Sphagnum Peat Moss vs Promix? DIY?

[Rob547]

Hey all, looks like the OD forum is coming alive again

So I, like I'm sure many of you, am always trying to save a couple bucks when possible. In my area Promix seems pretty expensive for what it actually is. I just started researching this yesterday, but it seems a lot more cost effective to put it all together from scratch. Yet, I can't recall any mention of it around here..
SO, Promix BX or whatever is about $40/3.8 CF (~28 gallons of medium) From what I read, promix is just 70-80% peat moss, lime, vermiculite, perlite, micro/macro nutrients and a 'wetting agent' which is (from what I understand) AquaGro. And finally most of the promixes have mycorisae.

Peat moss is available for about $10/3.8 CF. I'd be buying a big bag of lime anyway ($4) and the nutrients are already being added by whatever I already have; guano, fish emulsion, etc. Which leaves perlite/vermiculite, optional IMO (never used verm) Both pretty cheap. I was curious about the wetting agent thing, I usually add polymer chrystals, but I read that coco was considered an 'organic wetting agent', but also never heard many people using it outdoors, especially guerrilla. Lastly, would also probably be adding FFOF soil to the mix, in the past have used native soil but new area is pretty swampy.

Anyone have any thoughts about all this? Just surprised I haven't heard much about it.

 

[Leroy Brown]

Hope someone has experience mixing a promix replica, that would be sweet! Even better if the recipe used ethylene glycol or something readily available (non dro shop)

Shop around though, it can be had for it's MSRP or cheaper sometimes, $29.99 for bx or hp. Also, the 3.8 cf is compressed, uncompressed is 7, so you get a little under 50 gallons per bale.

I would also like to pose this question....

Does anyone have a xoil mix for promix using one of the following readily available (ie non dro shop) fert's-

Garden tone

Or

Osmocote

 

[Phantomx]

Rob547: You can make very cheap and high grade mix simply out od peat, perlite, compost and fertilizer. I'll mix it this way 40-50% peat, 30% compost, 15% perlite and the rest is a fertilizer like chicken manure, I also add some lime and water holding crystals. And if it comes to coir, I can only say that I've used it, also guerilla and it's the best growing medium ever, I realy fell in love with it. You can replace the peat part in the above soil recipe with it. But I don't recommend using it pure, because it can stay too wet(especially not for seedlings). But unfortunally I won't use it this year because it's pretty expensive. I'll post some more of my soil mix in my threat later today if you are interested.

 

[Phantomx]

Leroy: I think it comes 3.8 cft out when decompressed, at least it is this way at peat sold arround here.

 

[Leroy Brown]

Leroy: I think it comes 3.8 cft out when decompressed, at least it is this way at peat sold arround here.

Not premier horticulture's ProMix, it is sold in 3.8 cf compressed bales that expand to 7 cf after you break them up, fills just shy of 50 gallons. 1 cf = a little under 7 gallons.

 

[Phantomx]

Yes you must be right, $10 for 3.8cf would be too much, where I'm from on peat bags always is listed the amount that will come out, other way some would compress it more some less..

 

[The Revolution]

Good topic. Lime is most needed when mixing up your own peat moss. Once it starts to break down the ph becomes quite acidic. I would add a crushed or pulverized lime myself. I grow all organic, but I think osmocote is something you just sprinkle over the top of the soil. Ive never used it myself, but I know some who do, and Id assume it isnt organic..

 

[Rob547]

Thanks for the input everyone. I thought coco was relatively cheap but would probably get expensive if that was 70% of your mix. I see $3/brick that expands to roughly 1/2 CF, about 3 gallons? I was always under the impression it dried out too quickly for OD, but my personal use of it would be in a swampy area.
Last year I used the Scott's Humus/Compost from Home Depot, seemed like good stuff. Really cheap too, sold by .75 CF bags I believe.

Leeroy - I wasn't aware it decompressed out to that much medium. I'm pretty sure the Premier Peat Moss is the same deal, compressed as well.

As far as I know, Osmocote is kind of a 'set it and forget it' fertilizer, FAR from organic, and can negatively affect the final product if not flushed enough etc.

