Would a 50/50 mix of compost and volcanic cinder work as a base mix
- Thread starter budznsudz
- Start date
Rasta Roy
Well-Known Member
I've never used cinder for aeration, perlite has been my weapon of choice (it's my cheap local option). So I can't answer your question 100 percent... But I've done 50/50 compost and perlite alongside a even part peat moss/compost/perlite, and a vermiculite/perlite/compost mix. And then I had a fourth plant that was just in mushroom compost and perlite. They were all headband 818...it was when I was first getting into making my soil mixes and I was doing some side by sides trying to see what worked best. The even parts peat moss/compost/perlite mix worked best overall. The mushroom compost one had the best tasting bud...the vermiculite mix had the most deficiency problems. The 50/50 compost and perlite didn't do bad but the root growth was better in the peat mix and the overall growth rate and ultimately yield. Bud quality was still the same though!
Long story short...yea I think it would work...but I think you would benefit from adding some peat moss or coco coir to your mix. The compost on its own can compact a little too much.
Long story short...yea I think it would work...but I think you would benefit from adding some peat moss or coco coir to your mix. The compost on its own can compact a little too much.
budznsudz
Well-Known Member
Yea ive tried perlite n coco but always with peat, i think volcanic cinder because i feel it is the most benificial mineral wise. there is alot of dust in the bags with the cinder. its basically volcanic dust . i recently went to buy cinder and the owner of the place told me a bonzai grower comes by once n awhile to collect the cinder dust for his plants. there must be something good about it.
Rasta Roy
Well-Known Member
Yea I was reading about it after your post and it works similar to pumice...seems like it should be a good source of aeration...where'd you get it? Landscape supplier? Or garden center? I might scope out the price of some around my way.
budznsudz
Well-Known Member
Local garden center, but i found a supplier who sells by truckloads
Rasta Roy
Well-Known Member
Yep, let us place bets on which half will do better lol.
Rasta Roy
Well-Known Member
I don't have pics of the cannabis plants I did my side by side but here's some tomatoes on my back deck I'm doing a similar experiment with. The front left one is in a medium that's 50/50 compost and perlite. The other three are in a medium that equal parts perlite/peatmoss/composted cow manure and top dressed with the compost I used in the other medium. You can see the one in the 50/50 mix still looks just as healthy as the others, but it has not grown as vigorous and tall as the others.
budznsudz
Well-Known Member
id like to see the same test but using cinders instead of perlite
Rasta Roy
Well-Known Member
I'd be interested too! Volcanic cinders are super expensive in my area about $15 per cubic foot. I get 4 Cubic feet of perlite for about $14 after tax. So if I decide to try out some I'll cut it with the perlite instead of replacing perlite with it. I'm interested to see how it works for you. Keep me updated!