Can I do 30% top soil, 30% compost, 30% promix and 10% worm castings?

Them roots gotta breathe. Easier to do in a light, fluffy, well draining medium, rather than a compact one that retains water.
If I hold my head under water for ten minutes, the water doesn't kill me, lack of oxygen does. Roots have to take in oxygen from
the air gaps and spaces between the soil particles. It's critical if you want a zero defect healthy grow that maximizes quality and quantity.

wil2279 said:

Standard soil recipe is
1/3 peat or coco
1/3 compost & castings
1/3 perlite or vermiculite or rice hulls

If you are using dry ammendments, you could probably do
50-60% coco or peat moss
30% perlite or rice hulls or whatever
10-20% castings and add your dry ammendments

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Thanks for the info! Maybe a dumb question, but if I make a mix like this, is it still considered an organic/soil grow since there is no top soil included?

mwinpp said:

Thanks for the info! Maybe a dumb question, but if I make a mix like this, is it still considered an organic/soil grow since there is no top soil included?

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Yes... potting soil is normally peat moss based. I don't thing anyone who says they grow in soil is actually using top soil.

wil2279 said:

Yes... potting soil is normally peat moss based. I don't thing anyone who says they grow in soil is actually using top soil.

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I've found it's not too common, but for the record I have been mixing 1:1:1 vermicompost, topsoil, and perlite (with splashes of Dolomite, gypsum, 4-4-4, and DE).

In one pot, I left off with the DE and perlite, using vermiculite instead--and that might be my new recipe for awhile. I like how that soil is performing.

JimmyJackCorn said:

I've found it's not too common, but for the record I have been mixing 1:1:1 vermicompost, topsoil, and perlite (with splashes of Dolomite, gypsum, 4-4-4, and DE).

In one pot, I left off with the DE and perlite, using vermiculite instead--and that might be my new recipe for awhile. I like how that soil is performing.

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It can definitely be used. Top soil is generally more dense than people prefer to grow in. I personally think it might be a great thing to have a few handfuls of topsoil in your mix. I just don't bother.

20-30% Worm casting is better.
20-30% perlite.
The rest is either a mix of the topsoil/promix or choose one.
Gaia 4-4-4 & 2-8-4 is great and the plants love it. Make sure to keep up with top dressing 2-8-4 or you'll regret it.
I use promix myself. Gaia should have all the micro and macro nutrients. A dash of mycorrhizae when you're transplanting wouldn't hurt, pro mix is full of it.