Cheap homemade soil mix question

[paranoidnz]

Hi guys, question, country i live in you cant get any of the growing soils that most people talk about unless you import it, then it gets far to expensive. The local home depot kinda things we have just have the general cheap soils, so i dont think they would work to well.
so i started a worm farm 3 months ago and thats going very well.

I found a semi local horticultural place that sells things in bulk bins so was going to make my own, after many many hours of reading the net collecting info i have gone in a complete circle, to many saying use this, then the same amount saying not to use that etc....

how does this mix sound, its nothing flash, but its the best i can come up with, with my limited knowledge

40% potting mix
20% garden mix

10% worm casting
5% mushroom compost
5% poultry compost

7.5% pumice
7.5% peat
5% silt soil

and its relatively cheap, i think under 50 of my dollars, so about $30 us?, Im not an organic grower, i think its got good drainage, not sure if i need nutrients in there if im going to be feeding them nutes

vermiculite and perlite are a bit expensive for my tastes

any "constructive criticism" or thoughts would be greatly appreciated

 

[corky1968]

I don't see nothing wrong with that mixture.

Give it a whirl.

You can substitute perlite and vermiculite with a small amount of sand and small stones.

But your planned mixture will work out fine.

 

[paranoidnz]

Im doing 9 5 gallon pots if that helps

 

[paranoidnz]

thanks corky, i never realized how much effort, time and $$$ it takes to get things sorted

 

[Medfinder]

here in cali ive had to sift any outdoor soil for GRUBS.

care full cuz they hypernate

 

[Gnz]

"Gro" premium mix, Tui organic seed raising mix, black magic seed raising mix or any basic peat based mixes are good, avoid anything with time release nutes and wetting agents. Should be at least one of these available at your nearest b*nnings or mega.

 

[paranoidnz]

Gnz, my man, i never thought of going to look at mega

 

[Gnz]

Should be able to buy H**raki Gold Peat Moss there, just needs drainage added. Should be able to get perlite there too, or at your nearest garden centre. I'd start at 20% perlite and increase it depending on how regularly you'd like to water.
You'll need nutes for flower at the least (growandbrew is cheap, online or instore), you'll be able to get something for veg from the supermarket if you need it (nitrosol is 8-3-6, thrive is 10-3-7).

 

[Gnz]

Pretty sure growandbrew can courier Canna and Gro soil mixes, perlite, vermiculite, coco etc including RD

 

[Granger2]

I'd add perlite. Most important thing is that the soil not stay wet too long. Wetting agents are necessary for peat cuz it's hydrophobic. Otherwise the mix looks good. Good luck. -granger

 

[7thson]

Never used a wetting agent before and it hydrates for me,just takes a little longer.

 

[rykus]

I'd consider this mix way dense and would want more like 25%that organic mix25%coco25% peat and 25% airation/drainage like perlite or lava rock...

Reuse the mix, it will last a long time if you go light on chemicals and do a nice mostly organic feed to keep nutrients up.