Soil to start with
- Thread starter Gat
- Start date
DobermanGuy
Well-Known Member
I am using Sunshine LC1, Jorge Cervantes and many others recomment the #4 soiless potting mix. They are pre mixed with dolomite lime to ph buffer. I'm not complaining.
Im sure a manure mix done right would be better though.sunshine rep. said:
That's almost the same as my "4-Way Mix":
1 part "Store Bought" Topsoil.
1 part compost.
1 part vermiculite or perlite.
1 part composted "Steer Manure".
The "1 part Steer Manure" is just a guideline. You can make that "1 part" out of anything you want to mix together, as long as 25% of the overall, finished, mix has the same, approximate, "potency" as regular old, straight, composted, Steer Manure. I have played around with the recipe, and have come to use "Gardner & Bloome's Farmyard Blend" (a blend of several farm animals' manure), mixed with 3 different "flavors" of dry, organic, fertilizers and some filler (to keep the potency level down around equal with plain old Steer Manure).
By the way, "4-Way Mix" isn't really "my" recipe, I ripped it off from somebody a long time ago - don't remember who or when. But the idea of substituting other things for the "1 part Steer Manure", was all me, Baby!
Waiakeauka
Well-Known Member
What are the differences between vermiculite and perlite? Can you substitute styrafoam for the vermiculite or perlite? Which is cheaper?
Perlite and Vermiculite are very similar in the way they act as a soil amendment, both are rather neutral in terms of pH and nutrient value. Perlite looks like little white chunks of styrofoam, maybe 1/16" - 1/4". Vermiculite looks like little grey or tan, shiney, pieces of crushed "Pea Gravel", maybe 1/4" - 1/2". They are both about the same price range and available at most all garden supply stores or good hardware stores.
Some people claim that broken up bits of styrofoam will work ok. I don't know, I don't think I'd try it!
You can Google! perlite or vermiculite and get the whole story.
Hydrotech364
Well-Known Member
Everyone has their favorite.I mix Perlite,Peat and the best mix available at the time.The perlite and peat are a neccesity its bouncy when finished and the roots run rampant.After awhile you will have your own favorite mix.Peace.
DobermanGuy
Well-Known Member
I ws told that due to asbestos that verm will soon be off of the shelves. He then sold us a huge bag of styrofoam pellets. Will work just as fine, im sure. This guy has owned a nursery for over 50 years. I think he'd know if it works or not.
Hydrotech364
Well-Known Member
Well buddy styrofoam floats so when you fill youre pot with water the styro builds up on the top layer and is useless.Perlite is cheap,
LOL - I've had that, same thing, happen to me with Perlite. I can only imagine how it would be with styrofoam. But I imagine a little "Mulch" on the surface would cut down on the "turbulance action". I just put a layer of potting mix, without, Perlite on top, "Like iceing on a cake".Well buddy styrofoam floats so when you fill youre pot with water the styro builds up on the top layer and is useless.Perlite is cheap,
pappasmoke85
Member
i use foxfarms for seedlings, they sprouted in 2 days.
STZ
Active Member
I am a big fan of Fox Farms both Ocean Forest and Happy Frog. I have grown both indoors and out using both of these and couldn't have been happier. Happy Frog comes in a bigger bag so you get more for your money, but I have found its not as nutrient rich and it doesn't drain as well. I've also used Roots organic soil but its a bit more expensive. Anyway, my current outdoor mix is one part Fox Farms Light Warrior, 1 part composted manure of some sort, 2 Parts my favorite potting soil (FFOF, FFHF, Roots), and 1 part perlite (I like my soil to drain really well).