Be Careful With Sunshine Mix 4

HossCartwright · Mar 27, 2010

Just bought a couple bales of Sunshine Mix #4. After 2 weeks of veg my plants were looking like shit. Obviously locked out. I checked the runoff and PH was 5.0 and PPM was 3200!!! Both bales were like this. Taking this shit back to the grow store and sticking with Fox Farms products!

guest2012y · Mar 27, 2010

We should start a club,"Peat Moss Sucks" I've been all over this bad trip for a long time.

barth · Mar 28, 2010

Man i had trouble with peat based soil mixes also. I now use Pure Earth - Aeration Mix by Organicare. Stuff works awesome. Have had great results.

Ingredients: Coir fiber, composted forest product, compost, pumice, perlite, humic acid (Humex)(derived from leonardite ore), seaweed (Seaplex) (derived from Ascophyllum nodosum), fish meal, alfalfa meal, composted poultry litter (Pure), earthworm castings.

Moondog · Mar 28, 2010

Deleted

humboldtlocal · Mar 28, 2010

You got me worried. I am using a lot of sunshine #4 but it is the natural and organic version. I noticed that it smells like rum/brandy/kalua when wet. Anyone else notice this? Hey Hoss did you buy them in Nor Cal or somewhere else? Just wondering if maybe it was a bad batch and won't make it to my area.

HossCartwright · Mar 28, 2010

I called the place I bought this crap from and told them what was up. They said they'd take it back. Cool. I don't understand how they can sell this shit though. What's it good for? Both bales tested way out of range. Who knows what the long term consequences of this setback will be for the 10 plants that got potted in sunshine. Too late to go back now. I flushed them all really well until runoff was 6.0/800. Took me the better part of the day. Hope they bounce back.

guest2012y · Mar 28, 2010

I got my 6 bails in Arcata last Sept. Ph all over the place and infested with gnats. I had a hell of a time with it. I ended up using a tiny amount in my mix. Sh*t's junk IMO

dybert · Mar 28, 2010

i use straight SS #4... and haven't had a problem with it... hmmm...

guest2012y · Mar 28, 2010

dybert said:
i use straight SS #4... and haven't had a problem with it... hmmm...

I think there is a quality control problem. People either don't have issues,or they have major problems with it. Something funky is going on for sure.

HossCartwright · Mar 28, 2010

humboldtlocal said:
You got me worried. I am using a lot of sunshine #4 but it is the natural and organic version. I noticed that it smells like rum/brandy/kalua when wet. Anyone else notice this? Hey Hoss did you buy them in Nor Cal or somewhere else? Just wondering if maybe it was a bad batch and won't make it to my area.

Are there two different kinds? Mine just says Sunshine Pro Mix 4 Aggregate. Black bag with blue and red writing. I'm in CO.

How do your plants look? Have you checked the runoff?

GeorgeSmiley · Mar 28, 2010

sunshine growers professional mix is omri, sterilized, and 2.8 cuft for 18 around here. no gnats ever. Bag not a bail

for what its worth, the 4 bales Ive gone through in the last couple of months have been consistant and had no problems but I dont have an ec meter so cant comment on that. Maybe I should...... I could be fryin the shit out of these things?

HossCartwright · Mar 28, 2010

Capt.Cheeze1 said:
I got my 6 bails in Arcata last Sept. Ph all over the place and infested with gnats. I had a hell of a time with it. I ended up using a tiny amount in my mix. Sh*t's junk IMO

Gnats? WTF? Yeah, definitely sounds like a quality control issue. Glad I learned this lesson fairly quickly. If I get fungus gnats I'll be very upset though!

humboldtlocal · Mar 28, 2010

They have a #4 Natural and Organic. I believe they use Yucca extract as a wetting agent to get it organic certified otherwise no difference between it and the regular #4. I was wondering if the Yucca is giving off the brandy/rum smell. I have not used any for my starts but I have been filling my smart pots and trenches with the stuff. I used over 400 bails so there is a good chance I got some bad ones.

NUG-JUG · Mar 28, 2010

I use the "Natural + Organic" Sunshine 4 in the brown bag, and it works except for fungus gnats.. peat sucks anyway.

The garden center by me sold it for $34 a bale, but then upped it to match the damn hydro store price. Now it's $40 for Peat Sake! How much do you west coasters pay?

GeorgeSmiley · Mar 28, 2010

I dunno what retail is but i get the compressed bale for $30 and the 2.8 of growers mix for 18

Bud Bug · Mar 28, 2010

Sunshine gets the peat from area close to the ocean so it can have higher salt levels then say Pro Mix which comes from I believe Manitoba.

Getting that high of a salt level is rare in both Sunshine or Pro Mix but it does happen.

bobbymcghee · Mar 28, 2010

you guys are scaring the shit out of me! all i have ever used is the sunshine 4-mix. never
have had a problem since 1988. yes is has a disstink oder? never reuse the soil dont what to tell you pros.? just have to keep a close eye out for trouble, thanks for the heads up.
Brother Bob peace

D.S. Toker. MD · Mar 28, 2010

hmmm...

Ive been getting "Sunshine Container Potting Mix" from the local greenhouse/nursery. Its the brand they use to start all of their plants and recommended it. Ive used it 2 years now with really good results. It comes in a blue and white, 1.5 cu ft bag.

Is this product "container potting mix" different than #4?

NUG-JUG · Mar 28, 2010

hmm didn't know they made potting mix

Madrus Rose · Mar 29, 2010

nothing wrong with peat based mediums , the uniform water holding capcity of peat is a plus especially when going for the "wet-dry" approach to watering which i've seen stellar results & higher resin production from those that lovingly handwater their crops . But its good that u sound some alarm for vigilance is always a plus when using these mass produced mediums .

Its true that they have to dolomite/lime these peat based products because of the natural acidity of the peat itself , so that your ppms initially will give sky high readings at the first . This is about true of all soil planting mixes as a rule though , when u test the runoff from the first few waterings . Am using Sun#4 myself which has been working just fine all along but your questioning here does raise some concern for me too . The ProMix HP is an equivilent product & what i've liked about both is ease of use & the lightness of the mix for good root airation . Presently having no problems at all with the SunMix4, with no bugs etc ... and plants looking just fine .

As with any sterilized non fertilized medium , one has to remember to "Charge" the medium first with some 3 waterings in of slightly higher ppms of nutes , say around the 1200-1400ppm range with 200ppms of that being CalMag which has some nitrogen value too being Calcium & Magnesium Nitrate both . As with Coco or R/w , alot of people have some nutrient deficiencies right off forgetting to really go ahead & "CHARGE" the medium in the first 3 waterings . Think u might find this is your problem instead of lockout issues you are not hitting it hard enough , tat first . Once u get the medium charged then back off to 1000ppms or so & all should be fine ....also try some goode ol heavy doses of Liquid Karma Or Florlicious + along qith the extra heavy nutes .
Think u will find you & your plants are good to go !

best regards

mr

PS: Just remember sun4 is a sterile non nuted mix & must be charged first .

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