Heat? What heat?

[bit_toker]

I made my mix a few days ago, Ive been turning it everyday, It kept moist, when is this heat phase supposed to start happening?

I should not that all my stuff was outside and was frozen solid, would this have any effect?

My mix is

50% pro-mix
40% Perlite
10% EWC
Bone meal
blood meal
kelp meal
greensand
dolomite lime

Thansk for the help

 

[pepelepew098]

if there is heat it is nothing noticable, so dont worry. is your mix damp?

 

[bit_toker]

Yes, I have been keeping my mix damp/moist.

I was wondering cause I read a few posts talking about a noticeable heat change. One guy said up 180*F ??

Just wanted to make sure before I start putting my girls into it.

 

[pepelepew098]

i've heard that to be true of compost piles but not a soil mix.
then again i could be doin it wrong too

 

[bit_toker]

Hey Irie,

By burn do you mean temp or nutrient? I'll take each one in turn.

As far as temperature goes, yes you can burn them. Just stick your hand deep into the soil, if it feels warm it may be too hot for tender roots. Your soil mix has plenty of organic matter and a strong micro-herd ... together their metabolic activity should be high. The first week after the initial mix temperatures can rise to 180F, but your results may vary. Soon after this initial rise, the temp should cool off. I like to let it sit at least a week, preferably a month. Just keep checking the dirt, and when it "cools" it is safe to plant.

As far as nutrients go, yes again. Your mix is pretty rich as they go. The longer the mix sits the more available those nutrients will become. Tender cuttings may show stress at that level of fertilization, but your results may vary. It really depends on how far along the babies are, but I would err on the side of less nutes and transplant them into a richer mix as they go. I might misunderstand the exact volume you work on, but off the top of my head it seems short on perlite. For cuttings and seedlings I use 50% perlite in my mixes. To ensure a hospitable environment for the infants, just cut your mix by 60% soil to 40% more perlite. You really cant add too much perlite for little guys. Just be sure to water them more often, since a light mix dries more quickly. If you see any over fertilization this run, cut the mix even further next time. Generally for seedlings and cuttings I use ProMix 50%, Perlite 25%, Verm 25%. I do not add any nutrients or compost. I feed them only through solubles. This helps me get a handle on their individual needs before hitting them with a full fertilization scheme.

Well I hope this helps. Your mix seems well thought out, and I know you will have success.

3BM

Here is where I got the idea from.

Maybe someone will stop by and clear this up.

 

[BurnOne]

Mixes like that don't heat up. However, you need to keep the mixture above 70 degrees F so the bacteria can do their job. Ever heard of refrigeration?
Burn1