Soil composition
- Thread starter Sunzen
- Start date
SchmoeJoe
Well-Known Member
I just use Down To Earth's Bio--Live and All Purpose. They're premade blends like you're talking about that have pretty much all of the key dry organic amendments and inoculants.
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SchmoeJoe
Well-Known Member
That "white fuzz" is mycelium from fungus. When I first considered using Azamax as a soil drench for fungus gnats I decided against it because it said it didn't have any negative affects on soil flora which essentially implied by omission that it does have a negative affect on soil fauna.
The affect of neem on soil bacteria wouldn't have any specifically negative affects on the plants performance but it could easily cost you some of the benefits of a thriving living soil.
ganga gurl420
Well-Known Member
Yeah that sounds the same as espoma. I just like their company is ran from solar power. I think thats pretty cool. And the price is great.
too larry
Well-Known Member
I added a new fert to my soil mix this week. It's from a company named Eco Scraps. It's made from food scraps, so it lacks the chicken shit smell of most organic ferts. {which is why I can use it} I went with the 5-5-5, but they had 3-4 blends to choose from at Lowe's.
NoTillPhil
Well-Known Member
That sounds like a extremely large amount of fertilizer for a 400 gallon pot. Many of the items listed will apply at rates close to 5lb per 100 square feet of garden. Each 400 gallon pot is 52 cu ft.
Your mixing items that will supply NPK multiple times so you should apply even less of each. If it were me I would apply each at about a third of the recommended application rates.
Also to much worm castings will cause a mix to compact quickly. A good way to see this happen quickly is to put a handful of worms in a 16 oz cup with your soil. Have a look after a couple weeks.
I'm honestly not sure if 120lbs is to much for 400 gallons but I'd keep it in mind.
Your mixing items that will supply NPK multiple times so you should apply even less of each. If it were me I would apply each at about a third of the recommended application rates.
Also to much worm castings will cause a mix to compact quickly. A good way to see this happen quickly is to put a handful of worms in a 16 oz cup with your soil. Have a look after a couple weeks.
I'm honestly not sure if 120lbs is to much for 400 gallons but I'd keep it in mind.
NoTillPhil
Well-Known Member
Also keep in mind that a good compost will also be supplying just about everything a grower tries to get in their pots. From nutrients, both macro and micro, to bacteria and mycorrhiza.
NoTillPhil
Well-Known Member
Did the fertilizer amounts really not jump out at anyone?
320lbs of fertilizer in a 400 gallon pot?
320lbs of fertilizer in a 400 gallon pot?
ganga gurl420
Well-Known Member
I figured that it was for all of their soil...not for a single planter lol
NoTillPhil
Well-Known Member
Maybe your right. I only see that OP says 400/gallon pots. Not how many.
It's still an awful lot of fertilizer.
It was that amount for two plants. Upon further consideration of my wallet I'm just gonna go with the down to earth bio-live and bio-fish and add 2.5 cups per cubic foot of soil. I'll probably add about a cup of kelp per cubic foot as well. The compost I'm using has chicken manure in it so it should be great for veg. I'll post a grow journal when they move into there final homes
NoTillPhil
Well-Known Member
Still sounds hot. Per cubic foot it's closer to tablespoons than cups. I have some bio- fish here. The application rate for outdoor containers is 2 tbsp per gallon or 5-10 lbs per cubic yard. There is 200 gallons per cubic yard so your much closer than I thought off the top of my head. Seems like if used alone 20lbs per 400 gallon wouldn't be unusual.
I learned a little while I wrote that reply.
Thanks!
SchmoeJoe
Well-Known Member
Another rule is if you're using two, like the BioLive and BioFish together, than you'll want tiuse both at half the rate. So if you want use them at half the full recommended amount than you'd use each at 1/4 strength. If using three you'd use each at 1/3.
NoTillPhil
Well-Known Member
And again, I agree. This is what I was getting at with my first post in this thread. I rarely actually measure but it's because I'm usually fully aware I'm applying at lower than recommended rates. More like ...... a handful of this and a handful of that.
So when using both your saying like 15 lbs total (7.5 live/fish) for 400 gallon should be sufficient? And 10lbs of each for 20lbs total would be a bit too hot ah?
Appreciate the comments guys
