Clay soil problem - first grow

**SanCasanova** · 03-17-2012, 11:32 AM

I live in a residential quarter, i dont have a car and a license yet, i don't have the money in this moment to buy some good soil and i'm using the only soil i can get, my backyard dirt.. there's very very much clay in it but my plants all all alive and well (except for the ones that died from my own mistakes) can this dirt be troublesome for the roots in a long term? can i grow in this soil until i buy some decent soil or my plants will grow very slowly until that moment? will they die? please forgive any mistake in my english skillz... thanks in advance

here's a pic

DSCF1071.jpgPS: this will be an outdoor grow

**Sunbiz1** · 03-17-2012, 11:40 AM

That's some red clay soil, looks like stuff I used to see in the state of Georgia. Clay is actually full of nutrients, problem is they are locked up, and not very usable without amending it. Properly amending clay also takes a bit of time, but there are a few shortcuts.

Can you obtain either perlite or peat?...better yet both.

**SanCasanova** · 03-17-2012, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Sunbiz1

That's some red clay soil, looks like stuff I used to see in the state of Georgia. Clay is actually full of nutrients, problem is they are locked up, and not very usable without amending it. Properly amending clay also takes a bit of time, but there are a few shortcuts.

Can you obtain either perlite or peat?...better yet both.

Yes I can, i'm sure i've seen some perlite around here, i'll search for peat too

**grandpa 1949** · 03-17-2012, 12:06 PM

Remember it is a weed and can grow just about anywhere. The results now will be different. Like said above perlite and peat will help. Good luck.

**SanCasanova** · 03-17-2012, 12:10 PM

Thanks guys i hope the best

**bird mcbride** · 03-17-2012, 12:15 PM

Don't waste you mg on clay. Pure sunbaked cow manure will work far better than clay. When I stopped using dirt I was mixing dried cow paddies and peat moss 50/50 and mixing that mix 50/50 with #2 grade soil.

**Sunbiz1** · 03-17-2012, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by SanCasanova

Thanks guys i hope the best

Try 50% garden soil to
25% Peat to
25% Perlite.

Also, if you can get your hands on some compost use it in the garden soil outdoors. That's the proper way to amend clay, but it takes several months. The above is just meant as a quick fix.

Good luck!

**yungdrop** · 03-17-2012, 12:53 PM

set plant in a tub or something that will hold water then get some cleann socks, rope, or anything long an thin made of cotton cut hole in the botton of the flower pot an push the sock in until it meets the plants roots. then fill the tub with a few inches water and let the othe end of the sock soak. this is a passive hydro setup and shoul help you with your problem

**SanCasanova** · 03-17-2012, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by yungdrop

set plant in a tub or something that will hold water then get some cleann socks, rope, or anything long an thin made of cotton cut hole in the botton of the flower pot an push the sock in until it meets the plants roots. then fill the tub with a few inches water and let the othe end of the sock soak. this is a passive hydro setup and shoul help you with your problem

Originally Posted by Sunbiz1

Try 50% garden soil to
25% Peat to
25% Perlite.

Also, if you can get your hands on some compost use it in the garden soil outdoors. That's the proper way to amend clay, but it takes several months. The above is just meant as a quick fix.

Good luck!

Thank a lot guys very very helpful!! Rep + ! I wish you were local to thank you with a nice smokin session