hi-o
i've been driving myself crazy searching the internet and making phone calls all over canada trying to find a soil that is even remotely similar to roots organic with very little luck. i've found a couple of options, but they're both a 5+ hour drive from here (each way). subcool was nice enough to suggest bio-bizz light mix, but it's not allowed into canada either. what i've discovered is that organic soil is only allowed into canada from outside if it's completely inactive; no microbial life of any kind for fear of introducing a foreign and possibly intrusive life-form into the country. makes sense to me. anyway...
i was hoping to get some people's thoughts on the two soils i DID find as well as to hear if anyone has used subcool's super soil with something like promix/sunshine/bcuzz as the base. subcool says sunshine would be his last choice because he's concerned it wouldn't work well with the "water-only" approach. my question is; would it not work well in the sense that you would have to top-dress earlier/more frequently, or would it not work well in the sense that there would be more chance of lock-outs and burns/deficiencies?
if using sunshine or promix, do people add anything to make the base a little hotter (or more like soil, and less like a soil-less hydro medium)? any words from someone who's used a soil-less base with super soil would be immensely appreciated. so far, trying to find a soil that matches roots has gotten me almost banned from a country, threatened with arrest and fines, and has led me down innumerable internet goose-chases. i alos bought 10- bags of roots for over $200...then had to leave it all at the border. i AM enjoying it though.
here are the two soils i've found and could possibly drive for, if they seem worthwhile:
SeaSoil: Macronutrients: 2.1-.16-.05 32Litre bags
Created from a mixture of fish and forest fines. This top-quality product is rich in colour and in nutrients while maintaining a neutral pH. SEA SOIL™ contains all necessary micro and macro nutrients to grow a healthy garden, is weed-free, and is an excellent way to retain moisture. SEA SOIL™ is approved by the
B.C. Certified Organics Program as well as listed by the
Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). With no fish odour, this two year composted soil is a complete soil for your garden.
Gaia Green Living Soil: 4-4-4
INGREDIENTS:
Soil medium ingredients: hypnum peat, sphagnum peat, perlite, african night crawler worm castings, fertilizing soil conditioner.
Fertilizer ingredients: Alfalfa meal, bone meal, blood meal, glacial rock dust, mined potassium sulphate, natural humate complex, rock phosphate, greensand, kelp meal, gypsum, bat guano.
Any and all informed thoughts and opinions will be greatly appreciated...