ACitizenofColorado
Well-Known Member
I posted this elsewhere but didn't communicate my questions very well.
The question has two parts.
First, what ratio do these pictures appear to show for aeration (pumice, rice hulls and biochar) to earth worm compost to peat/coco? For context, this started as a worm bin of pure coco/peat.
Overtime, I moved from a bin to a plastic tub, and I added rice hulls and pumice. The problem is the bin began as entirely coco/peat, but it is now an unknown quantity of the three. Can anyone guess the ratio of pumice/rice hulls to peat to ewc? Maybe the better way to state it is, how finished does the ewc look?
If mostly finished, does that mean most of the peat/coco is gone? These pictures could be 1/3 to 1/3 to 1/3 aeration to compost to peat/coco. They could also be 40:40:20 or 45:45:10 aeration to compost to peat/coco.
So, to the second question. To create a 1/3 to 1/3 to 1/3 or 40:40:20 mix, how much of this mix should I add?
I'll be adding oly mountain to the ewc at probably a 50:50 ratio, so the aeration in these photos will be cut by half.
By that point, would I be mistaken in treating the compost (current pictured and added Oly Mountain fish compost) as containing less than 10%-15% aeration? This would mean I'm adding 10%-15% less aeration, but would I still need to add 33%-40% peat moss? Can I also assume that there is some percentage, 5%-30%, of the original peat/coco in the ewc? Based on these pictures, and based on how it feels, I believe there is still some peat, but I can't be sure. Can anyone offer an opinion?
This soil is being used in 10 and, maybe, 15 gallon pots. Transplants are coming from 5 gallons pots. I wonder if the recommended range for aeration of 33%-50% is based on pot size. Do larger pots need closer to 50%, with smaller needing less?
Last point. I've already used the ewc mix, as is, in transplants. They went from 1 gallon to 2 gallon. Adding the extra gallon immediately brought beautiful, deep greens with great new growth. (I often think poor growth or yellowing isn't a result of exhausted soil, rather a pot drying out too quickly.)
Would I be wrong in assuming this soil is good enough to use as is? The young transplants are doing great, but they're 2 gallons not 10-15, so I don't, know if the ratio as is would work for larger pots.
Feel free to answer any or one of these questions. I appreciate the help.
The question has two parts.
First, what ratio do these pictures appear to show for aeration (pumice, rice hulls and biochar) to earth worm compost to peat/coco? For context, this started as a worm bin of pure coco/peat.
Overtime, I moved from a bin to a plastic tub, and I added rice hulls and pumice. The problem is the bin began as entirely coco/peat, but it is now an unknown quantity of the three. Can anyone guess the ratio of pumice/rice hulls to peat to ewc? Maybe the better way to state it is, how finished does the ewc look?
If mostly finished, does that mean most of the peat/coco is gone? These pictures could be 1/3 to 1/3 to 1/3 aeration to compost to peat/coco. They could also be 40:40:20 or 45:45:10 aeration to compost to peat/coco.
So, to the second question. To create a 1/3 to 1/3 to 1/3 or 40:40:20 mix, how much of this mix should I add?
I'll be adding oly mountain to the ewc at probably a 50:50 ratio, so the aeration in these photos will be cut by half.
By that point, would I be mistaken in treating the compost (current pictured and added Oly Mountain fish compost) as containing less than 10%-15% aeration? This would mean I'm adding 10%-15% less aeration, but would I still need to add 33%-40% peat moss? Can I also assume that there is some percentage, 5%-30%, of the original peat/coco in the ewc? Based on these pictures, and based on how it feels, I believe there is still some peat, but I can't be sure. Can anyone offer an opinion?
This soil is being used in 10 and, maybe, 15 gallon pots. Transplants are coming from 5 gallons pots. I wonder if the recommended range for aeration of 33%-50% is based on pot size. Do larger pots need closer to 50%, with smaller needing less?
Last point. I've already used the ewc mix, as is, in transplants. They went from 1 gallon to 2 gallon. Adding the extra gallon immediately brought beautiful, deep greens with great new growth. (I often think poor growth or yellowing isn't a result of exhausted soil, rather a pot drying out too quickly.)
Would I be wrong in assuming this soil is good enough to use as is? The young transplants are doing great, but they're 2 gallons not 10-15, so I don't, know if the ratio as is would work for larger pots.
Feel free to answer any or one of these questions. I appreciate the help.
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