not a cancer-causing agent. There is one source, and from what I have been able to find there has been one source only, of vermiculite that is associated with asbestos. That mine, again from what I have found, seems to have been shut down.
Oh! Well that stuff, definitely. Sorry, I took you literally. We can see the confusion, what with all these vermis.
---DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
I didn't want to bring it up but since you forced me too
---------------------------------FYTOCELL---the perfect ratio o2/h20 media----I have used it in my soil mix with great results------fytoflake.
Seamaiden
Well-Known Member
Help a lady out here, Fytocell, completely new to me.
Btw, vermiculite, as used by gardeners, is safe. The Libby mine where the asbestos-associated vermiculite was being mined was closed back in 1990. And, the vermiculite that was problematic was that which was used for insulation, specifically because of the particle size. The people who were most at risk were people who mined it or worked with it on a daily basis, breathing in the particles.
Reading is wonderful, reading comprehension even better.
Btw, vermiculite, as used by gardeners, is safe. The Libby mine where the asbestos-associated vermiculite was being mined was closed back in 1990. And, the vermiculite that was problematic was that which was used for insulation, specifically because of the particle size. The people who were most at risk were people who mined it or worked with it on a daily basis, breathing in the particles.
Reading is wonderful, reading comprehension even better.
Londoner
Well-Known Member
lmao yea!! Interesting read tho, never knew anything about some vermiculite being associated with asbestos. Never use it tho, nor the extra perlite, i cant be arsed with all that mixing, i use canna terra professional soil which already contains some perlite something like 10% i get good enough results as it is straight out the bag, and its just another unnecessary expense imo
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
You could get better results if you added more perlite and loosened it up---10% is a very small ratio-----try the clear cup method---then make your choice...
Seamaiden
Well-Known Member
After what you've posted, I have done a LOT more reading, and I think that, even though at this point it's "just" anecdotal, there are more than one reason to add more to loosen up the soil. The second issue, one that can plague those of us planting in plastic pots, is the soil holding water too long for these plants. Every time I give just a little too much they let me know in a really big way. Better to underwater or let them dry out, they can recover from that just fine (not seedlings). Not so with the dreaded overwatering, unless you do something to get that soil aerated, ASAP.
I really wish that perlite/vermiculite were sold in bags equal in size to soil. That would make it so much simpler for me.
I really wish that perlite/vermiculite were sold in bags equal in size to soil. That would make it so much simpler for me.
i have the worst time in 1 gallon pots. i over water and it's all over. i can do really good in a coffee cup sized pot or 3 gallons and over, but something about 1 gallons gets me every time. this is during the first 2 months from seed. but i can screw up clones in 1 gallon as well.
it aint that bad seamaiden. All youd have to do is get yourself a big ass bag of perlite (cheap at any hydro store Im sure) and soil and some compost.
Get a large "toy tub" from your favorite big box store and a small "mop bucket or cleaning bucket" about 3 gallons sized.
Scoop out one bucket each into the big bucket and mix, fill pot and mix up more if needed.
You can tailor this to suit you as needed. Mixing into 5 gallon buckets and then tipping into the big tub so you can mix more volumes or smaller.
Get a large "toy tub" from your favorite big box store and a small "mop bucket or cleaning bucket" about 3 gallons sized.
Scoop out one bucket each into the big bucket and mix, fill pot and mix up more if needed.
You can tailor this to suit you as needed. Mixing into 5 gallon buckets and then tipping into the big tub so you can mix more volumes or smaller.