[GrnMtnGrwr]

I know the NPK profile is dependent on what the worms got to eat, but does anyone know a ballpark idea? Maybe of some common brands?

I'm mainly wondering if and how long a plant could grow in a medium with a third EWC, a third coco, and a third perlite. Yield is not the goal here. Stupidly simple organic growing is.

Maybe a cutting thrown into this and flowered immediately, given nothing besides molasses...

[Frozenguy]

Originally Posted by GrnMtnGrwr

I know the NPK profile is dependent on what the worms got to eat, but does anyone know a ballpark idea? Maybe of some common brands?

I'm mainly wondering if and how long a plant could grow in a medium with a third EWC, a third coco, and a third perlite. Yield is not the goal here. Stupidly simple organic growing is.

Maybe a cutting thrown into this and flowered immediately, given nothing besides molasses...

Who says it can?

These weeds can survive with very little.
The less nutes you use, the less light you have to use. If you try to use too much light, it will eat the nutes right out of the soil. Less light requires less nutes.

And yes, longer the veg, more nutes the plant will need.

Why have perlite with coco btw? I have never used perlite with coco.Isn't that the whole point of coco is its great aeration properties?

[GrnMtnGrwr]

Originally Posted by Frozenguy

Who says it can?

These weeds can survive with very little.
The less nutes you use, the less light you have to use. If you try to use too much light, it will eat the nutes right out of the soil. Less light requires less nutes.

And yes, longer the veg, more nutes the plant will need.

Why have perlite with coco btw? I have never used perlite with coco.Isn't that the whole point of coco is its great aeration properties?

The only side by side tests I've seen with coco and perlite have indicated having additional perlite improves yield. I plan to do a test of my own in the next few grows, but right now it's an informed decision. (Link in sig)

[generalgrievous]

imo.... perlite belongs in everything in containers.... i don't use it in the ground outdoors.......

your 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 blend is what i started with as my base mix for my 'hot soil' i just threw together day before yesterday for 2 outdoor girls this season......they'll get water only unless they run out of food, in which case they'll get some organic tea feedings....

it's outside 'cooking' in the snow damn it...... i also have 3' tall fava bean stalks in beer cups waiting as well.... they look pretty cool.

[GrnMtnGrwr]

Originally Posted by generalgrievous

imo.... perlite belongs in everything in containers.... i don't use it in the ground outdoors.......

your 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 blend is what i started with as my base mix for my 'hot soil' i just threw together day before yesterday for 2 outdoor girls this season......they'll get water only unless they run out of food, in which case they'll get some organic tea feedings....

it's outside 'cooking' in the snow damn it...... i also have 3' tall fava bean stalks in beer cups waiting as well.... they look pretty cool.

Awesome, thanks for weighing in generalgrievous!

That's definitely some encouraging info.

[DocLeaf]

33% EWC in a mix may make the medium too heavy and cold. We mixed coco and worm cast last season and found that root growth was hampered by too much EWC.

EWC make trace nutrients like calcium available to the plants and in general keep the coco medium condition healthy,, but the plants still need a NPK feed to support growth and flowering.

Hope this helps

[GrnMtnGrwr]

Originally Posted by DocLeaf

33% EWC in a mix may make the medium too heavy and cold. We mixed coco and worm cast last season and found that root growth was hampered by too much EWC.

Thanks DocLeaf, definitely helpful!

What ratio did you mix coco and EWC, and what size containers did you use the mix in? What were the temperatures?

Thanks again!

[DocLeaf]

Originally Posted by GrnMtnGrwr

Thanks DocLeaf, definitely helpful!

What ratio did you mix coco and EWC, and what size containers did you use the mix in? What were the temperatures?

Thanks again!

- 80% Coco / 20% EWC
- all sizes ranging from 1nch cell trays to 25 liter planters.
- the mix took longer to warm into spring and cooled quicker into autumn than soil subtrates.

In future ,, this season,, we only plan on using 5-10% EWC max!

Hope this helps

[GrnMtnGrwr]

Cool, thanks for the info.

[IamAdirtyGirl]

Good 411 - going to start my worms soon!