Does Anyone Just Use Peat Moss to Grow In?

myke

Well-Known Member
He is also using compost & EWC.
Yes now he is but back when I first joined I dont think he was. Regardless,gaia and promix hp works,my outside flowers are doing well.Clones do well.It can only make it better by adding ewc.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Remember this - Peat moss has anti-microbial properties. This is why it's been used to dress wounds since Christ was a corporal. If you grow organic, I would suggest a lesser amount.
Only when it was living and harvested on the spot. Not dried as we use.
 

The3rdMan

Well-Known Member
For those wondering why I don't want to use compost or EWC, it is because I have done soil tests on these organics and results from the soil tests show some nutrients are high enough to possibly cause lockout issues.

Maybe pine bark or rotted wood could work. Mixing with peat moss should provide the organic material many of you say is necessary and also satisfy my quest for an organic not too high in nutrients as to cause lockout issues. This should give the microbes something to work with.

I wonder how small the bark should be or does it matter?
 
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myke

Well-Known Member
Soil tests are only a picture,doesnt tell you what will happen down the road.Its just how much you use.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Soil tests are only a picture,doesnt tell you what will happen down the road.Its just how much you use.
Most of what's in your soil can deplete long before some amendments are broken down enough to be absorbed by the roots. Especially with lil microbiology. The thing with organics is its really hard to over do it.
 

ComfortCreator

Well-Known Member
For those wondering why I don't want to use compost or EWC, it is because I have done soil tests on these organics and results from the soil tests show some nutrients are high enough to possibly cause lockout issues.

Maybe pine bark or rotted wood could work. Mixing with peat moss should provide the organic material many of you say is necessary and also satisfy my quest for an organic not too high in nutrients as to cause lockout issues. This should give the microbes something to work with.

I wonder how small the bark should be or does it matter?
If you tested my soil it would be off the charts on everything (I think). The plant doesnt use it all at once if it is an organic grow.
 

The3rdMan

Well-Known Member
If you tested my soil it would be off the charts on everything (I think). The plant doesnt use it all at once if it is an organic grow.
Right...the problem is I don't know what is "too much" of a particular nutrient that might cause problems. For example if 320 ppm is optimal for calcium, is 1000 ppm to high? I want to develop a soil profile that is balanced across the entire spectrum, but the EWC and Compost inputs I have been using are unpredictable as to what is actually in them.
 

swedsteven

Well-Known Member
Promix hp and gaia green 444 and 284 is all you need .I top dress worm casting but just here and there and a little like 1/4Cup every month just because i bought a bag but really no difference.
Last thing if you are going to reuse your pot add lime every 6 month or second grow cheap in home depot reno ...

THE RECIPE FOR SUCCES

Each 5 gallon off promix hp add 1 cup off gaia 444 and half cup off worm casting. And then tap water until the under pot hold a bit off water and mix it in Well.
Plant clone or 3 week old seedling.

After 2 to 3 Week topdress gaia green 444 1/4cup and 284 1/4Cup and worm casting 1/4cup

After 1 week i flip 12/12 and i top dress at week 2 and 5 off flowering gaia green 444 1/3cup and 284 1/3cup .

If you dont push your light as strong as me you will need only 1/4cup instead off 1/3 cup in flower.
Peace keep it green
 

xox

Well-Known Member
I understand peat moss needs to be buffered. I use oyster shell flour. I was wondering if anyone added dry amendments to peat but left out organic materials such as ewc or compost and run the grow by just adding water. I think this would be considered soilless and wanted to know how this would differ.
yea i duno man peat is kinda like coco they are both inert. i dont use dry amendments or plain water. i use liquid nutrients that are meant for hydroponics you would be wise to go that route as well if your going to grow in peat the only time i use anything dry is top dressing dolomite lime but thats not really for the calcium or magnesium its for raising the ph of the peat back to the 5.9 - 6.1 range i only do this if i see the ph drifting to far out of range in between waterings. it sounds like you want to use dry amendments that are organic if thats the case i recommend you use soil.
 

loco41

Well-Known Member
Right...the problem is I don't know what is "too much" of a particular nutrient that might cause problems. For example if 320 ppm is optimal for calcium, is 1000 ppm to high? I want to develop a soil profile that is balanced across the entire spectrum, but the EWC and Compost inputs I have been using are unpredictable as to what is actually in them.
I would be more concerned about the microbial life in the compost/ewc than it's nutrient profile. I've always subscribed to the compost being the heart of the soil. I consider my ewc a fix all cure and I have no clue of their npk. I imagine they would test through the roof on all sorts of things but always have happier plants when top dressed with straight ewc.

I think the only way to find your answers on what works or not is just trial and error on your part. I'm sure it can be done, it may just take working through some hiccups to figure it out. At the very least even just a handful or two of compost will introduce a "broader spectrum" of microbes to the mix and I'd like to think the best balance you can hope for is a thriving soil web.

No expert, just my two cents. I've never tested my soil as a disclaimer, just think they don't/can't tell the whole story like watching a plant.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I would be more concerned about the microbial life in the compost/ewc than it's nutrient profile. I've always subscribed to the compost being the heart of the soil. I consider my ewc a fix all cure and I have no clue of their npk. I imagine they would test through the roof on all sorts of things but always have happier plants when top dressed with straight ewc.

I think the only way to find your answers on what works or not is just trial and error on your part. I'm sure it can be done, it may just take working through some hiccups to figure it out. At the very least even just a handful or two of compost will introduce a "broader spectrum" of microbes to the mix and I'd like to think the best balance you can hope for is a thriving soil web.

No expert, just my two cents. I've never tested my soil as a disclaimer, just think they don't/can't tell the whole story like watching a plant.
I always like to look to nature for answers with living soil. All kinds of leaves, dead bugs, dead animals, bug and animal shit, etc.etc..... they all cover the ground. Plants still grow in it, but without bacterial, fungal life in the soil, there's nothing to break down and convert the organic matter into available nutrient.
 

loco41

Well-Known Member
I always like to look to nature for answers with living soil. All kinds of leaves, dead bugs, dead animals, bug and animal shit, etc.etc..... they all cover the ground. Plants still grow in it, but without bacterial, fungal life in the soil, there's nothing to break down and convert the organic matter into available nutrient.
I feel the same way. I have no clue if everything, bugs and all, from the outdoor compost I made was the best bedding for my worm bins but I still used it. I love having permanent springtails and sow bugs in there now. Just different kinds of helpers to the process.

I keep meaning to try and read about sow bugs a bit more. I'm pretty sure I read they are classified as crustaceans which makes me think of them as slow release chitin. Don't quote me on that, just rambling at this point.
 

loco41

Well-Known Member
Haha, a swarm of predators is always nice to have on your side.

When I first set up my newer bins a few crickets made it in. Took a couple days the find them all, bit some sounds of nature were nice in the apartment while they lasted.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I have a boom of black soldier flies now in my worm bin.Their doin it on the walls of my garage lol.
I just had a major outbreak of soil mites in some recycling soil I keep in a tote. The fucking things were EVERYWHERE! They're so tiny you can barely see them. They're beneficial, but nothing like finding them floating in another tote I keep ro water in. :wall:
 
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