 

[ForbiddenFruit]

I think the only difference would be the texture and consistency. I believe Pro-Mix uses several different grades of peatmoss, which they mix together to achieve an optimum texture gradient that replicates the consistency of soil. I am not certain, but I believe the bales of plain peat moss, consist of only a single grade of peat moss, which is going to be a different texture than Pro-Mix, I am guessing it will be lighter.

Now these differences may not be a problem at all, escpecially for outdoors, but these are the differences. I think it would be worth while to experiment and attempt to mix your own Pro-Mix. Maybe have some Pro-Mix on hand then buy the "raw" products and mix several different batches, comparing each one.

 

[serious6]

well friends, lets put it all to rest, im canadian and have used the soilless medium PRO MIX HP for years. the BX is too porous for my liking. www.premierhort.com i have ordered the BIG bales and also made my own mix at their site and trucked to me.

search this site and i was allowed to post it elsewhere so go fer it.

 

[HOVAH2.0]

ive used the getto promix for years with great results....last year i added benefit bacteria and plants grew better.. all ingredients from your local homedepotlowes store.

 

[niceeven]

I find the pro mix works the best. It's got the best porosity, they seem to have nailed it down pretty good. But, while I have used it in the past for guerilla growing I certainly do not plan on doing so this year. Way too much work, way too many plants and site and way too expensive for my needs. I find that local soil amended with coco and the some composted organic nutrients I do in the fall and in my garage over the winter (alfalfa and other stuff) works just fine. Maybe not quite as top notch as the pure pro- Mix but certainly good enough.

 

[chongsbuddy]

3.8 cf of peat,25% perlite and 7-9 cups of lime.

 

[Phantomx]

chongsbuddy, what kind of fertilizer are you using?

 

[chongsbuddy]

i use yield master or heavy harvest,my home plants are 50/50 compost/promix,but i top dress during flowering,

 

[Weird]

i buy premier's peat from lowes at 10

same peat as promix

just needs top be screened a bit finer

far less conspicuous and far less money

 

[Rob547]

I did end up getting the 3 cft sphagnum moss from Lowes myself. Said compressed bale but ended up being, about 23 gallons worth?

My mix ended up being:
3.0 c.ft Premier sphagnum peat moss
2 c. ft FF Happy Frog
.75 c.ft Scott's Humus/Compost
Bag each of Perlite and Vermiculite
also some water crystals, flowering guano and lots of lime

 

[moondawg]

Hey Rob

I know other feel differently, but i would avoid the peat. Even if you do add the proper amounts of lime and the lime is highly processed and quick acting like Epsoma's or Penningtons, it cant really be used this season.

The pure peat will need considerable lime to become tolerable and its important to understand how lime apps work. If you apply lime today, it begins to work in a week or so and it completes it impact on the treated soil 3 years from today. Lime is a slow acting agent in the soil.

Care must also be used in adding any type of nitrogen for at least 30 days. The mixture of new nitrogen and lime create a causticity in the soil that most plants cant tolerate.

I would go with the promix but even it is low in Ph. If i remember, its about 6.2 and outdoor cannabis really needs about 6.8 to for optimum growth.

This is just my 2cents, but get on the internet and find a cheap potting soil that is acceptable to cannabis - there are several. Also, the products produced by Stagreen and miracle grow to improve really poor soil. These products include compost and lime in amounts that allow for decent soil once they have been mixed into shitty native soil. They are called "garden soil" and work pretty good.

 

[Rob547]

thanks for the info moondawg, esp. with the nitrogen. I don't really see any difference in promix vs straight peat as far as Ph. They will have been sitting to mix and whatnot for at least 3 weeks. Will have to check the ph of everything when I get out there to plant.

 

[Kant C Shyt]

I had the same kind of problem because in my area they stopped carrying Sunshine mix bales so I did exactly what OP was talking about and a few other have done. I bought the bale of p.moss some perilite, already had some powdered lime, mixed it up and it came out to about half the price of the Sunshine bale so I saw it as a win. In some of my holes I add this, organic potting soil, water crystals, garden-tone, and some native soil and mix well. Some holes will have more organic ammendments added to them (more blood and bone meal, azomite, guanos, and EWC) and others will have chem fert potting soil and oscomote to substitute for the organic potting soil and the garden-tone. Hope everyone has a great season. Take care 1