I found this local soil what do you think?

Jack Harer

Well-Known Member
Depends on how much it is. Looks like a good start. You ought to pick up a small bag and see A) How well it drains, and B) How well it retains water. Does it have clay? Clay is needed for a high cation echange capacity.
http://soils.tfrec.wsu.edu/mg/physical.htm

If it has good structure, go with it. With all of these "soils" available online, most people are too hung up on "NAMES" and whats in them nutrient wise, rather than being concerned about the actual soil structure. A high CEC, good drainage and water retention are the only REAL variables when it comes to buying soils. Everything else you can put in yourself. In fact, IMHO, starting with a no nutes added soil is preferable as you can eliminate the unknowns by adding all your own nutes. That way, you KNOW whats in there, rather than take the word of the guy trying to get you to buy it!!!
 

Vindicated

Well-Known Member
It's usually more expensive to mix your own. My opinion of that potting soil is that it could be great or it could be hype. It's hard to tell. It uses cottonseed husks, which are great, but I personally avoid them because cotton is one of the most spray plants in the industry (sprayed as in sprayed with poisons), as a result, it's a lot harder for cottonseed to be OMRI certified. I also noticed they use phrases like Organic Compost, but then don't say if everything else is organic.

If it's OMRI certified, I'd go ahead and take it. Otherwise I'd pass on it. A good cheap soil that I like, it's sold on the west cost and in some parts of the east coast, is Kellogg Patio Plus. If it's available I'd look into it. It's $4 a bag and has worm castings, mushroom compost, kelp, chicken manure, and bark.
 

Jack Harer

Well-Known Member
I agree with Vindicated, but OMRI certification isnt all that. It costs a lot of money to jump through the hoops for the certification process, and it usually doesn't amount to a superior product, just a more expensive one. I don't know if Espoma ever got OMRI certified, but I trust thier products implicitly to be 100% organic. It's the mindset of the manufacturer that I look at, and whether or not they are devoted to sustainability, rather than any certificaqtions.
 

Vindicated

Well-Known Member
I agree. Just with cotton, I'd make sure it was certified. If you were getting say Alfalfa for example, then I wouldn't care if it was certified or not, because few people spray those plants since they're primary fed to cattle to graze on.
 

dufiwon

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the quick answer's. I would love to make supersoil but right now my grow is stealth. I can't store a ton of soil and I would like to keep my cost low untill I can have a full-size grow. I forgot they do have mushroom compst and organic compost. I know the organic compost has manure in it. I will call them monday to check price and find out exactly what's in it. I can't find the Kellog's here so far.
 
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