Need some advice on making a soil mix

[Jerry Maine]

Regular Potting soil
Vegetable soil
Vermiculite
Perlite
Humus
Charcoal
Peat Moss
Compost
Lime

I'm in Japan, so I can't just go out, grab some fox forest soils and make the moonshine mix, etc. A lot of the threads use these products as starting points. Also, I'm pretty new to growing in soil, yet alone organics. Could someone make some suggestions using the soils I have listed above?

Jerry

 

[theFLINTSTONERS]

hiya Jerry!

we're not familar with the term "vegetable soil" . . . is that soil that's marketed for folks to grow vegetables in?

if that's the case . . . it could be a pretty good starting point . . .

humus and compost are generally different names for the same thing . . .at least where we come from . . . both are normally composted manures . . . either would add additional organic matter to your soil . . . as well as some good microbes . . . so that's a good addition in moderate amounts . . .

most potting soils are a little dense for our taste . . . especially if any compost is added . . . so we'd also add vermiculite and perlite in equal amounts to any soil ya build . . .

you'll probably also want to add some lime . . . we actually prefer equal parts of calcite and dolomite lime . . . but most folks use just dolomite lime and are fine . . .

hopefully that's a good start . . .

we aren't around enough these days to take on "students" . . . but there are many here in this forum that can be quite helpful . . . perhaps you can find a mentor to walk you through your grow . . . in other words . . . you found a great place to learn!

 

[Jerry Maine]

Cheers Flintstoners, I've definitely been learning a lot about soils the last couple of weeks, I am hoping to get a good idiot proof mix together so I can't do too much damage, but I think I've reached the point where I need to stop reading and start asking questions.

Yeah the vegetable soil is for vegetables, I can read that much in Japanese, lol, but it looks quite rich and heavy, so I'm a bit hesitant about it. It doesn't look like it would drain well, but probably something you'd line a vegie bed with before throwing something lighter over the top, or mix in with it. But there are probably some good minerals and such in there too.

Would a mix like this seem reasonable?

40% potting soil
15% perlite
15% vermiculite
10% vegetable soil
5% humus
5% compost
5% peat moss
5% charcoal
a TBS or so of lime

This is just a suggestion, to see if I'm on the right track.

Jerry

 

[CoolBreeze87]

Im not the most experienced grower but ive had some pretty good success with my one year of organic growing. My recipe that ive been using consists of:

-10-20% earth worm castings (if available, mushroom compost is a good replacement)
-20% perlite
-60-70% pro-mix

to this i add for veg mix:
-2 tbsp. high nitrogen bat guano(mexican bat guano) per gallon
-1 tbsp high phosphorus bat gunao (indonesian bat guano) per gallon
-2 tbsp kelp meal per gallon
-1/2 tbsp powdered molasses per gallon
-1/4 tbsp epsom salts per gallon
-2 tbsp dolomite lime per gallon
-1 tbsp greensand per gallon

for flowering i use the same mix but just reverse the amounts of high nitrogen and high phosphorus bat guano. This is not a complete mix though meaning i still have to supplement with guano teas during veg and flower.

 

[Jerry Maine]

Having trouble finding guano over here, not to mention some of the other products. Also I can't get pro-mix, products, I have to work with what I can get. Thanks for replying though

Jerry

 

[vonforne]

Ok here ya go. I have read your ingredients list. So if you want I will give you a line up

Peat moss 40%
Perlite 30%
Compost 20%
Humus 5%
Veggie soil 5%

Now for admendments......You are in Japan ....right?

I was in yokuska and sasabo for awhile. I can't even remember how to spell it....oh well

anyway...I know you can get Alfalfa pellets you can use this for your N supplement.
Just grind it up into a meal with a coffee grinder. Catfish or pond fish feed is a good source of N made from alfalfa. It sometimes comes in a meal.

Fish meal another N source.
Seaweed is a great source of Micronutrients and trace minerals
Corn meal is a good source of P for flowering
Liquid molasses, dry molasses powder, brown sugar, corn syrup feeds the microherd in the soil
Blood and Bone meal these are both N and P nutrient rich sources
Animal Manures ....composted like rabbit, pig, cow and horse all N sources

Now how many of these could you locate. I know the japanese have cattle. And pet stores.

Check on these and get back with us.

V

 

[Jerry Maine]

Vonforne, thanks a tonne. Yeah, I'm in Japan, and in country Japan at that, so I have access to a lot of agricultural products, just a matter of learning what to look for. My japanese is limited, as is my experience with growing in soil.

I asked the guy at my local komeri for molasses but he had no idea what they even were, he was pretty young though. I'll try another store, and resort to brown sugar if I have no joy. Seaweed won't be a problem, I'll see how I go for the others and get back to you.

