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05-17-2002, 12:59 AM
| #1 | ||
| Seedling Join Date: Jan 2001
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I am preparing for this years outdoor grow and am wandering about my soil mix. THese are the following ingredients and how much of each i am going to use. i need advice from experienced outdoor growers or anyone who has some input. Regular potting soil - 50% Perlite/Vermiculite - 25% Worm Castings - 15% Kelp Meal - 5% Fish Emulsions - 5% I was also going to add some lime if the ph needs to be raised (still need to check that). Also, what is the difference between vermiculite and perlite? I am planning on digging out a plot about 1-2 feet deep and who knows how wide and replacing it with my soil mix. PLease let me know if im leaving out anytihng or my mixture sounds off at all. | ||
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05-17-2002, 03:05 AM
| #2 | ||
| Grand Master Gardener   Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Outside under the gorgeous sun near Latitude 24ºN
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| Fish emulsion is a thick liquid used for nitrogen feedings- it won't make up nearly 5% volumne of your mix, so I'd make up the difference with additional perlite (or maybe sand if your soil has any clay). Perlite holds air in the soil, vermiculite holds moisture in. It's hard to evaluate a mixture, as some potting mixes are very light and airy while others are heavy and dense. Also dig around in your native soil- maybe you don't need to replace 100% of it. I don't, and my "soil" is sand and rocks. I add worm castings and maybe a bit of mix, but nowhere near 100%. | ||
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05-17-2002, 11:50 AM
| #3 | ||
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| Thanks 3hounds. SOrry about double posting i just didnt know which forum was best. I think i will leave out fish emulsions and add it later after they start to grow. I already have several growing and the soil is full of clay. The plants that are there have been growing for 3 weeks and are only 3-4 inches tall. Thanks for the help. | ||
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05-18-2002, 02:42 AM
| #5 | ||
| Grand Master Gardener Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Outside under the gorgeous sun near Latitude 24ºN
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| The worm castings I use are in the form of a fine dry black powder, sold by the pound. It could probably be formulated as a liquid, but I don't recall ever seeing it. | ||
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05-18-2002, 09:20 AM
| #6 | ||
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Anybody know which store bought soil mix is the best? Alot of times I dont feel like mixing and testing my soil. Im sure there has to be a soil outhere with most of the nutrient levels and ph levels that are optimim for your weed. Any thoughts?  | ||
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05-18-2002, 12:20 PM
| #7 | ||
| Grand Master Gardener Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Outside under the gorgeous sun near Latitude 24ºN
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| I like to buy a potting mix that feels lighter than it looks..... Peters brand is the last one I purchased that I really liked. When you go to pick up a big bag, you should think to yourself "wow- that's a lot lighter than it looks", not "man- this sh*t is heavy". Same with pots. Course you could buy a heavy mix and add lots of perlite, but I like to buy as few bags of crap as possible. "  | ||
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05-20-2002, 11:58 AM
| #8 | ||
| Seedling Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: out in the woods you see
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| Word Up. Be careful with that fish emulsion. While its a great fert it is also a open invite to every skunk and coon and possum around to come dig up that fish [free meal]. I learned this one the hard way a few years back.  | ||
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