Living Soil Mixes... My Own vs. PrePackaged

TropiKanna

Well-Known Member
I'm considering switching over to an organic living soil. I have plenty of recipes that I may try and make myself (even though I've never made my own living soil) but would it be more budget efficient to purchase a prepackaged living soil? Thoughts and opinions, suggestions are appreciated as always! This is the prepackaged living soil mix that caught my eye... does this make me a sheep? :lol:

 

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
I think it is cost effective to buy a decent organic base soil off the shelf and then amend it after the first run. Just add a source of fertilizer and compost for the first run; possibly some perlite/coco for aeration if that makes it kinda mucky and then fully amend the soil after harvest. Then you can aquire your amendments slowly rather than having to get everything all at once.
Oh sure you can spend a fortune on small bags of “super soil” or source everything needed and make up your own mix but buying the soil and mixing in amendments is cheaper and gets similar results. A 5 lb bag of natures “super” soil is highway robbery at $42 imo and you’ll need a lot more than this if you run multiple plants. The only thing that makes a soil “super” is compost so source some EWC or even better start a worm bin and have free compost for life...make as much super soil as you want. It doesn’t make you a sheep if you just want to water your plants and get on with your life; can’t beat the simplicity of organic soil grows.
 

TropiKanna

Well-Known Member
I think it is cost effective to buy a decent organic base soil off the shelf and then amend it after the first run. Just add a source of fertilizer and compost for the first run; possibly some perlite/coco for aeration if that makes it kinda mucky and then fully amend the soil after harvest. Then you can aquire your amendments slowly rather than having to get everything all at once.
Oh sure you can spend a fortune on small bags of “super soil” or source everything needed and make up your own mix but buying the soil and mixing in amendments is cheaper and gets similar results. A 5 lb bag of natures “super” soil is highway robbery at $42 imo and you’ll need a lot more than this if you run multiple plants. The only thing that makes a soil “super” is compost so source some EWC or even better start a worm bin and have free compost for life...make as much super soil as you want. It doesn’t make you a sheep if you just want to water your plants and get on with your life; can’t beat the simplicity of organic soil grows.
I think what it'll come down to is me buying the Natures Living Soil for my first grow just to get moving. Still not 100% on all organic but ive been reading like a mfkr trying to learn as much as I can. Ma u be ill drop the 42 this run for the autoflower mix and run it so I can begin while working on my own living soil. And I think was just confused at first but I am learning there is a difference between a super soil and a living soil. Maybe start with a living soil just to get my grow going again in the meantime. I def am willing and motivated to make my own but space may be an issue to make it and keep a barrel. Thanks for the help!
 

TropiKanna

Well-Known Member
Just make your own base its not hard...Peat moss is dirt cheap at Lowes, local compost is cheap.
Def plan on making my own. After the reading I've done over the last few days. I am still going to plant right away in a living soil prepackaged mix for the first 2 beans and i will work on my own living soil while those are growing out. I need to stay busy. But with having to cook the soil in order for everything to break down, and being to impatient to wait the 30, 60 or 90 days takes away from wanting to plant the beans asap.
 
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