Help me figure percentage of each for my soil mix? - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

Lumix · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 11:29 PM

Help me figure percentage of each for my soil mix?

This is what I have

Potting soil
Worm castings
Top soil
Perlite
Sand
Bone meal

Thanks

pine boy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 07:09 AM

30%potting soil
30%topsoil
40%perlite
All you want worm castings
sand-I dunno
bone meal 1 cup per 1.5 cubes

jangel · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 08:12 AM

Lumix, not sure why you are using topsoil. Topsoil by it's very nature is not easy to describe and know WHAT it is. In some areas it is sandie, no humas in it. Or it can be clay based, with rocks in it. It depends where they got it from. It can even be subsoil. I would not use that at all. I use promix or triple mix. Then you have an idea of what is in it at least.

Peace

Lumix · #4 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jangel

Lumix, not sure why you are using topsoil. Topsoil by it's very nature is not easy to describe and know WHAT it is. In some areas it is sandie, no humas in it. Or it can be clay based, with rocks in it. It depends where they got it from. It can even be subsoil. I would not use that at all. I use promix or triple mix. Then you have an idea of what is in it at least.

Peace

Thanks Jangel, you being soil and me hydro, I will definitely not use top soil then.

jangel · #5 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumix

Thanks Jangel, you being soil and me hydro, I will definitely not use top soil then.

No worries, sweetie. One other thing: How big a batch are you mixing? And do you have a cement mixer? I use that now to mix up big batches and then bag and seal it. This way it is uniform. Then I add other nutes to THAT mix as I need it.
So 40% perlite FROM A TOTAL OF ALL ADDED TO THE SOIL as above, before the below...this is a pretty tame mix, and is what I use as a base then I use it as below. I also might add a bag per 1 sq yard of promix of Black gold compost or some such.

For instance: For seedlings and clones, add nothing but the perlite, use just the base mix. Can have light compost in it. As above

For Vegging plants: Add bone meal (1/4 cup or so per gallon) dolimite lime, (same amont as bone meal) and possibly some other granular food like cool vegging bat guanno or Fox Farm American pride 1 tbs per gallon or less...not more. And some worm castings...but lightly.

For flowering plants: Add bone meal and dolimite lime (same as above) plus hot bat guanno for bloom stage, and possibly a tablspoon or LESS (this is hot and can burn plants so use a light hand with this) of bloodmeal. FF american pride can be lightly used.

So say you put compost, and promix into your base soil. You take an aprox. measurement of that ( I eyeball it) and add 40% of THAT volume of perlite. Also, if there is already perlite in the promix, add less to the mixture. And go easy on the worm castings....ask Ileso, they can indeed burn your plants.

peace

Lumix · #6 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jangel

No worries, sweetie. One other thing: How big a batch are you mixing? And do you have a cement mixer? I use that now to mix up big batches and then bag and seal it. This way it is uniform.

So 40% perlite FROM A TOTAL OF ALL ADDED TO THE SOIL

So say you put worm castings, compost, and promix into your base soil. You take an aprox. measurement of that ( I eyeball it) and add 40% of THAT volume of perlite. Also, if there is already perlite in the promix, add less to the mixture. And go easy on the worm castins....ask Ileso, they can indeed burn your plants.

peace

I'm preparing for an all soil grow of 16 3 gal pots that comes to 7.5 cubic ft of mix.

I'm going to get one of those kiddie pools I was told that works well for mixing.

I have presently 1.5 cf of worm casting for the job, think thats to much for 7.5 total?

Thanks so much.

jangel · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 01:27 PM

I would be caustious of it, Lumix. I have nver used worm castings so I can't say.

Good luck sweetie.

ileso · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 09:39 PM

go easy on the worm sht or it will cause you a crap load of problems. literaly.
my last mix was ok and i used just enough that it was only just noticable i was using them in the soil.

ok hard to quantify, but i do alot of my growing that way. but like most manures plants cant survive if theres too much

jangel · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ileso

go easy on the worm sht or it will cause you a crap load of problems. literaly.
my last mix was ok and i used just enough that it was only just noticable i was using them in the soil.

ok hard to quantify, but i do alot of my growing that way. but like most manures plants cant survive if theres too much

...the voice of experiance of the buuuuurrrnnnnnn of toooooooo muuuuuccccchhhhh poooooooop!

ileso · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 09:44 PM

oh yeh. im not going down that road again.. i learnt the hard way.

like mies said. 'less is more'

Lumix · #11 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 10:09 PM

OK, just so it's noticeable
Thanks

ileso · #12 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 12:08 AM

sorry if i wasnt able to be specific.

but im sure from what you put in, by the end of the grow you will have worked out if its too much or too little. and adjust for the next grow. plus different strains require different amounts of N. but that sort of adjustment comes from knowing the habits of different strains. usually you get that from experience. its always good to ask around about the requirements of different indicas or sativas..

yeh.. and good luck.

Lumix · #13 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 12:12 AM

Is there any truth that too much N makes more males?
Thanks

ileso · #14 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 12:24 AM

.. the jury is still out on that one.. some say yes. i say no... i use chook poo alot. and never had many males. so all i can say is not for me. maybe someone else can clarify if its true. i try not to worry very much about such things.

Lumix · #15 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 02:31 PM

Here's my mixed, had to get it done and mixed before the next grow and winter

Potting mix
Compose
Worm Casting
Perlite
Bat Gino
Lime
Bone meal

ileso · #16 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 01:36 AM

cool. that soil looks like its dying to get laid up with a nice girl or two... lucky soil

Lumix · #17 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ileso

cool. that soil looks like its dying to get laid up with a nice girl or two... lucky soil

LOL
Won't be till 12/28 till they hook up

I needed to beat the winter to mix my soil outside, have it stored in containers ready to go.
Thanks