No need for pre-mixed potting soil? - Organic Soil - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

persianp · 03-26-2006, 11:37 PM

When using peat perlite and wormcastings, one does not need to use potting soil?

Here's some additional questions ahead, sorry if they're annoying:
So I've been trying to read all these organic soil posts on this forum to start an outdoor organic grow. Initially I will be growing them in pots outside, until I move to a more permanent location in june, at which point I was planning on transplanting into the ground. I am growing a NYCDxDC given to me in the og days.

From what I've read in using an organic soil mix bloodmeal, bonemeal, kelpmeal, dolomite lime, and greensand are the only ammendments you really need. Teas only need to be used sparingly. Is this right?

But I also saw Opt1983 giving a "basic mix" (he got from LC) recipe involving peat, perlite, and wormcastings... is this in lieu of potting soil? Or is this in addition to potting soil? Also when one mixes the soil, do you leave it in a rubbermaid container with holes drilled in the bottom only moistening it once and aerating it constantly? Can one leave this rubbermaid container outside, and does the lid stay on?

Also is there any problems transplanting from container directly into the ground?

Thanks for any replies to all these questions.

Opt1983 · 03-27-2006, 06:23 AM

persianp, Well im not sure about the transplanting from container to the ground, and how that will work out..i've never grown outdoors. U might get that answered in outdoor forum better.About the peat question.... no.. it's just peat, perlite, WC's and lime...along with the other ferts.. bone, blood etc. The reason we do it like that is cuz that way we can control everything that is put into the mix. Potting mix's almost alwayz have additional ferts already added. You dont need holes to be drilled in the container u make ur mix in... u dont "wet" it like u would if you were watering a plant...u moiston it. This can be done by just pouring water on the mix..and stir .. and repeat till it's all evenly moist..not wet. Or you can take a misting bottle and do it that way. -Opt

persianp · 03-27-2006, 06:26 AM

Thanks very much Opt that was clear and concise.

Opt1983 · 03-27-2006, 06:36 AM

O, and i wouldn't recommend leaving the lid on. It'll be more likely to mold..which will ruin it all. You can use plain water to moiston this mix...or if you wanna help speed it up a tad make a wormcasting/kelp meal tea at 1 TBL each per gallon of water and use that to moiston. -Opt

persianp · 03-27-2006, 07:37 AM

I was just gonna ask about the lid...thanks a lot Opt1983, you've been very helpful

LavenderCowboy · 03-28-2006, 03:06 AM

Here's the same thing with potting mix:

6 parts potting mix
2 parts perlite
2 parts wormcastings
2 TBS dolomite lime per gallon of mix

5 parts peat moss
3 parts perlite
2 parts wormcastings
2 TBS dolomite lime per gallon of mix

Hope this helps....LC

minds_I · 03-29-2006, 12:18 AM

LC,

could you elaborate on what you mean by "Potting mix". Are you reffering to premixed bagged soils?

minds_I

LavenderCowboy · 03-29-2006, 12:41 AM

minds_I,

Yeah, commercial potting mix, like Promix BX.....Sorry....LC

persianp · 03-29-2006, 04:50 AM

Thanks a lot guys, as far as getting the soil moist...do I do this only once? Or is it a constant getting dry, then remoistenning (sp?) it? And can I keep it outside, or does it need to be inside, because I do not have a garage...

Also there is a product out here call hum tea, has a huge microherd living in it, would it be wise to moisten the soil with such a product, as opposed to the castings tea?

Opt1983 · 03-29-2006, 05:09 AM

Usually when u moiston the mix and let it sit, it doesnt dry out to fast, unless the humidity is really low...which shouldnt really be a problem. What happens when i moiston the mix is the top layer gets dry, you simply aerate it and BAM .. its mixed again. Usually moistoning it once i will do the trick. I guess it could left sat outside, but you might have a chance of critters getting into it, which wouldnt be a great thing. Even though u dont have a garage, im sure you could find somewhere indoors you could put your container full of mix. About the product you mention, i've never heard or used it.... can you give us a description on what it says on the label maybe, or direct us to a website? And also, you dont HAVE to use a wormcasting tea..using straght water will still get the herd going, the wormcasting tea just helps to speed it up. I've also heard that putting some blackstrap molasses in your water that you use to moiston the mix with will also help feed the herd and get the bacteria moving. -Opt

