HELP! Am I on the right track to make my potting mix? - Page 3

shatbox · March 26, 2016

If I have a chance to stop at a hydro store that has it I'll ask for a sample of Promix BX and do a side by side. The brand of sphagnum peat moss I bought from Home Depot was Sunshine brand by Sungro Hort. It had few twigs, well sieved. Out of the entire 3CuFt bag, there was about two and a half cups of "peat/wood chips. The individual strands of peat were shorter than I remember Promix being. But no compalaints. Nice looking.

I put mine though a 1/4in mesh because I mixed in some of my homemade compost and then as I began potting I found a grub. fun time

. Moral of the story: filter individually first! Wasn't thinking.

But, in the end it probably costs just as much as buying Promix. Once bought a bale for $23 but the place moved or is no longer in business. I just didn't have the will to look around this time.

Barb, you went through all the work of solarizing, I know I've done the same. Hard to reuse or not worth the effort?

Barb_FL · March 27, 2016

Thanks for the info re: peatmoss.

Pro-Mix is $44.72 with tax. I buy it at a hydro-store but they always have the latest products; Pro-Mix is now in a white packaging; HP with Mycorrihizae + Biofungicide

I have a lot of perlite on hand. I like the super chunky kind the best.

---
Shatbox - Solarizing was definitely worth the effort. This was when I started adding the crabshells and on some the dolomite lime giving it a chance to break down before use.

It was really easy solarizing in the EB; I had great loafs going on. I removed the top layer of the existing EB first so could fit in as much mix as possible. My EB are on casters/mover's dollies so I just rolled it into the bag.

This year, I will also solarize in my home-made SWC which I didn't do last year. Last summer, I solarized just in the bags elevated on wooden pallets. I probably won't do that; it was a drag having all these bags around.

I tested using 3 ply clear bags, 3 ply black bags, and doubling the 3 ply black bags. The clear bags had the highest temperatures (150 degrees); unfortunately the clear bags cost twice as much as the black bags.

greenthumbomaha · April 3, 2016

My smart pots dry out very quickly in traditional bagged potting mixes. Despite some opinions to the contrary I added compost to give them some umph to hold a bit of moisture.

My main raised bed is 1/2 moo compost and 1/2 topsoil. It is awesome to grow in.

Now I am looking to fill a 4X4 raised bed, 4 inches deep with an easy to get mix. The hardware megastore of the midwest, Menards, sells a cheaper Promix version called All Purpose Professional Growers Mix. It is 4 cu ft compressed to 2 cu feet. I would use this with the Mel's 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite formulation or whatever I have around.

Do you consider the compressed volume in the calculation, since in short order it will compact?

- Lisa

March 26, 2016	#31
shatbox Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles County, CA Posts: 258	If I have a chance to stop at a hydro store that has it I'll ask for a sample of Promix BX and do a side by side. The brand of sphagnum peat moss I bought from Home Depot was Sunshine brand by Sungro Hort. It had few twigs, well sieved. Out of the entire 3CuFt bag, there was about two and a half cups of "peat/wood chips. The individual strands of peat were shorter than I remember Promix being. But no compalaints. Nice looking. I put mine though a 1/4in mesh because I mixed in some of my homemade compost and then as I began potting I found a grub. fun time. Moral of the story: filter individually first! Wasn't thinking. But, in the end it probably costs just as much as buying Promix. Once bought a bale for $23 but the place moved or is no longer in business. I just didn't have the will to look around this time. Barb, you went through all the work of solarizing, I know I've done the same. Hard to reuse or not worth the effort? Last edited by shatbox; March 26, 2016 at 07:49 PM. Reason: clarity...hopefully

March 27, 2016	#32
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	Thanks for the info re: peatmoss. Pro-Mix is $44.72 with tax. I buy it at a hydro-store but they always have the latest products; Pro-Mix is now in a white packaging; HP with Mycorrihizae + Biofungicide I have a lot of perlite on hand. I like the super chunky kind the best. --- Shatbox - Solarizing was definitely worth the effort. This was when I started adding the crabshells and on some the dolomite lime giving it a chance to break down before use. It was really easy solarizing in the EB; I had great loafs going on. I removed the top layer of the existing EB first so could fit in as much mix as possible. My EB are on casters/mover's dollies so I just rolled it into the bag. This year, I will also solarize in my home-made SWC which I didn't do last year. Last summer, I solarized just in the bags elevated on wooden pallets. I probably won't do that; it was a drag having all these bags around. I tested using 3 ply clear bags, 3 ply black bags, and doubling the 3 ply black bags. The clear bags had the highest temperatures (150 degrees); unfortunately the clear bags cost twice as much as the black bags.

April 3, 2016	#33
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	My smart pots dry out very quickly in traditional bagged potting mixes. Despite some opinions to the contrary I added compost to give them some umph to hold a bit of moisture. My main raised bed is 1/2 moo compost and 1/2 topsoil. It is awesome to grow in. Now I am looking to fill a 4X4 raised bed, 4 inches deep with an easy to get mix. The hardware megastore of the midwest, Menards, sells a cheaper Promix version called All Purpose Professional Growers Mix. It is 4 cu ft compressed to 2 cu feet. I would use this with the Mel's 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite formulation or whatever I have around. Do you consider the compressed volume in the calculation, since in short order it will compact? - Lisa