New Grower wanting some Soil Help

[NG2k]

Hey all

im new to ICmag and to growing but was at OG for a couple of years and have completed building my grow-closet. i have to start my first grow in a couple of days otherwise i wont finish before i go on holiday and I just need a soil mix to start off,
So... I've got "Blood and Bone Meal", Perlite, Vermiculite, Miracle Grow and a few epsom salts lying around somewhere. Also what is dolomite lime? Ive looked for it everywhere (UK) and can only find garden lime.
Just wondering what Potting soil I should be buying, and maybe a recipe to mix up. So far the only suitable soils Ive found are J A Bowers "Seed" potting compost, and Horizon Peat Free Organic Multi-Purpose Compost. I cant find "pro-mix" anywhere either, is it a US thing?
just ask if you need any info about my setup
Thanks in advance
NG2k

 

[Wacky Tobacky]

if u live in the UK go with plagron soil and ya i think pro-mix is a US thing as is plagron for europe

 

[NG2k]

Well i cant find plagron anywhere wacky, no luck there.
JJ I can find miracle grow soil, but i assumed this would contain ferts, what do you mean by "unferted potting soil". All the soil i can find has some sort of ferts in, which is why I though JA Bowers "seed" compost would be a good idea as it had a very small amount of ferts in and was loam based. I am still lookin for "dolomite lime" i cant find it anywhere, is this a generic name or just used in the US?
Put my seeds in for a soak a couple of hours ago, gotta get my soil tomorrow otherwise I wont be able to be see them through harvest.
Thanks all for your help
NG2k

 

[JJScorpio]

To be honest with you I use miracle grow potting soil the first two weeks. I plant my seeds directly into it and have been 10 for 10 my last 4 grows. I have never had a problem with burning plants but some say they have so I dont recommend to, although I do. If you do just dont fert them for the first 2 weeks or so. As for the dolomite, Im not sure if there is another name where you are. I would say to go to the stores you have and tell them you are planting a new lawn and you need some lime to regulate the ph and see what they say. All of it that I have bought actually says pulverized dolomite lime on the bag......

 

[Guest]

I am using b and q seedling compost at the moment. I was using canna terra pro plus but thats a bit more expensive and only available at hydro shops. Seedling compost seems to drain fine on its own but a bit of perlite doesnt hurt.

 

[NG2k]

Hey all
I just popped 3 NL seeds into 4" pots after a 24 hour soak. The soil mix was... 60% JA Bowers "Seed" Potting compost, 30% Perlite, 10% Vermiculite and 1 TBSP of Fish Blood and Bone Meal. I have covered the pots with cling film and thick black card to stop light getting as i have left the lights on to warm the room.
How wet should the soil be? Also any problems with this setup?
Thanks
NG2k

 

[Texassativa]

Hey all

So far the only suitable soils Ive found are J A Bowers "Seed" potting compost, and Horizon Peat Free Organic Multi-Purpose Compost.
Thanks in advance
NG2k

Suitable for taking your money....lol...You can mix stuff that will blow the "fancy crap" away.


Edit: Ain't no flame....just a stoner moment

 

[gregor_mendel]

Quote:
I can't find "pro-mix" anywhere either, is it a US thing?

Actually, it is a Canada thing. It costs about twice as much in the USA midwest as it does in Canada. If you could get it over there, it would be expensive.

Since the UK has a peat moss industry, I think peat and peat mixes would be readily available and inexpensive.

Although I think pro-mix, sunshine, and others are good products, they are terribly expensive for the benefit of not having to do some easy mixing.

You can buy a bale of peat moss, bag of perlite, dolomitic or garden lime, and mix it up. They (ready made mixes) also have a wetting agent. You can add a small amount of simple dish soap when watering as a wetting agent, or buy a surfactant at your local nursery.

Some may disagree, but I really like an equal parts mix of perlite and peat. It is pretty much a hand watered hydroponic medium.

You can add epsom salts for Mg, but this medium will build up Mg from your nutes anyway, if you use a hydro nutrient.

