promix/peat vs baggedsoil for soil mix

mschanandlerbong

mschanandlerbong

Well-Known Member
i know ive been posting a lot of these questions lately, but im finally getting everything i need together, and i CANNOT mess this up. ive read books, teaming with microbes+nutrients, been on here, icmag, grasscity for the last 5 years and had plenty of half ass indoorgrows undermy belt, but this is thefirst time ive been able to get whatever i needed. my question is simple, when making my organic soil mix should ido 30peat/30 perlite 30 compost, or buy some ocean forrest and do 40 soil 30 compost and the rest in perlite and peat? im getting for amendments
gypsum
insect frass
alfala meal
azoite+glacial rock dust
neem cake
fish bone meal
oyster shell meal
greensand
kelp meal

so would starting with bag base soil be better? seems illhave lessprobs if i do it that way, wont have to add as many amendments or worry about deficienies early on. do you use soil as a base or peat/perlite/compst?
thanks for the help andsorry for buggin you all, like i said theres no room for error
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
mschanandlerbong said:
i know ive been posting a lot of these questions lately, but im finally getting everything i need together, and i CANNOT mess this up. ive read books, teaming with microbes+nutrients, been on here, icmag, grasscity for the last 5 years and had plenty of half ass indoorgrows undermy belt, but this is thefirst time ive been able to get whatever i needed. my question is simple, when making my organic soil mix should ido 30peat/30 perlite 30 compost, or buy some ocean forrest and do 40 soil 30 compost and the rest in perlite and peat? im getting for amendments
gypsum
insect frass
alfala meal
azoite+glacial rock dust
neem cake
fish bone meal
oyster shell meal
greensand
kelp meal

so would starting with bag base soil be better? seems illhave lessprobs if i do it that way, wont have to add as many amendments or worry about deficienies early on. do you use soil as a base or peat/perlite/compst?
thanks for the help andsorry for buggin you all, like i said theres no room for error
Click to expand...
first and foremost, asking questions on a forum is encouraged, so don't be shy.

second, I would think about adding a good amount of nitrogen to that mix, personally i'd add steer manure and fish meal, I have become fond of those coupled with neem meal as the best sources of nitrogen. Also the compost will naturally have some macro value as well, depending on what it's derived from.

Is the compost high quality?
meaning from leaves and grass rather than forest shreddings (mostly tree parts)
If you plan on re-using the soil i'd drop the azomite and go for another source of minerals (basalt is a good one)

also keep in mind that the greensand is literally nothing for at least a good 14-18 months or so, maybe longer.
the choice of glacial dust and gypsum is a good one.
IF your peat isn't pre-limed, you may benefit from a lil dolomite, you don't need a lot, considering you have calcium sources elsewhere, (gypsum, oyster flour, etc)
I do like either crab or shrimp meal if possible, to not only add a nice even macro value, but to also add chitin, somewhat keep the peat's ph in check, as well as add calcium.

So, i'd add a lil shrimpmeal or crab meal, i'd drop the azomite if you are gonna reuse the soil, add some basalt, and fish meal/steer manure.
that's what i'd do.
BUT it doesn't mean that's the only way.
A lot of that is predicated on the quality of the compost.
I also would look heavily for some worm castings, that'll get you the much needed bacterial microbial life that you want.
 
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