Something other than peat, please?

[Natural]

I'm getting tired of using peat, it seems like my plants grow faster in it but I always have at least 1 deficiency no matter what I do.

I'd like some organic suggestions that I can use instead of peat that's easy to work with. I was thinking coco, but I hate having to check water pH all the time and such...

Thanks alot guys!

oh yeah... almost forgot... I just did a run using organics and chems at the same time, I have to say... ORGANICS ARE 100x BETTER. Using chems made me have deficiencies left and right and the end result was poor in the taste, smell AND yeild. I yeilded almost a quarter ounce less than I usually do when I was using organics

 

[BurnOne]

If you're have deficiencies, it's not because of peat. And you never have to worry with pH in organic growing.
What nutes are you using? What is your peat based grow medium recipe?
I think we can spot the def right away. And cure it.
Burn1

 

[Natural]

If you're have deficiencies, it's not because of peat. And you never have to worry with pH in organic growing.
What nutes are you using? What is your peat based grow medium recipe?
I think we can spot the def right away. And cure it.
Burn1

I usually only have problems in flowering for some reason, so here's my flowering mix...

My mix is:
(I let this compost for at least 2 weeks before using)
- 75% peat
= 25% chunky perlite
- 1 1/2 tablespoons/gal prilled dolomite lime (I like it better than powdered)
- 4 tablespoons/gal (says to use 4 tablespoons per gallon for container plants) "Dr. Earth organic 8" (4-10-7)... contains ecto & endo mycorrhizae, fish bone meal, feather meal, mined potassium sulphate, alfalfa meal, kelp meal and seaweed extract.
- Once a month or so I'll give them a shot of liquid seaweed at 1tbs/gal (0-0-5)



My mix for veg is the same, except I use "Dr. Earth organic 7" (4-4-4)... yet I hardly ever have any problems in veg...

 

[Chiefsmokingbud]

I would suggest trying coco choir. It doesn't break down over time like peat, ph stable,drains better etc. You can also use coco as a filler with peat.

 

[Deft]

I like using just organic potting soil and schultz ferts till the soil starts to saturate with them.

 

[JackKerouac]

I second coco. It has awesome water retention and drainage so if there is a deficiency or salt buildup, it can be flushed out easily. In the coco forum, there are a couple organic coco grows.

 

[Skunkface]

Have you tried promix? Perhaps give that a go? Maybe think about adding in a mineral source aswell like amozite or greensand?

 

[Natural]

Have you tried promix? Perhaps give that a go? Maybe think about adding in a mineral source aswell like amozite or greensand?

No, I haven't... I've looked for it and asked a hydro shop near me too. Can't seem to find it anywhere.


-- About the coco... do I have to watch the pH of my water when using coco?

 

[Skunkface]

coco coir is PH neutral whereas peat has a low PH.

You always want to use water with a PH between 5-7. It's true, when using organics you dont have to watch your PH as closely because the organics buffer the PH automatically.. but you still want to try and keep your PH in line.

 

[Natural]

coco coir is PH neutral whereas peat has a low PH.

You always want to use water with a PH between 5-7. It's true, when using organics you dont have to watch your PH as closely because the organics buffer the PH automatically.. but you still want to try and keep your PH in line.

So, how much dolomite lime should be added to coco to keep it neutral?
... my tap water is around 8, the RO water (for drinking) that I buy is between 6.5-7

 

[Verite]

?? Why mess with any of that when perlite is 100% inert, neutral in ph, and doesnt do anything but break down into smaller bits of perlite?

 

[Skunkface]

Perlite has a low cation exchange capacity and wont hold nutes very well, whereas peatmoss and coco coir have high CEC's and hold nutes great.

PH 8 water is a little high for my liking... i'd use the RO water.

If you are going to use the coco coir, the only reason to add lime is to counteract the acidity of the fertilizers you are giving the plants. Most fertilizers will lower PH. I'd suggest adding 1 tbsp of dolomitic lime per gallon of soilmix.

 

[Chiefsmokingbud]

: Honestly i've never had a ph problem using coco......i love coco

 

[the protege]

why not use both? Coco and perlite comprising 40-50% keeps it very lite! I have to water almost everyday with this mix, and it is allowing my babies to breathe easy. Throw a little lime in for good measure and you have a mix that will last as long as you want it to.

 

[Relik]

Something that works for me is the following:
-1/3 soil
-1/3 coco
-1/3 perlite

Nice aerated grow medium, with ideal moisture retention (for tropical conditions, at least).

Peace

EDIT: Forgot to say that I grow outdoors, that's why I need moisture retention (intense sunlight down here, dries the soil very fast).

 

[Skunkface]

yup thats the key.. each ingredient has advantages and disadvantages, so a mix of them is the way to go. Perlite offers aeration, peat offers nute and water retention. Thats why promix is so popular.

 

[BurnOne]

I usually only have problems in flowering for some reason, so here's my flowering mix...

My mix is:
(I let this compost for at least 2 weeks before using)
- 75% peat
= 25% chunky perlite
- 1 1/2 tablespoons/gal prilled dolomite lime (I like it better than powdered)
- 4 tablespoons/gal (says to use 4 tablespoons per gallon for container plants) "Dr. Earth organic 8" (4-10-7)... contains ecto & endo mycorrhizae, fish bone meal, feather meal, mined potassium sulphate, alfalfa meal, kelp meal and seaweed extract.
- Once a month or so I'll give them a shot of liquid seaweed at 1tbs/gal (0-0-5)



My mix for veg is the same, except I use "Dr. Earth organic 7" (4-4-4)... yet I hardly ever have any problems in veg...

I don't see any humates in there. You'll need humus for organic growing so your pH will be buffered. Try adding 20% worm castings to your soil mix. And increase your bloom nutes some. That should straighten things out I think.
I've used peat many times and never had a problem.
Burn1

 

[Skunkface]

Good point. Humic acid adds humates right?

 

[Guest]

Don't add lime to your coco. very dangerous move. It's not something you can flush out if a problem arises which can happen with coco. Your tap water should have enough ca and mg, so the lime is not needed. Coco will self buffer the ph so lime again is not needed. If you see a deficiency in either Cal or MG...then you can add....but once the lime is in there...your stuck with it.

It's a soiless passive hydro medium...treat it as such.

Cheers,
SH

 

[Neptune]

go with coco...

or FFOF

your mix is born deficient... no wonder you are having problems.
This forum has a great many threads on soil mixes and mediums, check it out.

I even got one in my sig,