Using Sunshine 4

hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
I don’t know of many posts other than mine that mention Sunshine 4. Peat based potting soil. If you use Pro Mix you might consider S4.
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It’s pH adjusted. Might use some extra perlite but I’ve run it straight out of the bag with no problems. The big selling point is the price. Where I can buy Pro Mix here it’s $65 for 3.8 cubic feet. Sunshine 4 it’s $36 for 3 cubic feet. 0.8 cubic feet less than Pro Mix.

They also sell 2.2 cubic foot units. I’ve gone straight to this stuff from a few years of Pro Mix HP. Sunshine 4 Advanced has coco added. I wasn’t a fan but others might love it. Suggestion for those thinking about using soil and which one to buy.
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
hotrodharley said:
I don’t know of many posts other than mine that mention Sunshine 4. Peat based potting soil. If you use Pro Mix you might consider S4.
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It’s pH adjusted. Might use some extra perlite but I’ve run it straight out of the bag with no problems. The big selling point is the price. Where I can buy Pro Mix here it’s $65 for 3.8 cubic feet. Sunshine 4 it’s $36 for 3 cubic feet. 0.8 cubic feet less than Pro Mix.

They also sell 2.2 cubic foot units. I’ve gone straight to this stuff from a few years of Pro Mix HP. Sunshine 4 Advanced has coco added. I wasn’t a fan but others might love it. Suggestion for those thinking about using soil and which one to buy.
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All I could get here was the Advanced Sunshine Mix #4. It was a blend of coco peat at it's base. It worked well. I had a friend who had a 20K Watt grow he swore by that stuff and would use nothing else.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
curious2garden said:
All I could get here was the Advanced Sunshine Mix #4. It was a blend of coco peat at it's base. It worked well. I had a friend who had a 20K Watt grow he swore by that stuff and would use nothing else.
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I think I got a sour taste because this bale was dry as the Sahara. Had to use soap to get it to absorb liquid. Probably the first 3 times. There’s bigger problems but when you have 25 units it’s an extra pain.
 
O

Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
I'm using Sunshine 4 and considering Pro Mix.

Not sure if I will have the same problem. With Sunshine 4 outside it holds too much water for a long time.

Some things just dry out faster than others. Tomatoes were dry but Potatoes were soaking wet. Strawberries I'm holding off watering but it is soon.

Been using Happy Frog and doing fine but like the feel of Sunshine 4, I've been using Rainbow Pro Mix Grow mixed in on the first.

Just having water issues and not sure if I will have the same with Pro Mix.

Right now I'm using Sunshine 4 in my Greenhouse and Raised Beds.
 
O

Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
beefninja97 said:
thanks for the new product alert! You can also just buy peat/perlite/lime and save even more money.
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Money isn't the thing I'm wanting something that my Plants like and don't hold water so long.

Been wet here just enough to have Gnats everywhere. I was told to use a Peroxide Mix to water with which will work for my Grow but have 400 Sq.Ft. Greenhouse that there really isn't no way. Have the same size Garden and Raised Beds.

Got an Ant problem in my yard. My Baby Sister said use the same mix I use on my plants which is Dawn, Vegetable Oil and Peppermint Oil. Truth I didn't trust her so I looked it up online. They said same thing. LOL
 
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Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
Just looking at my Grow Shop. Happy Frog is just about the same price and don't have to add nutrients on the first go. Plus I've never really had a problem with it.
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
I used to use sunshine #4
But by the time I added a bag of course perlite it wasn’t cost effective compared to pro-mix HP (high porosity)
Fine if you are just using a bale I guess
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Oldguyrealy said:
I'm using Sunshine 4 and considering Pro Mix.

Not sure if I will have the same problem. With Sunshine 4 outside it holds too much water for a long time.

Some things just dry out faster than others. Tomatoes were dry but Potatoes were soaking wet. Strawberries I'm holding off watering but it is soon.

Been using Happy Frog and doing fine but like the feel of Sunshine 4, I've been using Rainbow Pro Mix Grow mixed in on the first.

Just having water issues and not sure if I will have the same with Pro Mix.

Right now I'm using Sunshine 4 in my Greenhouse and Raised Beds.
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If you do go with Pro Mix use the HP. The BX is formulated to hold water.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Silica is only utilized if you use it from the very first. S4 takes care of that. Pro Mix doesn’t. Unless they’ve changed something up.
 
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Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
OK miss figured good excuse Diminsha but I just miss figured.

Coming from a guy that accidentally got up two hours early and couldn't figure out why my water wasn't shutting off coming out of the hose. It helps when you shut it off.

Still out thinking on this I have never used Pro Mix and I'm not happy with Sunshine 4. It just holds too much water and I'm told it doesn't have anything in it so I'm mixing Rainbow Pro Mix Grow in it. $140 for 40 pounds.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Oldguyrealy said:
OK miss figured good excuse Diminsha but I just miss figured.

Coming from a guy that accidentally got up two hours early and couldn't figure out why my water wasn't shutting off coming out of the hose. It helps when you shut it off.

Still out thinking on this I have never used Pro Mix and I'm not happy with Sunshine 4. It just holds too much water and I'm told it doesn't have anything in it so I'm mixing Rainbow Pro Mix Grow in it. $140 for 40 pounds.
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Perlite is a cheap fix. The run I’m doing now I tried S4:perlite at 3:1. Every grow is an experiment for me. Always looking for ways to do better and cheaper.
Idiotic crap with the smiley face. It’s supposed to be S4 to Perlite using a colon.
 
O

Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
Oh that Sunshine 4 I'm using I water and it is just white on top. My Son thought I was doing it.

I'm really needing to do something. I getting ready to make a trip to get a Truck Load of Pro Mix and really don't want something I don't like. That is what I'm doing now invested everything into Sunshine 4 and not real happy.
 
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