1st time soil help/feedback please

Im wanting to mix this up so i can plant soon.
This is my first attempt at going a no-till route. My current run is with ffof and happy frog with some happy frog fruit and flower fert mixed in.

I will be in 6 5g fabric pots.

Sphagnum peat
Lava rock
Worm castings are from my own worm bins (fed rabbit and horse manure, and veggie scraps mostly)
Compost is local organic and mushroom and horse manure based
Meals: kelp, neem seed, crab
oyster shell flour
garden lime (is this needed since i have the osf?)
azomite
(these were a steal i was hoping to use in the mix and/or compost or worm bin)

i also have a little less than 1 cu foot of the ffof hf mix, i was going to use on some outdoor plants.

edit: @DonTesla has been helping me switch to organics but is away atm. @Rasta Roy @MistaRasta @greasemonkeymann @Wetdog I see your posts in the organics section alot as i am learning and you are always so helpful.

What..? said:

Im wanting to mix this up so i can plant soon.
This is my first attempt at going a no-till route. My current run is with ffof and happy frog with some happy frog fruit and flower fert mixed in.

I will be in 6 5g fabric pots.

Sphagnum peat
Lava rock
Worm castings are from my own worm bins (fed rabbit and horse manure, and veggie scraps mostly)
Compost is local organic and mushroom and horse manure based
Meals: kelp, neem seed, crab
oyster shell flour
garden lime (is this needed since i have the osf?)
azomite
View attachment 4015221 (these were a steal i was hoping to use in the mix and/or compost or worm bin)

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Good to see you're switching from the conventional way of doing things and making your own mix. That's the best thing you can do as Foxfarm is very inconsistent. I'm sure you'll be happy with this path, especially being you have a local source for things like compost and castings. That in itself is a game changer..

-Lime isn't needed if using oyster shell and vise-versa. They're one in the same thing (Calcium Carbonate) they just come from different places.

- Azomite..

This one is ok for some people, for some it's not. It's going to impart trace minerals yes, but it's also going to impart A LOT of Aluminum as it's an Alumina-Silicate..

My suggestion would be

1) Use Rock dust instead (granite,basalt,etc..)
2) Don't even worry about it as the Kelp will have all the trace you need.

I will say the rock dusts indefinitely speed up my worm bins, but not necessary if using Kelp.

HTH

thank you very much @MistaRasta ! I think ill skip the azomite since the kelp provides.

If i cant return it, would langbeinite be a good exhange and addition?

Also, if i mixed this today would i be able to top dress the langbeinite, or would it be best to hold off until i head to town?

What..? said:

thank you very much @MistaRasta ! I think ill skip the azomite since the kelp provides.

If i cant return it, would langbeinite be a good exhange and addition?

Also, if i mixed this today would i be able to top dress the langbeinite, or would it be best to hold off until i head to town?

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Langbeinite is a mineral yes, but a bit different as in its going to supply water-soluble Potassium, Magnesium, and Sulfur. Being you already have an abundance of these particular Elements I would skip the langbeinite.

Not only that, but water soluble forms of nutrients defeat the purpose of a living soil. If my plants are receiving soluble forms of elements what's the purpose of having bacteria and fungi around if the nutrients are already in an ionic form to be taken up?

A good example is Guano vs. Bone meal

Both have a generous share of P in them, But get distributed to the plant very differently.

One is instant, one is not.. One kills fungi, the other helps build fungi populations.

MistaRasta said:

Langbeinite is a mineral yes, but a bit different as in its going to supply water-soluble Potassium, Magnesium, and Sulfur. Being you already have an abundance of these particular Elements I would skip the langbeinite.

Not only that, but water soluble forms of nutrients defeat the purpose of a living soil. If my plants are receiving soluble forms of elements what's the purpose of having bacteria and fungi around if the nutrients are already in an ionic form to be taken up?

A good example is Guano vs. Bone meal

Both have a generous share of P in them, But get distributed to the plant very differently.

One is instant, one is not.. One kills fungi, the other helps build fungi populations.

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wow ok, thanks. I will stay away from that. Still have alot to learn, organics is so easy to realy get into.

I just picked up "Teaming with Microbes" last night, i should give it a read.

What..? said:

wow ok, thanks. I will stay away from that. Still have alot to learn, organics is so easy to realy get into.

I just picked up "Teaming with Microbes" last night, i should give it a read.

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Just want to point out that Langbeinite is not bad in anyway shape or form. It's a mineral just like lime or gypsum, Just has a different purpose.

The main reason I suggest not to use it is because you have all the nutrients it has in your soil, it's just a matter of working with bacteria and fungi to get the nutrients broken down and available to the plant. Which is what you'll learn in teaming with microbes.

Kelp covers your Potassium
Peat and Crab cover your Magnesium
Neem covers your Sulfur (and a little Potassium)

The plant will pick and choose what it wants and when it wants it with these items as none of them are water soluble. They have to predigested and given back to the plant by microbes.

Don't forget to buy a couple aloe plants!! Easy as shit to grow, just forget about them and they do great. Seriously I got mine about 6 months ago, watered it maybe 3 times since then without transplanting and its doubled in size. I usually just blend up a couple whole blades and add to my water when I'm feeling it, also great in foliars and as a wetting agent for your peat moss.

Thank you Rasta for the extra clarification! Not far into the book yet but definately glad i picked it up!

I have aloe all over the place here dubekoms! Im going to have to do some more reading on it for sure.

I was going to make enough soil for 6 5g pots, i have an excess of compost and peat so i figure i can make a bigger mix.

I was going to go about a 1/3 each but i only have 1 cu ft of the lava rock.

2.2 cu ft peat 1.5 cu ft compost and prob same amount of castings.

what are some ideal ratios i could use.

We want to use the extra soil for some veggies

ok, going heavy on the peat. 50 25 25.

Mixing my meals equaly before adding.

how much of the dr earth life should i add?

and how much oyster shell flour should i add?

2 cu ft peat 1 cu ft lava 1 cu ft compost/castings?

I have not used lava rock before but for aeration you want about 33-40 percent. I used 33% last round but I feel like 40% would be better, especially if you have really rich heavy compost. You want about 1 cup oyster shell per cu ft. Don't forget to moisten the peat moss before you combine everything!! Use that aloe you got growing around and mix some into the water before hand, it'll help the water absorb into the peat moss.

dubekoms said:

I have not used lava rock before but for aeration you want about 33-40 percent. I used 33% last round but I feel like 40% would be better, especially if you have really rich heavy compost. You want about 1 cup oyster shell per cu ft. Don't forget to moisten the peat moss before you combine everything!! Use that aloe you got growing around and mix some into the water before hand, it'll help the water absorb into the peat moss.

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I already mixed my base, i was under the impression going peat heavy i water less?

Mixed about 20g peat 10g lava 7.5g compost 2.5g castings

I did not moisten peat first!

I did soak the mix before i left the house. After i let it dry some i will wet again, with aloe this time.