The miracle grow will work, but not all MG has micronutrients. Check your bottle, or better yet, post the guaranteed analysis, along with weight and volume if it is liquid. I would be happy to run through pH's spreadsheet and post the results.

GM

 

[NG2k]

well as i said the mix i used was 60% JA Bowers "Seed" Potting compost, 30% Perlite, 10% Vermiculite and 1 TBSP of Fish Blood and Bone Meal. the seeds were soaked for 24 hours before being planted into this soil. I was going to add my epsom salts but it turns out the had all crusted up and were unusable. Is it a good idea to cover them with cling film (raise the humidty?) and leaving the lights on to warm the room is ok if no light gets to the soil, right??
How wet should the soil be?
thanks all
NG2k

 

[Texassativa]

Greg, I see where your coming from. Premixed will save a hell of a mess vs. mixing your own soil. It's just "fun-er" to mix home made.


I add perlite till I have a nice texture. I try a sample of soil in a gal pot. I see how she drains. When I get a good run off time, I know the perlite level is right.


I use a mix of texans humas and shporm. peat moss.

Never seen a bag of promox in real life...

 

[NG2k]

I am quite happy to buy some better ferts if i can find them, although if MG is ok i will gladly use it. i havent got it to hand gregor but thanks very much for the offer, by the way it is not a liquid its small blue crystals, if u get wot i mean.
cheers

 

[Texassativa]

well as i said the mix i used was 60% JA Bowers "Seed" Potting compost, 30% Perlite, 10% Vermiculite and 1 TBSP of Fish Blood and Bone Meal. the seeds were soaked for 24 hours before being planted into this soil. I was going to add my epsom salts but it turns out the had all crusted up and were unusable. Is it a good idea to cover them with cling film (raise the humidty?) and leaving the lights on to warm the room is ok if no light gets to the soil, right??
How wet should the soil be?
thanks all
NG2k

The soil should be just moist enough, not to drip water, when sqezzed in your hand.

You can use the small clear plastic glasses used for beer as humidity domes. As soon as they have some big true leaves, you need to allow them to get use to the grow cab humidity. Covering the entire area of soil will not allow gas exchange. The air will become stale under the plastic film..

 

[NG2k]

So should I let the pots breath every 6 hours or so... or just scrap the film. By the way I am only using the film until they sprout

 

[Texassativa]

So should I let the pots breath every 6 hours or so... or just scrap the film. By the way I am only using the film until they sprout

Yeah thats fine, just make sure the air is exchanged good. Humidity will build up between times. You should get a "just right" level. Not to wet, not to dry.

Your on the way to getting super blazed! Keep up the good work and post any questions you have!!!!No matter what it is....Good luck!

 

[Opt1983]

Garden lime is Dolomite lime, powdered is the best. -Opt

 

[gregor_mendel]

I guess I got off on a pro-mix rant there.

Since you are using blood, bone, and compost, there will be plenty of micronutrients. I did check the website, though, and MG typically will only have iron.

I can offer no comment on the Mg available in blood, bone, or compost. If you get a deficiency, you can always get the epsom salts. If there is any micronutrient problem, a little (1 teaspoon per gallon) molasses. The kind for your pancakes or the kind the the feed store work the same.

About the film: that's the way I do it. Leave it or a beer cup on top until it sprouts, then remove.

GM

 

[NG2k]

Cheers GM and Texas, will check them in the morning and let them breathe. HOw long till they sprout?
Will worry about ferts later

 

[JJScorpio]

All I do until the seeds germ is to mist the top of the soil and keep it damp. I dont cover them. I do this 2 or 3 times a day and I keep mine under 80 watts of floros while they start to keep the seeds warm. Keep the seeds about a half inch down or so and dont pack the soil tightly on them........

 

[NG2k]

Well ive let the pots breath every few hours and now removed the card from the top of the pots so the light can get to them but left the cling film on the pots. Also made sure the soil is damp, how long til the germ? its now been... 24 hours.

 

[Opt1983]

NG2k, did you germinate your seeds first, or just stick them right in the soil? If you germinated them first, they should pop up in the next day. If you just threw the seeds in...might take a few dayz for them to crack. -Opt