Breaking Away From The Grow Store (make your own amended soil)

[Rasta Roy]

Um, I would do this instead.

3 parts Peat
3 parts EWC
3 parts Perlite
1 part composted cow/steer manure

You inverted the EWD and the compost!

Your mix probably kills it too! I use more compost cause I have access to super high quality compost for cheap where I have to pay extra money to get a hold of quality castings! Until I get my worm bin set up i am at the mercy of big worm!

 

[Dr. Who]

a 4 cubic bag of perlite cost more than big bale of pro mix let alone the peat an lime u need to buy,thats how I roll why throw money away. peace

Don't go to the hydro store and buy supplies!

Go to where your MOM bought her garden supplies for her flowers!

1 bag of coarse perlite = 11.95
1 of Canadian Peat = 14.95
1 of cow manure = 1.99 (Mine comes from my farm - ORGANIC farm, FREE!)
1 of EWC = 14.99 (I have multiple worm bins in my personal op, FREE, ORGANIC)

Total of 43.88

You can build aprox 4.5 cft of base soil and still have plenty of perlite/Peat and manure for more.

You now have 2 1/8th times what you got in 1 of your bales. You add synthetics to yours and it's done at 1 run. I have soil that I have used and re-amended and re-used for YEARS!

I WIN!

 

[thumper60]

I recycle all my soil. Have not set foot in a grow store in over a year. It's actually gets better after a few runs because dry soil amendments take forever to break down. It's is a bit of work but totally worth the results. In my exp insects are just a part of organic grows; they occur in healthy soil but are easily controlled by diatomaceous earth, neem seed products, and spinosad. A few gnats do almost zero damage other than just being nasty but even thrips are no big deal to get rid of without chemical pesticide. If you are squeamish stick with nutes but honestly having a worm bin to make your own castings is the best investment an organic grower can make. Start a worm bin & get free castings for life; way better than bagged!!!

I recycle all my soil back in vegie garden,looks like it snowed when it rains

 

[Rasta Roy]

Don't go to the hydro store and buy supplies!

Go to where your MOM bought her garden supplies for her flowers!

1 bag of coarse perlite = 11.95
1 of Canadian Peat = 14.95
1 of cow manure = 1.99 (Mine comes from my farm - ORGANIC farm, FREE!)
1 of EWC = 14.99 (I have multiple worm bins in my personal op, FREE, ORGANIC)

Total of 43.88

You can build aprox 4.5 cft of base soil and still have plenty of perlite/Peat and manure for more.

You now have 2 1/8th times what you got in 1 of your bales. You add synthetics to yours and it's done at 1 run. I have soil that i have used and re-amended and re-used for YEARS!

I WIN!

This guy gets it.

 

[shorelineOG]

I recycle all my soil. Have not set foot in a grow store in over a year. It's actually gets better after a few runs because dry soil amendments take forever to break down. It's is a bit of work but totally worth the results. In my exp insects are just a part of organic grows; they occur in healthy soil but are easily controlled by diatomaceous earth, neem seed products, and spinosad. A few gnats do almost zero damage other than just being nasty but even thrips are no big deal to get rid of without chemical pesticide. If you are squeamish stick with nutes but honestly having a worm bin to make your own castings is the best investment an organic grower can make. Start a worm bin & get free castings for life; way better than bagged!!!

I do a no till with red wigglers and reusing the soil saves money. Feed the worms coffee grounds, fan leaves and egg shells. I like rice hulls and lava rock for aeration and coco instead of peat.

 

[thumper60]

I buy at agway 26.99 6cft coarse perlite.large bale promix 24.99 about 50 gals if u do better good for u

 

[Dr. Who]

......Wayyyy too much like work`````

No it's not! I enjoy the work and have 4 55g drums of veg and bloom soil ready to go all the time!

I do cheat and use a cement mixer for building! Best damn thing I ever bought for the garden!

It's so rewarding to "make it yourself" not to mention the resulting quality....

I recycle all my soil. Have not set foot in a grow store in over a year. It's actually gets better after a few runs because dry soil amendments take forever to break down. It's is a bit of work but totally worth the results. In my exp insects are just a part of organic grows; they occur in healthy soil but are easily controlled by diatomaceous earth, neem seed products, and spinosad. A few gnats do almost zero damage other than just being nasty but even thrips are no big deal to get rid of without chemical pesticide. If you are squeamish stick with nutes but honestly having a worm bin to make your own castings is the best investment an organic grower can make. Start a worm bin & get free castings for life; way better than bagged!!!

Agreed, In soil, fungus gnats are only annoying! Few drops of BT lift in my waterings and boom done!

 

[Cobnobuler]

I do cheat and use a cement mixer for building! Best damn thing I ever bought for the garden!
!

I often think I wish I had a small one of those. Even for what I do which is equal parts Pro-Mix, FFOF and Perlite. A little Dolomite thrown in too.

 

[Cobnobuler]

I buy at agway 26.99 6cft coarse perlite.large bale promix 24.99 about 50 gals if u do better good for u

Agway rocks. Thats where I get a big ole sack of perlite and a bale of Pro-Mix for yeah around 50 bucks. Funny cause the growstore wants that for just the Promix.

 

[thumper60]

yessir check on line u be surprised,good old boys own the one I use they understand my needs,