adding compost to soil less mix?

aimeruni · April 5, 2012

I know it's not recommended to add compost to a soil less mix w/container gardening because addition of compost to soil less mix will make soil less mix too heavy.

Most plants love soil mix, but root veggies never form bulbs/roots. I use light colored containers to cool roots, the soil depth isn't too shallow (12"-18"), and water well w/out overwatering.

Realize adding raw compost (from animal....cow, chicken, etc.) will cause problems. However will be using commercial packaged compost.

My questions are.....

1.Soil less mix already calls for 2 c Osmocote per 30 gallon batch, it's a dry pelleted fertilizer.
If adding compost to soil less mix, should Osmocote be reduced; if so reduce to how much per 30 gallon batch?

2.The measurements for my soil less mix are as follows.......(measurements are per 30 gallon batch)

2-3 cu ft pine bark fines (pine bark mulch)
5 gallons peat
5 gallons perlite
2 cups dolomitic (garden) lime (or gypsum in some cases)
2 cups CRF (if preferred)
1/2 cup micronutrient powder (or other source of the minors)

Should I just reduce the amount of peat and replace whatever amount of peat I subtract with an equivalent amount of compost (that is if I reduce the peat from 5 gallons per 30 gallon batch to 3 gallons per 30 gallon batch, would I just replace w/2 gallons of compost?)

OR should I leave the soil mix as is, and add compost directly to it when I make up the batch? If so how much compost should I add (in gallons) per 30 gallon batch?

casserole · April 28, 2012

Just do whatever you want. Keep us posted

April 5, 2012	#1
aimeruni Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brooksville FL, zone 9a Posts: 67	adding compost to soil less mix? I know it's not recommended to add compost to a soil less mix w/container gardening because addition of compost to soil less mix will make soil less mix too heavy. Most plants love soil mix, but root veggies never form bulbs/roots. I use light colored containers to cool roots, the soil depth isn't too shallow (12"-18"), and water well w/out overwatering. Realize adding raw compost (from animal....cow, chicken, etc.) will cause problems. However will be using commercial packaged compost. My questions are..... 1.Soil less mix already calls for 2 c Osmocote per 30 gallon batch, it's a dry pelleted fertilizer. If adding compost to soil less mix, should Osmocote be reduced; if so reduce to how much per 30 gallon batch? 2.The measurements for my soil less mix are as follows.......(measurements are per 30 gallon batch) 2-3 cu ft pine bark fines (pine bark mulch) 5 gallons peat 5 gallons perlite 2 cups dolomitic (garden) lime (or gypsum in some cases) 2 cups CRF (if preferred) 1/2 cup micronutrient powder (or other source of the minors) Should I just reduce the amount of peat and replace whatever amount of peat I subtract with an equivalent amount of compost (that is if I reduce the peat from 5 gallons per 30 gallon batch to 3 gallons per 30 gallon batch, would I just replace w/2 gallons of compost?) OR should I leave the soil mix as is, and add compost directly to it when I make up the batch? If so how much compost should I add (in gallons) per 30 gallon batch? Last edited by aimeruni; April 5, 2012 at 05:47 PM.

April 28, 2012	#2
casserole Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dousman, WI Z5 Posts: 95	Just do whatever you want. Keep us posted