Would this still count as soil ph

Flowki

Well-Known Member
If doing a 50/50 mix of light mix soil/clay pebbles (soil has around 10% perlite also) is this going to require the soil 6.0 - 6.5 ph range or would it be better to use the hydro 5.8-6.0?.

If it is indeed the soil ph range, would you think theirs enough soil left in the mix to maintain ph?.
 

purplehays1

Well-Known Member
If doing a 50/50 mix of light mix soil/clay pebbles (soil has around 10% perlite also) is this going to require the soil 6.0 - 6.5 ph range or would it be better to use the hydro 5.8-6.0?.

If it is indeed the soil ph range, would you think theirs enough soil left in the mix to maintain ph?.
What do you mean by light mix soil? If you mean a soil-less product then it will likely contain a lime amendment to buffer PH, in this case its hard to screw up if u keep the ph of feed between 5.5 and 7 it will liekly stay where it needs to be. If this is a purely inert soil mix that has no buffers or anyhting then you will have to keep the PH more in line at around 5.8. IMO if you were to do this i would just go with 100% soiless product because if u mix it with clay it will likely make a solid brick that has less aearation ability, or go pure hydro and ditch the soil all togeather.
 

Flowki

Well-Known Member
What do you mean by light mix soil? If you mean a soil-less product then it will likely contain a lime amendment to buffer PH, in this case its hard to screw up if u keep the ph of feed between 5.5 and 7 it will liekly stay where it needs to be. If this is a purely inert soil mix that has no buffers or anyhting then you will have to keep the PH more in line at around 5.8. IMO if you were to do this i would just go with 100% soiless product because if u mix it with clay it will likely make a solid brick that has less aearation ability, or go pure hydro and ditch the soil all togeather.
It's just a light mix soil such as this, lasts for about a week or two.

The clay as I understand is heated into a solid and does not hold onto much water if at all. I don't know if it would compact to the level you suggest (it should in theory compact far less than the light mix alone).

What about layering instead, about an inch or two of soil to every inch or two of clay peb?. I don't know if the clay sections would dry too fast and create root issues compared to the soil sections?.

The idea is a middle ground between the oxygen levels of hydro but the water retention of soil. Naturally with the understanding you can't have the fullest of both.
 
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purplehays1

Well-Known Member
It's just a light mix soil such as this, lasts for about a week or two.

The clay as I understand is heated into a solid and does not hold onto much water if at all. I don't know if it would compact to the level you suggest (it should in theory compact far less than the light mix alone).

What about layering instead, about an inch or two of soil to every inch or two of clay peb?. I don't know if the clay sections would dry too fast and create root issues compared to the soil sections?.

The idea is a middle ground between the oxygen levels of hydro but the water retention of soil. Naturally with the understanding you can't have the fullest of both.
It seems like the soil you linked is very similar to what i use for soiless hydroponics.; Casnt tell if it has lime in it but the label will say. IMO you will have better luck just using 100% this soil, or this soil mixed with like 30% perlite. Clay will hold no air, and when mxed with soil will form a medium that holds less air and less water than the soil and perlite.
 

purplehays1

Well-Known Member
If doing a 50/50 mix of light mix soil/clay pebbles (soil has around 10% perlite also) is this going to require the soil 6.0 - 6.5 ph range or would it be better to use the hydro 5.8-6.0?.

If it is indeed the soil ph range, would you think theirs enough soil left in the mix to maintain ph?.
Unless you have already purchased that soil, which im sure will work fine, i would buy some Sunshine Mix #4. It is very similar top your "light" soil but it has myco's (micro organisms) and lime and makes a perfect little sponge in a pot that holds air and water. This stuff has almost no nutrients so you will also need a complete nutrient line like GH Flora series. If you have already bought your soil i would suggest mixing the two. I buy the sunshine in the compacted bail and it lasts me like a year for $30-$40. And the GH line is like $30 and lasts a long time as well.
 

Flowki

Well-Known Member
Unless you have already purchased that soil, which im sure will work fine, i would buy some Sunshine Mix #4. It is very similar top your "light" soil but it has myco's (micro organisms) and lime and makes a perfect little sponge in a pot that holds air and water. This stuff has almost no nutrients so you will also need a complete nutrient line like GH Flora series. If you have already bought your soil i would suggest mixing the two. I buy the sunshine in the compacted bail and it lasts me like a year for $30-$40. And the GH line is like $30 and lasts a long time as well.
The feed is synthetic, basically hydro feed with calN. The soil is well, the only available option bar coco/full organics.

What should one do with two bags of clay ;/. Is the layering a bad idea?.
 
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