After some cheap potting mix help - Australia/New Zealand - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

nksv · 10-12-2016, 06:02 AM

Hey all

Just wondering if anyone in OZ has found any cheap potting mix brands to be any good. Like has anyone used those cheap safeway brands etc?

I'll be mainly using them within a mix of compost, perlite etc anyway to bulk up my soil mix....or would any cheap mix be ok. I'll be avoiding slow release ferts etc.

Just needing to bulk up my soil! Thanks all.

ClarkGrizz · 10-12-2016, 09:49 PM

What's cheap? I use the grow better organic, $12. It's lightly pre-fertilised with cow poultry and blood/ bone.

nksv · 10-13-2016, 12:18 AM

I'm referring more to the ultra cheap stuff at safeway/coles. 2 bags for $5/6 sometimes!

taslicker · 10-13-2016, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nksv

I'm referring more to the ultra cheap stuff at safeway/coles. 2 bags for $5/6 sometimes!

dont bother. even if you boost up the organics with blood n bone, dynamic lifter and worm castings you dont know what shit they put in to bulk it up.

you'll regret buying it.

nksv · 10-13-2016, 09:10 AM

Thanks Taslicker, my gut feeling was saying that but was hoping that there was that special cheap mix out there, like a good cheap wine!

canna317 · 10-23-2016, 12:47 AM

in general cheap potting mix is toxic to most plants including weed, i have sifted black & gold potting mix & found 90% woodchips...absolutely detrimental to cannabis, other major brand potting mixes also contain very large percentages of woodchips(used as cheap filler instead of quality ingredients), try to buy the best quality potting mix you can find, do the sift test & aim for the least amount of woodchips available, surely your plants deserve that!

Dion · 11-18-2016, 04:22 AM

i get the scots organic bag for like 13 bucks and mix it with a block of coco 5 bucks and worm castings.

makes about 60 litres of organic soil for about 20 bucks that doest need any nutrient from seedling until after stretch.... thats cheap for me but i dunno how pov u are

hahaha

therevverend · 11-18-2016, 04:42 AM

Organic Black Gold is the cheapest dirt that will actually work. I've used it a number of times in the winter when there was nothing else organic available. My friends used to carry it home from Fred Myers on their bikes. But you have to add a bunch of amendments because it doesn't have a whole lot in it.
You're exactly right Canna317 so many potting soils are basically wood chips. Pisses me off. Wouldn't say they're exactly toxic when composted and broken down but not good. I've used them plenty of times but you have to add a lot of other stuff. At least less then 50% but I'd go well under 25%. 10% or less and you'll have a real good mix.
I've had to experiment with it sucks that a lot of places think no one gardens in the winter. It's indoor potting mixes!

nksv · 11-19-2016, 03:24 AM

Cheers all. Been stocking up on compost and debco organic. The debco has been great so far; bit of coco to bulk up. Plants in veg are happy as. Some gogo juice as well.

taslicker · 11-21-2016, 08:51 AM

i used to use Debco but cant get any now so i use this
https://www.rpmulching.com.au/potting-mix/coco-pro

its base is coco chips and fibres
im using it on a grow atm and didnt need to add any nutes for the first 2 months.
its a nice open, free draining, mix so i didnt need to add any perlite.

10-12-2016, 06:02 AM	#1
nksv Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 321	After some cheap potting mix help Hey all Just wondering if anyone in OZ has found any cheap potting mix brands to be any good. Like has anyone used those cheap safeway brands etc? I'll be mainly using them within a mix of compost, perlite etc anyway to bulk up my soil mix....or would any cheap mix be ok. I'll be avoiding slow release ferts etc. Just needing to bulk up my soil! Thanks all.
	Quote

11-18-2016, 04:22 AM	#7
Dion Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: On my way to happiness Posts: 1,461	i get the scots organic bag for like 13 bucks and mix it with a block of coco 5 bucks and worm castings. makes about 60 litres of organic soil for about 20 bucks that doest need any nutrient from seedling until after stretch.... thats cheap for me but i dunno how pov u are hahaha __________________ ----///-\\\---- ---\|\|\|---\|\|\|--- ---\|\|\|---\|\|\|--- ---\|\|\|---\|\|\|--- ----\\\-///---- -----\\///----- ------///\----- -----///\\\---- ----///--\\\---
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

11-18-2016, 04:42 AM	#8
therevverend Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NW Posts: 701	Organic Black Gold is the cheapest dirt that will actually work. I've used it a number of times in the winter when there was nothing else organic available. My friends used to carry it home from Fred Myers on their bikes. But you have to add a bunch of amendments because it doesn't have a whole lot in it. You're exactly right Canna317 so many potting soils are basically wood chips. Pisses me off. Wouldn't say they're exactly toxic when composted and broken down but not good. I've used them plenty of times but you have to add a lot of other stuff. At least less then 50% but I'd go well under 25%. 10% or less and you'll have a real good mix. I've had to experiment with it sucks that a lot of places think no one gardens in the winter. It's indoor potting mixes!
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

11-19-2016, 03:24 AM	#9
nksv Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 321	Cheers all. Been stocking up on compost and debco organic. The debco has been great so far; bit of coco to bulk up. Plants in veg are happy as. Some gogo juice as well.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

11-21-2016, 08:51 AM	#10
taslicker Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: on the road to antarctica Posts: 170	i used to use Debco but cant get any now so i use this https://www.rpmulching.com.au/potting-mix/coco-pro its base is coco chips and fibres im using it on a grow atm and didnt need to add any nutes for the first 2 months. its a nice open, free draining, mix so i didnt need to add any perlite. __________________ Easyryder Feminized Grow https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=233883 FINISHED SOG/LST Grow https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=235147 FINISHED Ducksfoot Test Grow https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread....74#post5449074 FINISHED
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

10-12-2016, 09:49 PM	#2
ClarkGrizz Newbie Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 17	What's cheap? I use the grow better organic, $12. It's lightly pre-fertilised with cow poultry and blood/ bone.
	Quote

10-13-2016, 12:18 AM	#3
nksv Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 321	I'm referring more to the ultra cheap stuff at safeway/coles. 2 bags for $5/6 sometimes!
	Quote

10-13-2016, 09:10 AM	#5
nksv Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 321	Thanks Taslicker, my gut feeling was saying that but was hoping that there was that special cheap mix out there, like a good cheap wine!
	Quote

10-23-2016, 12:47 AM	#6
canna317 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 25	in general cheap potting mix is toxic to most plants including weed, i have sifted black & gold potting mix & found 90% woodchips...absolutely detrimental to cannabis, other major brand potting mixes also contain very large percentages of woodchips(used as cheap filler instead of quality ingredients), try to buy the best quality potting mix you can find, do the sift test & aim for the least amount of woodchips available, surely your plants deserve that!
	Quote