After my last grow, I realized that I really like the organic approach and I am going to try to take it in that direction this time.

My soil mix is going to be as follows:

-1 part vermiculite
-4 parts Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Soil
-1 TBSP per gal. of soil of Fox Farm's Happy Frog Fruit and Flower Fertilizer/ soil ammendment
-1 TBSP of Dolomite per gallon of soil

I chose Fox Farm's product because I have heard such good things from everybody. The Dolomite is there because it acts as a good calcium/ magnesium supplement, and I always get a magnesium deficiency with any potting soil. Of course, the vermiculite is for drainage/ aeration purposes when I need to flush. It will also retain some water when I don't.

What do you think? Would it be worth the extra wait and money to go with Fox Farm Original potting mix instead of the Miracle Grow Organic Choice soil? I can't do the Fox Farm Ocean one because I am fatally allergic to crab.

__________________
Sinsemilla deserves to be free, just like any other plant or tree

Have you ever considered coco?

Coco? What is that.

__________________
Sinsemilla deserves to be free, just like any other plant or tree

Vermiculite isnt for drainage, its for retention, you want perlite for drainage and maybe some sand on the bottom of your containers. As far as the rest of your ideas I wouldnt know, im new to making all organic soil mix but im doing it this year. I will share some of what I learn in the coming days on this thread, maybe you can do same and pool our info and learn. Best of luck.

__________________
They may take our lights, but they will never take our freesun!

forget the vermeculite, use perlite.

here's a good mix...

-2 part perlite
-3 parts Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Soil
-2 parts worm castings
-2 TBSP per gal. of soil of Fox Farm's Happy Frog Fruit and Flower Fertilizer/ soil ammendment
-1 TBSP of Dolomite per gallon of soil
-1 TBSP of blood meal per gallon of soil
-1

You don't want to have more than about 20% of your mix to be perlite or worm castings. If you get more than 1/4 perlite in your pots, it will slowly float up when you water as the rest of the soil settles downward and then you get a big gob of thick mud that is a pain in the ass to work with. Extra worm castings can also make your soil too heavy. That's what happened to me on my first grow. I think lighter soil is better because you end up having to water it a little more often, so you keep your roots free of salt buildup. A light soil is also easier for your plants' roots to grow through and has better oxygen penetration to the roots.

I say remember to go lightweight and spongelike on the soil and then you can get more worm castings, blood meal, bone meal, Fox Farms ferts, etc. into the mix by mixing them with water and making a fertilizer tea to feed them.

I use 50% perlite and I have never ever had any problems with "big gobs of thick mud" forming after the perlite floats to the top. If any perlite floats to the top it is only from the top inch of soil from when the water settles on top for a second before going down to the roots

__________________

I definitely wouldn't use any more than what a fertilizer company recommends on their packaging, and Fox Farm recommends 1 TBSP per gallon. Its a good company, so I trust their judgment.

__________________
Sinsemilla deserves to be free, just like any other plant or tree

oh yeah my bad i must have accidentally added the 2. sorry.


a good organic vegging fert is fish emulsion. try it.

i was thinking about starting my own outdoor, organic garden this summer, and for my soil i was thinking about mixing Foxfarm ocean forest with Miracle grow and perlite. Do any of you know if this would be safe for me to do? mixing foxfarm and MG.