03-26-2006, 11:37 PM	#1
persianp Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 93	pre-mixed potting soil vs. "basic" mix ? When using peat perlite and wormcastings, one does not need to use potting soil? Here's some additional questions ahead, sorry if they're annoying: So I've been trying to read all these organic soil posts on this forum to start an outdoor organic grow. Initially I will be growing them in pots outside, until I move to a more permanent location in june, at which point I was planning on transplanting into the ground. I am growing a NYCDxDC given to me in the og days. From what I've read in using an organic soil mix bloodmeal, bonemeal, kelpmeal, dolomite lime, and greensand are the only ammendments you really need. Teas only need to be used sparingly. Is this right? But I also saw Opt1983 giving a "basic mix" (he got from LC) recipe involving peat, perlite, and wormcastings... is this in lieu of potting soil? Or is this in addition to potting soil? Also when one mixes the soil, do you leave it in a rubbermaid container with holes drilled in the bottom only moistening it once and aerating it constantly? Can one leave this rubbermaid container outside, and does the lid stay on? Also is there any problems transplanting from container directly into the ground? Thanks for any replies to all these questions. Last edited by persianp; 03-27-2006 at 04:01 AM.. Reason: Shorter question, better title
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03-27-2006, 06:23 AM	#2
Opt1983 Blueberry Bandit Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Corn fed. Posts: 162	persianp, Well im not sure about the transplanting from container to the ground, and how that will work out..i've never grown outdoors. U might get that answered in outdoor forum better.About the peat question.... no.. it's just peat, perlite, WC's and lime...along with the other ferts.. bone, blood etc. The reason we do it like that is cuz that way we can control everything that is put into the mix. Potting mix's almost alwayz have additional ferts already added. You dont need holes to be drilled in the container u make ur mix in... u dont "wet" it like u would if you were watering a plant...u moiston it. This can be done by just pouring water on the mix..and stir .. and repeat till it's all evenly moist..not wet. Or you can take a misting bottle and do it that way. -Opt __________________ "Nothing important was ever achieved without someone taking a chance." "Bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush."
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03-27-2006, 06:26 AM	#3
persianp Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 93	Thanks very much Opt that was clear and concise.
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03-27-2006, 06:36 AM	#4
Opt1983 Blueberry Bandit Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Corn fed. Posts: 162	O, and i wouldn't recommend leaving the lid on. It'll be more likely to mold..which will ruin it all. You can use plain water to moiston this mix...or if you wanna help speed it up a tad make a wormcasting/kelp meal tea at 1 TBL each per gallon of water and use that to moiston. -Opt __________________ "Nothing important was ever achieved without someone taking a chance." "Bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush."
	Quote

03-27-2006, 07:37 AM	#5
persianp Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 93	I was just gonna ask about the lid...thanks a lot Opt1983, you've been very helpful
	Quote

03-28-2006, 03:06 AM	#6
LavenderCowboy Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 192	Here's the same thing with potting mix: 6 parts potting mix 2 parts perlite 2 parts wormcastings 2 TBS dolomite lime per gallon of mix 5 parts peat moss 3 parts perlite 2 parts wormcastings 2 TBS dolomite lime per gallon of mix Hope this helps....LC __________________ To starve the soil, is to starve the life that depends on it....
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03-29-2006, 12:18 AM	#7
minds_I The Emperor is not only naked but batshit crazy. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norcal USA Posts: 5,269	LC, could you elaborate on what you mean by "Potting mix". Are you reffering to premixed bagged soils? minds_I __________________ His contempt for objective truth is the rejection of democratic accountability, an implicit demand that his supporters place undying faith in him. Because the only measure of truth he accepts is what he claims at any given moment, the power his supporters vest in him is unlimited. Sound familiar? If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures. In the United States, under our Constitution, a free press is a check on politicians of all parties. If we are to demand that other countries respect the tradition of a free press we must also practice that here at home. Let the people know the facts, and the country will be safe.
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03-29-2006, 12:41 AM	#8
LavenderCowboy Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 192	minds_I, Yeah, commercial potting mix, like Promix BX.....Sorry....LC __________________ To starve the soil, is to starve the life that depends on it....
	Quote

03-29-2006, 04:50 AM	#9
persianp Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 93	Thanks a lot guys, as far as getting the soil moist...do I do this only once? Or is it a constant getting dry, then remoistenning (sp?) it? And can I keep it outside, or does it need to be inside, because I do not have a garage... Also there is a product out here call hum tea, has a huge microherd living in it, would it be wise to moisten the soil with such a product, as opposed to the castings tea?
	Quote

03-29-2006, 05:09 AM	#10
Opt1983 Blueberry Bandit Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Corn fed. Posts: 162	Usually when u moiston the mix and let it sit, it doesnt dry out to fast, unless the humidity is really low...which shouldnt really be a problem. What happens when i moiston the mix is the top layer gets dry, you simply aerate it and BAM .. its mixed again. Usually moistoning it once i will do the trick. I guess it could left sat outside, but you might have a chance of critters getting into it, which wouldnt be a great thing. Even though u dont have a garage, im sure you could find somewhere indoors you could put your container full of mix. About the product you mention, i've never heard or used it.... can you give us a description on what it says on the label maybe, or direct us to a website? And also, you dont HAVE to use a wormcasting tea..using straght water will still get the herd going, the wormcasting tea just helps to speed it up. I've also heard that putting some blackstrap molasses in your water that you use to moiston the mix with will also help feed the herd and get the bacteria moving. -Opt __________________ "Nothing important was ever achieved without someone taking a chance." "Bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush."
	Quote