Changing my soil mix, need advice

[Mr. Greengenes]

Good read here, thanks all. I make my own premix for indoor containers and recently switched from perlite to pumice, which I like better. Can't say exactly why so far, just a feeling! Maybe the sharp rocks look more root friendly to me, don't know for sure yet. I'm hip about the superior holding of cations and all, but I'm an organic grower for so many years I confess I don't know much more about that stuff.

Over the years I've gradually increased my amounts of non organics like sand, gravel, kitty litter (another nice holder of them cations) and the usual perlite and vermiculite, which I've used less of, and now quit.

Other growers pointed out to me that with my relatively small container/big plant grows and organic teas, I'm almost doing hydro in containers. With lots of non organics in the mix, I can let a plant stand right in a tray of water an nutrients for hours without worrying about oxygen debt to the roots. Also, a plant can be left in a container for longer without worrying about the collapse of the non nutritive organics in the mix when there isn't much, or any. A plant left in a container 'till it gets a touch rootbound, but is still well fed and watered, will pump out the hugest flowers it's genes can manage.

 

[judas cohen]

MC: I'll check out the African nightcrawlers. I've seen a couple of worm sites that sell both kinds. I'll ask them about temps. Thanks.

Mr. Greengenes: Good to see ya back. Can you give me an online link that sells pumice? Cheapest I've found is $6/gal and it's the small granules, almost like sand.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

judas cohen

I can't use African Nightcrawlers because it gets too cold here in the winter months but they are a viable option for folks in warmer climates.

You might want to look into buying worm cocoons vs. buying live worms. The price is great and will save you big money, IMHO

I have a link to a seller of all types of composting worm cocoons if you're interested.

HTH

CC

 

[magiccannabus]

Link me up please! I want to get a worm garden going soon. Any deals would be nice, money is really tight right now.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

Link me up please! I want to get a worm garden going soon. Any deals would be nice, money is really tight right now.

magiccannabus

No problem - link

I've used them many, many times. Good service. Great prices. Viable cocoons.

HTH

CC

 

[Clackamas Coot]

magiccannabus

One thing to consider when buying cocoons is that each cocoon will produce, on average, 3.3 worms (don't ask) meaning that when the cocoons pop out the worm babies, they will, again on average, about 1 lb. for each 1,000 worms after they mature (about 6 weeks) meaning that your purchase of 1,000 cocoons will give you about 3,300 worms or about 3.3 lbs of mature worms.

HTH

CC

 

[Clackamas Coot]

40 years of growing all kind of plants is a lotta' experience. Thats a fact. I'm probably older than you, but have ~10% of your experience.

Well - maybe. LOL

My 'first grow' was in 1977. There were no seed banks. There wasn't the internet. No grow books. No grow stores. No nutrients. Nada. Zilch.

BUT we did have seeds from the BOEL. The seeds that we planted were from Columbia, specifically the Punta Roja (Red Point) which were killer genetics.

We planted the seeds in an avocado orchard in La Habra Heights just south of Los Angeles. We planted 200 seeds and harvested 125 plants. We had to rent 3 apartments to dry the crop. We knew NOTHING about curing, slow drying, etc. We were definitely flying by the seat of our pants to say the least.

At that time 'seedless' pot went for $4,000.00 per lb. and we moved all of our crop. No banking laws at all. You want to buy a new car with cash? No problem. I remember that 4 of us went to a Toyota dealer in Redondo Beach and bought new Toyota Celicas for everyone and we paid cash! LOL

I got into indoor growing around 1986 and again we knew NOTHING about how to do this deal. We had George/Jorge Cervantes' (what an idiot) book and muddled through the process. We did 'soil' (laughable) and then hydro which was a TOTAL disaster. Again no Internet or any other viable information.

"On the road to find out" as it turned out. Weird times indeed.

CC

 

[magiccannabus]

magiccannabus

One thing to consider when buying cocoons is that each cocoon will produce, on average, 3.3 worms (don't ask) meaning that when the cocoons pop out the worm babies, they will, again on average, about 1 lb. for each 1,000 worms after they mature (about 6 weeks) meaning that your purchase of 1,000 cocoons will give you about 3,300 worms or about 3.3 lbs of mature worms.

Good to know. I definitely would like to get a mix of different types of worms. It's all theoretical right now though. For now I'll have to carefully use these composts.

Any thoughts on using clay? I could use 1 part fine particle clay. Would that do anything good for my mix? Minerals maybe?

 

[Clackamas Coot]

magiccannabus

My worm bins contain both 'red wigglers' as well as 'European nightcrawlers' on the advice of a 'worm guy' up in Camas, Washington. He has some of the finest EWC that I've ever used. Big time.

It's his opinion that by using both of these varieties you'll end up with a 'more finished EWC' and based on what he produces I was inclined to take his advice.

I know that's not much 'real science' but it is based on my personal experience.

YMMV

CC

 

[surfer rosa]

Well - maybe. LOL

My 'first grow' was in 1977[...]

CC

Wow, it seems like you really are a treasure trove of information and experience--it's great to have you here.