I would mix the 2, not layer them and add dolomite lime before use.
Why would you want to do that? Mix them thoroughly, if not you'll get a water pressure differential between the two mediums resulting in an effective reduction in the container size (basically). Not to mention the top would compact and dry very quickly while the bottom would not. Mix them.
Yes I'm familiar. But you're talking about using two vastly different soil mixes (Roots is primarily coco based), the only difference with Sub's super soil and the base soil is the added amendments. The base soil is the same, so there will be no water pressure differential. If you want to follow Sub's style, then do it by the book, don't try to improvise unless you're very knowledgeable about such things. Don't take that the wrong way please... And if you do go super soil, you don't need to feed at all.
you usually have good advise, so no i won't take it the wrong way. but i have gone over it and have gone against it. my buddy (grower of 20 years) has explained to me my best bet. so im just going to wait. im just not to happy with the SMA#4. and i want to use the Roots, but have been told to add amendments. and i don't know how much of each, so i am going to wait til my buddy has time to help me. he live 140 miles away. if i use Roots by itself, for now, will it be better then the SMA#4? will it burn my seedlings? can i start seedlings in the SMA#4 and the transplant into the Roots when they are more developed. any insight would be appreciated.
I'm not a huge fan of SMA#4, I tried it for a couple of grows but I don't like it's water retention. It will be fine to start seedlings though. It's very low in nutrient content, so you'll have to feed them, and no it will not burn anything. IMO Roots is far superior to SMA4, especially for our purposes. I'm curious what your buddy says is the "best bet"...
What is the ratio for the myco max? I have seen people say to add 1tbs of myco max to your soil but the jar says 4oz per 1.5-3cuft. Is this different from biotone starter plus?
I also had the same problems with SMA #4 that Wolverine had. It compacted on me also and wouldn't retain water well in the last month of flowering. Roots hasn't had that problem for me either, but if you are looking for a soilless that doesn't compact, look towards Pro-Mix. Great stuff, use the OMRI Pro-Mix if you can, if not use the Orange or the High Porosity. I love the high porosity, but it doesn't have the "Organic" cert that I like to have in anything that I use. Both are great for organic growing though. If everything you use is OMRI or organic except for your soilless mix, I would still basically consider you organic. Your plants aren't going to take a whole lot from the soilless mixes out there. They are going to take up what you give them. So if you are running an organic nutrient regimen, and the only thing not organic is your soilless, I wouldn't sweat it that much.
