Go Back   The Garden's Cure > Botanical References > The Reference Library > The Great Hall of Threads > Organics Reference
Register FAQ Pictures GrowFaq Mark Forums Read

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-26-2002, 10:19 AM   #1
LedZppln
Seedling
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Over the hills and far away
Posts: 310
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
LedZppln is beginning to sprout.
Scotts organic compost mix...

I got a few bags of this stuff, thinking I could use it as a substitute for potting soil. I mixed it with about 25% vermiculite, 25% perlite, and 50% compost mix.

After I transplanted my girls into the new mix for flowering, I watered nearly 2 gallons of water each and it just barely came out of the bottom. Now is this organic compost mix ok to use instead of soil? It has some small NPK ratio on it, but nothing much. Basically what I am worried about is that it holds too much water. It has been about a week now and around the top is still a 10 on the moisture meter. So, anyone have an opinion?
LedZppln is offline  
Old 05-26-2002, 12:16 PM   #2
organic
Gardener
 
organic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: the PNW
Posts: 1,824
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts
organic is starting to flower.organic is starting to flower.organic is starting to flower.

Yes, I have an opinion

My first grow was with about 30% compost and I had a severe overwatering problem. Once I figured out what the problem was, it took them a month to dry out - granted, I was growing in 4-gal buckets, but anyway you get the point. compost can hold 190% of its weight in water....that's why you're supposed to use some in your mix.

A general guide would be that the more compost your soil mix has, the more perlite you ought to be using. And I would stay away from the vermiculite if you're using compost as it also has water-retaining capabilities. Straight perlite, baby!
__________________

Hie thee hence to The Library

__________________
organic is offline  
Closed Thread


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:52 PM.