Terracycle Worm Poop Potting Mix??

Sharpies

Sharpies

Well-Known Member
Got a question....in an earlier post, I mentioned how I have those white worms and black flies infesting my little plastic cups (my plants are only a few days old). I picked up a fly paper-type trap in hopes it would help.

It was mentioned in that thread that the infestation might be because I am using Miracle Grow Organic, and I should move them to new soil. The only other soil I could find today (weird day) was Terracycle Worm Poop Potting Mix. Anyone have experience with this?

I popped it open, and there is already some stuff growing in it! Should I be concerned? I'm happy with how my plants are growing in the Miracle Grow, I think they look good ( http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4698/001hv8.jpg ) so I'm a bit apprehensive about changing soil.

The nutrients in the MG is .1%/.05%/.05%. This new stuff is .82%/.2%/.2%.

It seems like a lot more nitrogen in ratio to everything else than the MG, and I think I recall reading that 2nd number should be high for growing, 3rd for flowering. So with Nitrogen so high, will that be a problem?

I was thinking of just transplanting one of the three into the new soil, but it would suck if it was great, and the plant did awesome, then it was a male!

Is the risk of trying this soil out weighed by the fact that MG is giving me all these flys/worms?
 
Sharpies

Sharpies

Well-Known Member
Hmmm....I still haven't decided what to do...but I got the fly paper up. Haven't caught any flies yet. There are sooo many worms, will they all turn into dozens and dozens of flies?
 
UnEmploymentDude

UnEmploymentDude

Well-Known Member
I hear Terracycle is great. But if there are stuff already growing in it just spray a little bit of neem oil it shouldnt harm your seedlings.

Nutrients in soil doesnt really matter in my opinion, because a seedling can grow in a almost nutrient less soil.

And the NPK reading is as follows:
N: Need for growin
PK: need higher for flowering, but still you'll need some N.
Those nutrients are good for the first 2-3 weeks, after than you'll need to buy nutrients with values like 24-8-16 or W/e much high than whats in the soil.
 
thelastpirate

thelastpirate

Well-Known Member
Sharpies said:
Got a question....in an earlier post, I mentioned how I have those white worms and black flies infesting my little plastic cups (my plants are only a few days old). I picked up a fly paper-type trap in hopes it would help.

It was mentioned in that thread that the infestation might be because I am using Miracle Grow Organic, and I should move them to new soil. The only other soil I could find today (weird day) was Terracycle Worm Poop Potting Mix. Anyone have experience with this?

I popped it open, and there is already some stuff growing in it! Should I be concerned? I'm happy with how my plants are growing in the Miracle Grow, I think they look good ( http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4698/001hv8.jpg ) so I'm a bit apprehensive about changing soil.

The nutrients in the MG is .1%/.05%/.05%. This new stuff is .82%/.2%/.2%.

It seems like a lot more nitrogen in ratio to everything else than the MG, and I think I recall reading that 2nd number should be high for growing, 3rd for flowering. So with Nitrogen so high, will that be a problem?


I was thinking of just transplanting one of the three into the new soil, but it would suck if it was great, and the plant did awesome, then it was a male!

Is the risk of trying this soil out weighed by the fact that MG is giving me all these flys/worms?
Click to expand...
For starters, seedlings need no nutes at all for the first 2 or 3 weeks. They'll feed off energy stored up in the cotyledons. After that, you'll want something that's higher in N for the veg cycle. Not too high tho.
Then when you want to flip to flower, you'll want to reduce the N (not eliminate) and boost the P (2nd number). K is necessary for strong stems and such. I am strictly organic, and after a bit of a learning curve, I'm quite happy with the results, but for a starter feeding solution I use the MG "Quick Start" Planting & transplant starter solution at NO MORE than 1/4 strength for good root formation. I'll feed that no more than twice before starting on regular nutes. I also use that solution to expand my peat pellets for cloning.

I get a shitload of tiny moths from bags of bird seed, why not fungus gnats from MG?
Fungus gnats are pretty easy to get rid of, and really don't cause much damage. I'm told the larvae feed on the roots of seedlings, but I saw no problems in my clone area, and it was infested.

I use the "No Pest Strips" by Hot Shot. I think I got them at Wally World. That in combination with a good spray of RAID around the base of the plants (pyrethrum/permethrin based) and a coating of sand on the soil top. Sticky paper works too.
The gnats lay eggs in the soil, and the sand keeps them from emerging.

Lots of folks are hating on MG, and there is a decent reason for that. If you follow their directions, you'll in all likelihood kill off everything. I know I did. MJ can be pretty high maintenance for a friggin' weed!! (Hence, we call them "Girls")
You gotta use it at NO MORE than 1/2 strength. People get screwed up with their soil, 'cuz they don't take into account that it already has nutes in it. Someone (maybe me) should start a sticky on beginning with Miracle Gro.
It's probably THE most readily available product on the market, and I believe it can be used quite well with great results, just NOT at the recommended strength.

The Terra-Cycle products have gotten rave reviews, I believe mostly from the hype. I have some of the "beaded" worm poo that came in a recycled milk jug. It was given to me, and I aint impressed. I don't think there will ever be a substitute or a replacement for good ole worm poop.
 
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