First Timer

K

Kerrie

Member
I am thinking of using Happy Frog Soil, mixed with some clay balls, with a mulch layer of clay balls as well. I don't want to use anything that appears white in the soil, as I'd like to use the old soil in my flower gardens outdoors. The white specks look horrible. I'm thinking that I could sift out the clay balls and reuse them?

Also, where the heck do I find Spin-Out / Microkote in paint form?!

Any input is welcome!
 
M

McFonz

Well-Known Member
I don't know much about brands but look for something good. Going cheap on soil is going expensive on everything else.
I've read Roots organic is pretty nice. And promix.
But I don't have those around so I don't know first hand.

I've read very positive comments about these recipes:


LC’s Soiless Mix #1:

5 parts Canadian Sphagnum Peat or Coir or Pro-Moss
3 parts perlite
2 parts worm castings or mushroom compost or home made compost
Powdered (NOT PELLETED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.
...Wal-Mart now sells worm castings.

Or, if you use Pro Mix, Sunshine Mix or Fox Farm mixes...

LC's Soiless Mix #2:

6 parts Pro Mix BX or HP / Sunshine Mix (any flavor from #1 up) / Fox Farm Ocean Forest or Light Warrior
2 parts perlite
2 parts earthworm castings
Powdered (NOT PELLETED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.
If you use a 3 qt. saucepan as “parts” in the amounts given above, it equals about 1 cu. ft. of soiless mix and you can just dump in a cup of powdered dolomite lime. The dolomite lime is for Ca. and Mg. not just to adjust the PH of the soil.

But, a "part" can be anything from a tablespoon to a five gallon bucket. Just use the same item for all of the "parts".


The clay pebbles could be changed with coco chunks, does pretty much the same thing but cheaper and looks better in pots.
I mulch with coco fiber. Works great and retain some water too.


I don't know where to find those products but looking at the microkote site I think adding some kelp meal to your mix would do the same deal, just better.
 
K

Kerrie

Member
The perlite is white, which I do NOT want. That's why I thought the hydro balls would work. Happy Frog is not cheap, it's made by Fox Farm.
Happy Frog® Potting Soil
Outrageous Organics from the Humboldt Nation
Your potted plants deserve the best. Their roots can’t seek out nutrients in the ground, so you have to bring it to them. That’s why Happy Frog® Potting Soil is alive with beneficial microbes and fungi that help break down organic matter and feed the plant roots. Between the earthworm castings, the bat guano, and the composted forest humus, your container plants have never felt so good. And don’t worry—FoxFarm uses only the highest quality, premium ingredients—no cheap fillers, no topsoil, no sludge. Never. We promise.
Garden tip: Happy Frog® Potting Soil is perfect for container gardens. Whether you’re growing a ficus in the dining room, a geranium on the patio, or a lemon tree on the deck, use our Potting Soil full strength in your containers. For a spectacular harvest, add our Peace of Mind® Fruit & Flower Fertilizer. Then sit back and enjoy the results.
Embrace the Vitality of Happy Frog!
Click to expand...
Microkote is a paint you apply to the pots, I don't see how kelp meal would replace this..
 
M

McFonz

Well-Known Member
Use coco fibers instead of perlite. It doesn't drain just as well but it keeps the ratio well.

What does that paint do?

I've seen a lot of people unhappy with Happy Frog. I can't tell you much more as I never tried it.


By the way, you can use perlite and just mulch your flower gardens so the perlite won't be visible.
 
SkunkDunks

SkunkDunks

Active Member
I'd never heard of MicroKote before and when I tried looking for where to purchase it, this is what I found.

MicroKoted Pots <---- This site is selling pots that are already MicroKoted. I wasn't able to find just the 'paint' but the link below gives the information for the company that makes it. Might be a good place to start if that's what you specifically need.

MicroKote Information

Kerrie said:
Microkote is a paint you apply to the pots, I don't see how kelp meal would replace this..
Click to expand...
Also, I think McFonz was suggesting that kelp meal would provide the same nutrients that the Microkote would if you're not able to find it.
 
K

Kerrie

Member
Spin-Out / Microkote is not a nutrient. It's supposed to stop roots from growing along the sides and bottom of the pot.

Anyone tried Super Roots Air-Pots? They stop plants from getting pot bound as well. But they are pricey.

I was told by a friend that Happy Frog has to be mixed at a 2-1 ratio with something else, because it's so rich that it can burn plants. Maybe that's why people are unhappy with it?? I'd like to stay with an organic soil.
 
SkunkDunks

SkunkDunks

Active Member
This is taken directly from MicroKote's website which I linked in my above post:

MicroKote is a nutrient supplement for container- grown plants designed to improve root development and provide micronutrients as the root system grows along the container surface.
Click to expand...
The site also gives the analysis of what nutes are contained in the MicroKote.

I'm actually picking up an AirPot from my local spot today to experiment with it.
 
SkunkDunks

SkunkDunks

Active Member
Did a little more searching on the site with the pre-treated pots and they do sell MicroKote by 1 and 2.5 gallon jugs. Their site also says that it's a nute supplement. I've linked directly to the gallon jug:

MicroKote Paint
 
K

Kerrie

Member
I wonder if any local places here have those? It would serve the purpose I'm looking for. I saw them in the High Times Sept edition. I'd rather not pay shipping on them, since I see they are $9 for the 3 ga ones..
 
SkunkDunks

SkunkDunks

Active Member
You get 25 3 gallon pots for $46.25 which is $1.85 per pot, which doesn't sound too bad. Whether or not you need 25 pots is another question. I've never seen them in any of my local shops but then again I was never looking for them. Good luck with your search.
 
M

McFonz

Well-Known Member
If you run organic your best bet to prevent root binding is using big pots.
Getting too many roots in one place will lead to deficiencies.

If you go with chemicals I would just get a smart pot \ air pot.
They can be used over and over and they don't use chemicals that kills roots.
 
SkunkDunks

SkunkDunks

Active Member
Just got back from my hydro spot and no one there has heard of MicroKote. I wonder how long it's been around and what it does differently than adding supplements directly to your soil?
 
K

Kerrie

Member
It's copper hydroxide, a coating you PAINT on the pots. It's not a nutrient, regardless of what that site says. It is "chemical pruning" of the roots, the roots wont touch the surface of the pot when the coating is applied.

I either want to get that coating..not the treated pots, or try the Air-Pots.

I was interested to see if anyone has used either..
 
SkunkDunks

SkunkDunks

Active Member
I did some further research into this and found an old thread with written by Uncle Ben:

Uncle Ben's Chemical Root Pruning

If you're looking for a root pruning product, then Spin Out is what you're looking for. Like you said, it contains copper hydroxide. MicroKote on the other hand is a different product altogether that DOES contain nutes. A thread on another forum says that Spin Out has been discontinued but I don't know what the validity of that statement is.

I picked up a 1.5 gallon AirPot today. It was $4.85 + tax, but if it works then I'm sure it'll be worth the extra dough. You can check my journal periodically if you want to see my experience with it.
 
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