Jerry

 

[vonforne]

the japenese are big on fish. So fish food would be good also. I was at the pet store today and thought of you. In the Koi food there is fish meal, corn meal, alfalfa meal and some other ingredients I have forgotte but you get the meaning. Just look for fish food.

Good luck on your search and get back with what you have put together so we can get you on the way to smoking. I know you have it hard trying to find weed there.

Don't get caught over there.

V

 

[LavenderCowboy]

Jerry,

Do us a favor and take a trip around town to check out what's available and what's not....Ask the people in the area about fertilizer's and potting mix ingredients and such....Keep a list and bring it back to the forums....LC

 

[gromer]

U cant?

U cant?

You cant order stuff online from a hydro store ? I believe most of them ship worldwide are very reliable and discreet considering where u are cus if u get caught they are going 2 cut off your hands and then cane you to death .sorry 4 the scary image but isnt Japan like super strict on drug crimes and doesnt herb go 4 like 4 times what we pay in th US?

 

[Jerry Maine]

Well, they wouldn't cut off my hands or anything like that, but they'd lock me up for a few years. But I've built a super stealth cabinet, never deal, only smoke at home, nobody aside my wife knows about it, and the police presence here is very low, half of them wouldn't know weed if they saw it. It's nothing like the US, so I'm pretty safe.

However, I don't intend on paying for shipping some heavy bags of soil, lol. Not sure why you think customs would let someone import soil anyhow, given the bacteria and shit they carry. They won't let you bring in untreated wood to many countries, I hardly see them letting in bags of fertile soil.

LC, I posted some basic ingredients that I'd found in my first post, but I'm sure I can add to it. In fact half the problem is the sheer volume of products over here, and the fact they are labelled in Japanese kanji characters, and with my limited experience with soil I need something safe and easy to start with. Also, as a foreigner living in an apartment in a small town I don't really want to go around asking the locals about their soils and what not, lol.

I'll be following the line up Vonforne posted, I've already got most of it, so I just need to chase up some amendments and go from there. I'll be starting some seeds this week ,most likely tomorrow.

Jerry

 

[vonforne]

Good job Jerry, I will be back to check up. My computer took a shit so give me a day or so and I will check up with you. LC and the gang are the greatest. Their advice is worth its weight in gold.

V

 

[SpitRhyma]

I'm not an expert yet but this is a GREAT growing mix for ALL plants pretty much -- I've grown different types of mint 2x the size of any mint you'll EVER see... the HUGEST TASTIEST italian parseley, some very strong tomatoe plants/clones, green onions, and did I mention canabis? But I doubt they have it in Japan...

I mix about 40% SuperSoil Potting soil
40% Miracle Grow w/ plant food flowering mix
20% Miracle Grow potting mix for flowers and vegetables *** VERY GOOD SHIzzle ***

Now if you don't have Miracle grow there, put a crap load of some sort of generic 12/12/12 flower/plant food and mix it in the soil from bottom to top. I use my hands and mix everything very carefully... I guess you could say I like to get my hands dirty

 

[LavenderCowboy]

Jerry,

Ok:
5 parts peat
3 parts perlite
2 parts compost
2 TBS lime(hopefully dolomite)

Thats measured in any container you need at the time...Fertilizers will have to come later when you've checked out what's available....Fish meal would probably be an excellent choice in Japan for a N source.....Let me know....LC

 

[Guest]

dont use miracle grow, you dont want any that slow release nutes.

 

[vonforne]

Where ya at Jerry? How are things coming along?

V

 

[Jerry Maine]

Sorry Vonforne, I have to admit I've been lazy and haven't actually made the soil up. I had a quick look at the fishfood at the homecentre and think I found some suitable feeds, but I'll get those a little later. When not working I've actually repotted some regular pot plants, and been following the NBA basketball playoffs like crazy, lol, but while I was in a rush with my last attempt to try to beat the summer heat, there is no chance of that now so I've been lazy.

Will post soon once I have my ass in gear.

J

 

[GOT_BUD?]

I only suggest this since your in Japan, but if you can source it, maybe try to get some Kobe Beef manure. It's gotta be good shit.

 

[vonforne]

Yes, suspended shit would be good also.

V

 

[ThaiPhoon]

Hey Jerry,

Check out bokashi, it is a Japanese form of composting. I am in Thailand and I found the EM needed at a local feed store. I made the bokashi here using rice husk, rice bran, and cow turds. You will need to find some molasses tho....

This is a great how-to link.
http://www.agriton.nl/apnanman.html -- I hope that works....

V you mentioned using pond fish feed...I have some with spirulina and lots of other great sounding stuff in it. BUT it also has a lot of what I presume are preservatives...big chemically sounding words...If you were to use fish food, what could be done to get rid of the preservatives...if possible? composting the pellets some how?