Pro-Mix outdoors - tips?

[Applesauce]

I am going to be using pro-mix outdoors (70-80% peat). I will be adding NOTHING else besides lime, and perhaps water crystals. This is guerrilla style. Few questions on this mix.

First, the crystals I will be using can now be found at home depot. They are from miracle grow. How much should I add to each hole? I am trying to minimize my time and make it hands free, but will pop in from time to time. Would it be better to mix 50/50 with native soil and pro-mix for better water retention or just a bale of pro-mix per hole with the crystals?

Second, I use the KISS method, but for outdoor, and guerilla style, I can't be making trips every few days to feed. What is the best SYNTHETIC fert I can either top dress or mix in with soil starting from first few set of leaves and keep this going? Trips every few weeks/once a month is about my limit unless we are in drought. Feeding will be cut off towards the end so I don't want a fert that is going to be pumping nitrogen in for the next year. I will hold off towards the end for a flush. I'm running autos and regulars. I see some impressive results with jacks. Would this be my best option for this style of grow?

 

[Leroy Brown]

Mix in osmocote before planting, it's synthetic time/water release, if you see 'em getting hungry you can also top dress with your choice from espoma's tone line.

 

[Applesauce]

I've heard mixed reviews on osmocote. Some claim it is the bees knees for outdoor guerilla growing, while others say it sucks, and will make your plants taste like shit. I don't see many other options though as I refuse to make more than one or two appearances a month and it is too late to ammend.

 

[Jaymer]

I have mixed 70/30 with 70%native soil and the mixes hold moisture a lot better than plain potting mix but mixing dirt is not fun or easy until you find a nice method. I'd buy fertilizer before any water retaining crystals, If you aren't watering what good would they do? Get general purpose nutrients and fill a couple three liter bottles then jam them down in the ground, add a sponge for a cap so they drip out reeaaal slow.​

 

[GuerrillaDidgi]

im running:
70% Pro-mix sunshine mix
Epsoma Plant ton mixed in roughly pound n half per hole.
Organic compost (bagged from home depot) pound or two per hole

This will help my clones root and start off nice before the plant tone kicks in and will add nut. throughout the veg cycle

when watering im using a liquid nut. mix and molasses but thats only when i stop out rarely to visit them. unless high alt. or really exposed areas u wont need the water retainers just mulch over the base of the plants pretty good and if really worried about water put a piece of board or cardboard at the bottem of your hole and layer with organic matter (dead leaves, stream silt, etc.) and that should keep u hydrated

hope that helps

 

[Applesauce]

What type of compost from Home Depot? I haven't searched well but did see some manure. What color bag?

 

[Rob547]

HD has the Scott's compost/humus, (yellow/white bag, .75cf I think) I just got some myself. Its cheap, and I believe its helpful. Personally if you're not trying to go out to them much I don't see the point on spending way more money on promix, esp. if your going inorganic anyway. I would just get the MG or Scotts moisture control that already feeds for several months, then just feed here and there with MG ferts or something cheap. The promix itself is quite inert to begin with as well.