do i have to mix soil with potting mix?

Ventura

Ventura

Well-Known Member
i got some premier potting soil with,

pearlite, spagmum peat moss, and limestone for ph correction. i opened the bag its brown inside, do i have to mix this will soil? or could i just plant my plants directly in there and feed them nutrients? because i guess you can grow plants on a hydro system without any soil right?>

thanks
 
Ventura

Ventura

Well-Known Member
104 viewing and 0 answers? whats going on out there? are we all too busy to take 5 mins and answer?
 
DownOnWax

DownOnWax

Well-Known Member
I would probably mix it if I were you.

I use a combination of my garden soil, perlite, and compost that I make. I usually add 40% compost, 40% garden soil, and 20% perlite. Then I will check the NPK levels and adjust accordingly.

This system works for me.

If you just have Peat Moss in there than you might have problems with moisture control and acid levels. Peat Moss is good stuff but it dries out like a Son of A Bitch!

And it is low in PH, I think around 5.0 or so. I keep my PH between 5.8- 6.3 at all times!

Hope this helped :)
 
johnwashburnx30

johnwashburnx30

Well-Known Member
DownOnWax said:
I would probably mix it if I were you.

I use a combination of my garden soil, perlite, and compost that I make. I usually add 40% compost, 40% garden soil, and 20% perlite. Then I will check the NPK levels and adjust accordingly.

This system works for me.

If you just have Peat Moss in there than you might have problems with moisture control and acid levels. Peat Moss is good stuff but it dries out like a Son of A Bitch!

And it is low in PH, I think around 5.0 or so. I keep my PH between 5.8- 6.3 at all times!

Hope this helped :)
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hmm dang i dont really have any dirt. its all frosen outside! and i live far from town and do not drive.

my other two plants, i used potting mix as well without and dirt, and they are doing fine though. no problems, except bugs. but one thing i did notice is that when i water them, the soil is almost water resistant, its like it doenst wanna soak the water down, i have to water slowly lol. is this normal? or is it becuse its potting mix without dirt?
 
johnwashburnx30

johnwashburnx30

Well-Known Member
johnwashburnx30 said:
hmm dang i dont really have any dirt. its all frosen outside! and i live far from town and do not drive.

my other two plants, i used potting mix as well without and dirt, and they are doing fine though. no problems, except bugs. but one thing i did notice is that when i water them, the soil is almost water resistant, its like it doenst wanna soak the water down, i have to water slowly lol. is this normal? or is it becuse its potting mix without dirt?
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woops i posted on my roomates account. he must have been signed in on the site. but never the less, the plants are shared.
just thought ide clear up any confusion with the names there. :eyesmoke:
 
DownOnWax

DownOnWax

Well-Known Member
If it is mostly Peat Moss then yeah it will be hard to water since it really tightens up when it gets dry.

Have you ever experienced peat pellets? You basically have to soak them in water to get them to suck up all the moisture. You should not be too bad off for right now, just keep the soil moist and water more often so you don't get the "tightening up" of the peat.

You could probably use a mister to spray the plants and it will keep the top of the peat moist so it is not too hard to water the next time. Just make sure the soil does not stay "soggy" all the time because you run the risk of getting root rot (which sucks!!!)

You might just have to watch it a little closer until you can get your growing medium to a nice consistancy. You want it to hold moisture and at the same time drain well (I know it sounds contradicting). I usually need to water every 5-7 days and I tend to flush it when I water, just make sure you have drain holes at the bottom so the roots don't sit in water.

:peace:
 
Ventura

Ventura

Well-Known Member
DownOnWax said:
If it is mostly Peat Moss then yeah it will be hard to water since it really tightens up when it gets dry.

Have you ever experienced peat pellets? You basically have to soak them in water to get them to suck up all the moisture. You should not be too bad off for right now, just keep the soil moist and water more often so you don't get the "tightening up" of the peat.

You could probably use a mister to spray the plants and it will keep the top of the peat moist so it is not too hard to water the next time. Just make sure the soil does not stay "soggy" all the time because you run the risk of getting root rot (which sucks!!!)

You might just have to watch it a little closer until you can get your growing medium to a nice consistancy. You want it to hold moisture and at the same time drain well (I know it sounds contradicting). I usually need to water every 5-7 days and I tend to flush it when I water, just make sure you have drain holes at the bottom so the roots don't sit in water.

:peace:
Click to expand...
ok thanks very much. my stuff isnt too bad right now, i think i should be fine. now i just gotta figure out my little bug problem. small white bugs, tiny tiny things, white almost clear. they move weird like they have lots of legs like how a centipede does but they are too small and i dont have a magnifying glass. they hop like a flea when i chase after them. they also do a weird little curling thing before they hop, its kind of entertaining. but they must get out. i have some tomato plants and i sprayed them with raid. just around the bottom, im sure the plants will be fine.
 
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