Just a question about soil.

I have read that when using super soil most people put a base layer above it with just base soil so the plant doesn't burn. So my question is, does the soil above the super soil consist of just base soil with nothing in it. like for example just a bag of regular basic organic potting soil. and is it alright to add a little super soil to the base soil that the plant goes straight into but not so much so that it doesn't burn it.

Another question is i also read that putting your plant into soil with abundant nutrients in the soil causes the plant to not have a developed root system as it should because it doesn't need to stretch its roots to find the nutrients. so should you always put the plant into soil that is lacking in nutrients when its just starting to grow in the beginning?

Your answers are much appreciated. Thank you

Are you talking "supersoil" like Subcool's recipe? He puts a layer of soil above his.

Most of the other recipes out there don't call for this. I never layer my soil, but my mix isn't quite as hot as "supersoil", so it doesn't burn plants at full strength.

the reason behind using weaker soil for young/small plants is that young/small plants are easier to burn. if the soil is healthy the roots will develope quickly as long as the plant isnt getting burned.

I'd layer it to be safe the first time around. I put roughly 1/3 super soil to 2/3 mixture of all purpose potting soil with 20% being perlite and another 20% castings. My more nutrient heavy plants i used 1/2 super soil. I'd also make sure you put some unamended soil right on the bottom of the hole you plan on putting your plant into. Just more as a safety precaution for younger plants. As for the roots not stretching because of to much nutrients, i have never heard of that before. I've always been under the impression that over watering causes roots to grow slower because they dont need to stretch to get to the water. However keep in mind im a new grower as well, but have read jorge cervantes book, ed rosenthals and true living organics, 30+ related magazines as well as searching forums like this all day. Hope that helped. Sorry for the large paragraph, computers acting up and wont allow me to break it up into segments

Thank you all for your input, i find it all very useful. and my "supersoil" is just a mix i put together not necessarily as hot as ss. I think i will just mix a little into the base soil just enough so that they don't burn. I am also somewhat of a new grower. just been growing for about 5 years but nothing too complicated like hydro just simple organics and outdoors.

Are you starting with clones? Or seeds?

I usually start with newly rooted clones in a 1/2 gal pot with a simple mix of 33% peat, 33% worm castings, and 33% pumice or perlite (whichever I have on hand). To that I add just a little kelp meal, and a little lime or oyster shell. Once they have filled that 1/2 gal pot with roots, they are ready for my soil mix at full strength.

I usually start with seeds. i have bought clones before but they always go into flowering way too early and they don't end up getting very big. and i thought the kelp meal was supposed to be broken down in the soil first or does it not matter that much for kelp? Do you also use peat in your soil mix? I didn't want to use peat because before i read that it could be too acidic, have you ever had this problem occur or does the lime counter this?

SpicySativa said:

Are you talking "supersoil" like Subcool's recipe? He puts a layer of soil above his.

Most of the other recipes out there don't call for this. I never layer my soil, but my mix isn't quite as hot as "supersoil", so it doesn't burn plants at full strength.

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^^^^^^THAT^^^^^^

Subs supersoil is nothing more than jumped up regular mix like LC's or Vic's. Calling these mixes 'base' is confusing to a lot of people.

I also just make one mix for everything, mostly container veggies. MJ gets ~15-20% of the total mix made, usually around 10cf at a pop. No layering, just use it for everything except seeds/seedlings and freshly rooted clones. I keep a 5 gallon bucket of used mix for those.

To make supersoil, if desired, just take a bucket or so of this mix and add more N-P-K to it and let it cycle for a bit. Much easier than making a entire batch of it.

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