Is this a good base soil?

[Paqnampiza]

Is this a good base soil?
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...ro-Mix,+Potting+and+Seeding+Mix.jsp?locale=en

What would you add if anything?

Im looking to do things organically.

 

[Paqnampiza]

I'm in ontario, there arent any specialty shops in the area. Does anyone know an online soil supplier that wont charge an arm and a leg for shipping lol.

 

[rocketman420]

if you are going to use pro mix use the pro mix bx but add a little extra perlite. i mix my own soil it is way cheaper and you can get what you need just about any hardware store or garden center. here are 2 recipies i use, 50% peat moss, 20% worm castings, 30% perlite, 2 tbls per gallon dolomite lime, 1 teaspoon per gallon mycorrhizae. or more simple 60% peat moss, 40% perlite, 2 tbls per gallon dolomite lime, 1 teaspoon per gallon mycorrhizae.

 

[rocketman420]

if you want to go all organic soil check the organic soil forum and amend your own soil, then all you got to do is water, i am testing an all organic 1k vert run right now.

 

[Paqnampiza]

i am testing an all organic 1k vert run right now.

Nice!

Any suggestions on where i could find everything online?
The stores Ive looked at were pretty pricey on shipping. Im no where near a specialty gardening store, and its winter here lol.

 

[herbaholic]

you should accept it, if you're getting that kind of stuff shipped to you there's going to be freight shipping included try to get everything from 1 place to bring your shipping costs down.

 

[Paqnampiza]

Do you know of a good shop herb?

 

[rocketman420]

i can get soil any time here so i never order, there is also a hydro shop in my city, is there a home depot or lowes equivilent around you. hardware stores usually have them, there has got to be somewere in ontario like nursureys. check out the organic soil forum there will be some stickys with a bunch of different soil mixes. i looked at a few and made my own out of what i could get. if you order anything look into coco it is cheaper than soil and some people clean and rinse it and reuse it. its all a learning process and you will never stop.

 

[Paqnampiza]

I looked into some online shops, found everything i need at Rona.ca, awesome "local" shipping costs!!!

 

[ThaMagnificent]

if you are going to use pro mix use the pro mix bx but add a little extra perlite. i mix my own soil it is way cheaper and you can get what you need just about any hardware store or garden center. here are 2 recipies i use, 50% peat moss, 20% worm castings, 30% perlite, 2 tbls per gallon dolomite lime, 1 teaspoon per gallon mycorrhizae. or more simple 60% peat moss, 40% perlite, 2 tbls per gallon dolomite lime, 1 teaspoon per gallon mycorrhizae.

This.

If you go to the organic section read the "Organics 101" sticky...

 

[Paqnampiza]

I checked the forums out, i have a much better idea of what i need, thanks for the suggestions!
Thinking of using pro-mix, the moisture retention is the big difference between HP and BX right? Whats the deal between these two? seems like a good debate topic.

 

[microwavablecat]

Seems like a good debate topic for the Organic soil section, aye matey?

 

[rocketman420]

you dont want the water retention, you want a lot of air in the soil, thats why you water every day, the roots love it, thats why if you buy pro mix or something add 20%perlite to it

 

[Paqnampiza]

you dont want the water retention, you want a lot of air in the soil, thats why you water every day, the roots love it, thats why if you buy pro mix or something add 20%perlite to it

So your saying that its better if I have water more often, therefore the more drainage the better?

 

[rocketman420]

yes, its giving more air to your roots, just like in hydro the roots will wrap around the airstones, which they love. if your medium is to wet you will get root rot and your plants will look very similar to an underwatered plant. some people on here water twice daily, its all how much time you wanna put in. i like using a 60/40 peat moss perlite mix on blumats, which drip your water nute solution whenever your soil start to dry. i love them makes growing so much easier, i just add 10 gallons every few days.