nova_scotian

i live in Nova Scotia, Canada,ive grown previously, but my last crop got skrewed, so im trying to be more careful.
i read on this forum that 3 parts top soil, and 1 part perlite will work good for a medium, but all the potting soils and top soils i find all say that they are 'compost enriched' and the like, but i dont want a medium that will fert the plants, because i am going to be using 10-60-10, 10-15-10, and 15-30-15 chemical ferts, and dont want them to be over ferted.
is top soil with perlite the best option, if i can find topsoil thats not 'enriched'?
or what...?
do my worries make sense?
never thought id have to ask these questions, but im trying to play 100 percent safe this time.
nova scotian

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Nova Scotian

Virgo34

hi mate...

My first thoughts are that,for me,I'd prefer the compost enriched potting soil,throw in your perlite and Bobs your uncle! Many yummy micronutes in worm castings too.you could
have a 2 dollar bottle of fish emulsion on stand-by..for a lil later.
No need to worry about burning your babies with harsh chemicals,which many ppl do,or salts biuld up.There are many advantages to organics.
Any particular reason you prefer chemical instead of organic ferts?

Hope this helps
V34

nova_scotian

more control over what my babies recieve.
back to the top soil questions, is an unenriched top soil with perlite the best soil medium to use with chemical ferts, or what?
having trouble finding a soil thats not enriched.

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Nova Scotian

TonDerudesKa

I think that you are going to have problems using top soil. I would add much more perlite if I were you. Topsoil tends to make for a heavy soil mix which can cause problems with the roots and O2 deprivation.

If you still want to use topsoil....most gardening centers should have topsoil...check at Lowes, Wal-Mart, Home Depot. OR any large nurseries in your area.

IMHO

cy

smokinrav

Perlite or perlite and vermiculite, at least a third of your mix. Even half your mix.

Anyone have opinions on the dif between top soil and peat moss? Is one or the other thought to be cleaner, less seedy
twiggy and/or buggy?

Personally, Im using peat and am not happy with all the effin bugs in it.

Smokin

TonDerudesKa

Hey smokin.....topsoil is just plain dirt...nothing added. Good stuff is very dark and rich looking. Peat moss is decayed mosses and lichens.

n_s...sorry...I dont know of specific brands. I tried one from Home Depot one time....I think it was...Earthgro....but...it was terrible....NOT recommended.

WHy not go to a nursery and ask for their best topsoil?
Just out of curiosity...why are you so set on topsoil? It really does not make the best mix for growing.

Also...dont take one post as being the gospel. Lots of erroneous information gets posted here. Look around ....think of other mediums....you want to get the most out of your grow. Right?

cy

born042079

Wazzup (pass the bong)

Anyway, I'm using similar ferts and my soil mix is equal parts pearlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and compost. Go to home depot and get an equal sized bag of each. I also have some of those poly water beads in it too for water retention should I ever be out for a week or 2. It is working out really well, I recommend it.

As far as what you've read in the grow guide, do not take it as gospel. From what I understand they are in the process of updating it. Look around at other posts, a lot of the experienced soil growers are using much more pearlite and vermiculite than you proposed. I'm thinking if they make up 50% of your mix, you would be in good shape. From there, add the moss for water retention and the compost for micronutrients. You're set!

Why grow in topsoil (ie dirt) if there are better mediums out there? With a 4 part mix you are gettting ideal water retention, lots of O2, all the micronutes, and its really light and airy for the roots to go nuts expanding. Its not like making a mix like this is mad expensive. A bag of pearlite goes for like $2.99. The other 3 components should be within 50 cents of that.

Food for thought anyway.

Peace,

Born420

born042079

Compost enriched is a good thing. It does not mean that there are time released ferts added. It means that there is decayed plant matter in it; opposed to being just plain old dirt, now they can call it topsoil by adding the compost. Get me? (I'm baked, sorry if I'm making no sense) Regardless... back to my other point... why would you want dirt enriched with compost when you could have a mostly hydroponic substrate containing verm/pearl/moss inriched with compost instead?

Peace,

Born420

nova_scotian

no, man! im not set on using topsoil! i am trying to figure out what the best soil medium to use will be, and i was simply inquiring about what id read. that is all there is to it. i didnt think of anything as a gospel, i just am trying to figure out what the best soil mixture will be. and if the soil is pre-fertilized, wont my chemical ferts over do them?
im not set on topsoil, from the sounds of it top soil is a bad idea, the reason i asked about it is because i was never too sure of it. isnt there something that is just a regular unenriched soil that i can mix with vermiculite and perlite, and have a good soil medium to use with chemical ferts?????
thats all i am looking for. an yhelp is greatly appreciated,
thank you.
Nova
I grew with organic potting soil before, and used chemical ferts with it before, and htere wasnt any problems, but last time my babies ended up dieing because of what seemed to be an overdose of ferts, even though my chems were only to 1/4th of strength of 10-15-10 and the plants were like 3 weeks along.
will using the full strength of a chemical fert on a plant hurt it if its in organic potting soil?
is the compost enrichment of the soils i see supposed to substitute for chemical ferting?
this is simply what i dont understand. im worried about it being overdone, because chemical ferts are what i want to use, and will use, and to there full strength after the first 3 weeks or so.

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Nova Scotian

nova_scotian

if i use the organic potting soil which i already have, and mix it 1 part perlite per 2 parts organic potting soil, will using the full strength of chemical ferts at the normal stage to begin using full strength chem-ferts over-fert them?
Nova

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Nova Scotian