uk soil options

so what are all my fellow uk gardeners using for soil . have read some where that certain types from the big diy chain stores are good . :?:
 

Bigby

Well-Known Member
I use Bio-bizz All mix. I get mine from Growell, but all local hydro stores sell it. My weed is way better than my mates who grows in simple Jon Innes from the garden centre. Anything will work, it's a weed after all. But the 'All Mix' is not that much more than cheap compost, and will likely mean the difference between mid and high grade. Well worth spending just that little bit more for quality mate.
 

ThE sAtIvA hIgH

Well-Known Member
use coco instead of soil its so simple and the results are amazing compared to soil .
trust me if you switch to coco , you will thank me later .
 

Bigby

Well-Known Member
yeah like what ya sayin , prefer that little more outlay for better smoke . what if any nutrients do u use mate .
I use the Bio-Bizz 'Grow', 'Bloom', and 'Alg-A-Mix'. I find a litre of 'Grow' and 'Bloom' and 500ml of 'Alg-A-Mix' manages to last me two complete grows - based on 6 plants in 10 litre, or 3 plants in 20 litre containers, vegged for 4 weeks (9-10 week flower strains). My first few grows I didn't use the 'Alg-A-Mix', and I experienced loads of little niggly issues; since I've been using it that's all stopped. Well worth making sure you've got your micro nutrients (which is what that is).

Having reflected a little more, I did grow an autoflower (super critical I think) in compost I bought from Homebase. The main issue I had with it was the terrible drainage compared to the 'All Mix'. It was pretty much impossible to flush - it just took too long to drain away. Would probably have been improved with a liberal addition of perlite - so consider that if you do end going for cheaper stuff. The weed was acceptable if I remember correctly, but the plant had problems which I couldn't solve due to the problems with flushing.
 
bigby what size pots do you use out of interest . oh n just been on growells site and had a look at ur suggestions , happy days ;/
 

Bigby

Well-Known Member
bigby what size pots do you use out of interest . oh n just been on growells site and had a look at ur suggestions , happy days ;/

I've recently swapped from 11 litre square pots to 20 litre round pots (again from Growell lol). I used to run 7 plants using the 11 litre pots and got about 2oz a plant - just finished flowering 3 plants in the bigger pots and got between 3 and 4oz per plant. Currently got 3 trained plants flowering in the bigger pots and I expect 5oz+ from each.

I made my decision to have fewer, but bigger plants/pots primarily due to wanting a small veg area too. In the worst case event that I do get busted I only have 6 plants (or so) total - 3 flower and 3 veg - rather than 12 total. The yields are about the same (which is nice considering it's from fewer plants); but more plants would equal worse punishment regardless of the similar yields.

And yeah man, getting started growing is happy times indeed. All the best with it! :-)
 

Bigby

Well-Known Member
Yeah. I like the thinking behind them. I don't use them as I move my plants around quite a bit and like the solidity of the proper pots.
 

moggggys

Well-Known Member
levingtons , 3 for 12 quid

although i also buy from the local garden centre some other stuff that i cant remember the name of , generally soil is soil is soil , i reuse again and again , im presently replacing the soil i use at the moment as its around the 3-4 yrs old

i use appropriate sized pots so 3.5 or 6 liter or sometimes if i intend to go big 11 and tend piss the 1gpw
 

dura72

Well-Known Member
yep bigger pot= bigger roots=bigger plants.....but launch the soil and go for coco mate...i gre soil for years but i wouldnt go back. coco is idiot proof.....which kinda suits me.
 

sworth

Well-Known Member
levingtons , 3 for 12 quid

although i also buy from the local garden centre some other stuff that i cant remember the name of , generally soil is soil is soil , i reuse again and again , im presently replacing the soil i use at the moment as its around the 3-4 yrs old

i use appropriate sized pots so 3.5 or 6 liter or sometimes if i intend to go big 11 and tend piss the 1gpw
I reuse my soil mix as well. I bag it back up after harvest and leave it for a few months, then use it as a 50% base to mix with my composts,worm casts etc.

All the additives and organic compost come from my local garden centre..no problems yet.

Wish I had a local hydro shop to buy a Herb specific soil at the start though, just to be safe...

And it's probably best to leave the old soil to sit a bit longer than a few months...
 
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