Grow Mediums Does anyone use soil in their AutoPots?

[MassMom]

Was searching around online, and since I am from Massachusetts, this caught my eye. First Amendment Soil Co. ~Mass Whole Soils. looks really cool!

http://www.firstamendmentsoil.com/products.html

 

[IzzyTheGrower]

I’m currently using a soil mix that I make myself from 1/3 garden soil, 1/3 perlite,, and 1/3 compost mix of five different kinds of compost. It’s basically the same mix I use in my veggie garden outside. I have also used Biobizz Light soil mix with 1/3 perlite with excellent results. I think soil helps to better buffer the nutrients causing fewer lockouts and pH issues. @pop22 got me started on this after he mentioned using a soil/coco mix for the same reasons. In addition, he no longer dumps it out and starts new every time either. He just cuts the main stem down into the soil and plants a new seed and has done so for a few grows now.

You could even setup an organic super soil in your autopots and just add water to the reservoir.

Im loving this idea as running straight coco and mc tends to get finicky with ph swings, with soil and able to run a higher ph as res always settles at or around 6.5 a soil mix could solve my deficiency problems

Nectar for the gods has a few diff soils take a look if ya dont mind which would be best for the 70/30 mix i have worm castings on hand as well

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[HemiSync]

Im loving this idea as running straight coco and mc tends to get finicky with ph swings, with soil and able to run a higher ph as res always settles at or around 6.5 a soil mix could solve my deficiency problems

Nectar for the gods has a few diff soils take a look if ya dont mind which would be best for the 70/30 mix i have worm castings on hand as well

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To be honest I would not touch either because of the peat. Peat is not a renewable resource and can play havoc with the pH in the soil. Much cheaper to go get a bag of garden soil, a bag of perlite, and a couple different kinds of compost, mix 1/3 of each together soil/perlite/compost and you will have some wonderful soil for a fraction of the price. I use the exact same mix for cannabis and vegetables.

 

[IzzyTheGrower]

To be honest I would not touch either because of the peat. Peat is not a renewable resource and can play havoc with the pH in the soil. Much cheaper to go get a bag of garden soil, a bag of perlite, and a couple different kinds of compost, mix 1/3 of each together soil/perlite/compost and you will have some wonderful soil for a fraction of the price. I use the exact same mix for cannabis and vegetables.

I see no peat gotcha i may have to take a trip too the local shop and see what they have instead of compost couldn't i just use worm castings

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[HemiSync]

I see no peat gotcha i may have to take a trip too the local shop and see what they have instead of compost couldn't i just use worm castings

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Worm castings are fine but you should have more than one source. The guy that wrote The Square Foot Garfen always suggested when mixing soil to use 3-5 different composts for the different nutrients & release rates available in each. My mix actually has horse, cow, & sheep compost, plus my own homegrown worm castings in it. By the way, I’m no expert, just a guy that found his veggie mix works equally well for cannabis. Plus I’m just a parsimonious bastard.

You can go with just a single source no problem, but during the year keep an eye out for sales/deals on different composts. Near end of gardening season here the box stores all dump their big bags of garden soils and composts. I can sometimes find them on sale for as little as $1 a bag. My side porch has about 20 bags stacked up for next spring.

Just a clarification, there is a difference between garden & potting soil, be sure to get garden soil. Basically garden soil is dirt and potting soil actually contains very little soil. You might already know this and I apologize if you do, I find a lot of people don’t know the difference and think you can interchange them.

 

[IzzyTheGrower]

Worm castings are fine but you should have more than one source. The guy that wrote The Square Foot Garfen always suggested when mixing soil to use 3-5 different composts for the different nutrients & release rates available in each. My mix actually has horse, cow, & sheep compost, plus my own homegrown worm castings in it. By the way, I’m no expert, just a guy that found his veggie mix works equally well for cannabis. Plus I’m just a parsimonious bastard.

You can go with just a single source no problem, but during the year keep an eye out for sales/deals on different composts. Near end of gardening season here the box stores all dump their big bags of garden soils and composts. I can sometimes find them on sale for as little as $1 a bag. My side porch has about 20 bags stacked up for next spring.

Just a clarification, there is a difference between garden & potting soil, be sure to get garden soil. Basically garden soil is dirt and potting soil actually contains very little soil. You might already know this and I apologize if you do, I find a lot of people don’t know the difference and think you can interchange them.

Brother i definitely appreciate the detailed information i have a ace hardware and lowes locally [emoji41][emoji1360] with me going the soil route im pretty sure recharge will be more effective building a nice soil colony

Thanks for explaining the difference between the 2 i think only other thing i need to grab is some perlite and ill b good to go for the comps

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[HemiSync]

Brother i definitely appreciate the detailed information i have a ace hardware and lowes locally [emoji41][emoji1360] with me going the soil route im pretty sure recharge will be more effective building a nice soil colony

Thanks for explaining the difference between the 2 i think only other thing i need to grab is some perlite and ill b good to go for the comps

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Funny you mention Recharge, because when mixing soil it’s the first thing I add after putting it into pots. Let it cook and dry out for a couple days and then get to planting.

 

[IzzyTheGrower]

Funny you mention Recharge, because when mixing soil it’s the first thing I add after putting it into pots. Let it cook and dry out for a couple days and then get to planting.

Funny it is cuz i legit just thought about letting it "cook" lol

You add recharge dry to your soil mix? I been tempted to try that out for so long but never have i think edit: i believe i read that wrong to early and a full j to boot

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[HemiSync]

Funny it is cuz i legit just thought about letting it "cook" lol

You add recharge dry to your soil mix? I been tempted to try that out for so long but never have

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No no, not dry. I mix it up and soak down each pot till runoff and then let them sit for a couple days to give those bennies time to start working before adding anything else.

 

[IzzyTheGrower]

No no, not dry. I mix it up and soak down each pot till runoff and then let them sit for a couple days to give those bennies time to start working before adding anything else.

Yeah i totally read that wrong, gotta let that ishhh innoculate [emoji41]

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