100% peat instead of coco?

[bicit]

Well, I'm looking into passive hydro systems, in particular coco in 5 gallon fabric pots with blumats. However coco is almost impossible to get in this area. Peat moss on the other hand, is cheap and readily available in a variety of forms. I know that peat tends to be rather acidic, but I figured 'flushing' it with RO or slightly basic water before planting to combat that.

Thoughts concerns ideas?

 

[simply_slide]

if you want coco but cant find it. go to a pet store and get eco earth reptile bedding. its what i did at first when i was on a budget and didnt know where to find it. also... ebay sells coco for daysssss...

 

[bicit]

if you want coco but cant find it. go to a pet store and get eco earth reptile bedding. its what i did at first when i was on a budget and didnt know where to find it. also... ebay sells coco for daysssss...

The pet store is actually rather expensive. Peatmoss on the other hand, is $12 for 3 cubic foot.

I decided I'm giving it a shot anyhow. It's a cheap enough experiment.

 

[OneStonedPony]

Peat moss will work, but add some perlite, some sand, and dolimite lime throughout. I do one handful of sand and dolimite lime, per three gallons of peat moss. I add one quart of perlite to that same three gallons. I find mixing it 3 gallons at a time in a 5 gallon bucket works pretty well. I sit in in the shower, wet it down good, let it set 15 minutes, and drain off the extra water. The perlite improves wicking and water retention, the sand adds silica, and the dolomite lime controls the pH over time.

 

[WattSaver]

Not to be a hater, but peat has screwed me a few times. Peat has a very dominate need for a certain moisture level, and it will take from the plant if need be. My 1st gorilla grow in the mid 80's. I packed in enough potting soil for the first bed, and got lazy and packed in peat for the second bed. Mixed with the local sandy clay soil. Everything was fine till late august (the peat might have been a little better). Then my water system failed when I showed up the soil was badly wilted, but recovered with water, the peat bed was completely dead, the life had been sucked out by the peat. This has happened to me with seedlings in peat pots before also.

So yes it will work..... just don't let it over dry. (Not that blumats have ever failed)

 

[mattisreal420]

Peat instead of coco?? Their on 2 different levels my friend