Very true. It would be best to mix it up before hand. Sulfur is slow reacting.
Old Reviews Amending pro mix
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Muddy
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It was a bust Pher. I went with half the recommended amount and it was too much N. The leaves got a very deep green color and they are taking too long to mature, both classic signs of excessive N. It did a good job at bringing the pH down to the desired level but autos just can't handle that much N so early in their lives. Live and learn, that why I do these experiments.
There's a new nursery/feed and seed that just opened up last week, heading there now.. hoping for some Sunshine mix.. ProMix is great, but I'm having the same dry soil pH fluctuation issues as DubV mentioned, it's kind of a crap deal because as part of growing my plants, I let the pots dry out pretty thoroughly. If not, I'm going to start looking into making my own large mix of things.. I've found a few shippers for some of the good stuff at reasonable prices (like coco croutons).. thing is, can't afford that route at the moment.
Was kind of hoping Muddy's amendment test worked. What's next on the trial and error Muddy?
Was kind of hoping Muddy's amendment test worked. What's next on the trial and error Muddy?
Muddy
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LOL, that's my problem, I experiment too much and end up not having the best results from my grows sometimes. I'm back to experimenting with aluminum sulfate to lower the Pro Mix pH. Of the three things I've tried, sulfur, cottonseed meal, and aluminum sulfate, it seems to be the fastest acting and most stable. The granular type I have is water soluble. I want to experiment with it as a means of lowering pH in established plants. I'll take a couple pots of straight Pro Mix, water them with an AS solution and track the pH for a month or so.
In preparation for my hydro grow I've been reading up on the Current Culture system I'll be using. They are seeing some benefit to letting your pH cycle in those systems. They are basically letting it go from around 5.8, up to around 6.3, then back down. The theory being that cycling through the whole range allows better uptake of the various nutrients are their optimum ranges. If there's anything to it, then the cycles we see in Pro Mix as it dried out may not be such a bad thing.
In preparation for my hydro grow I've been reading up on the Current Culture system I'll be using. They are seeing some benefit to letting your pH cycle in those systems. They are basically letting it go from around 5.8, up to around 6.3, then back down. The theory being that cycling through the whole range allows better uptake of the various nutrients are their optimum ranges. If there's anything to it, then the cycles we see in Pro Mix as it dried out may not be such a bad thing.
There' no fun to it if we don't experiment. 
New nursery place has a promix knock off, they said it's locally made and packaged, 2.8 cu ft for $9.. here's the catch, no mycos, not inoculated.. I have a bottle of Microbe Brew and a bottle of Root Drench though, so I can inoculate the soil NP, at least that's my hope. It does have a "wetting agent" in it too. Still donno if I should add more lime to it or not, might just run it out and see what all happens.
The consistency is identical to my last bale of ProMix BX
New nursery place has a promix knock off, they said it's locally made and packaged, 2.8 cu ft for $9.. here's the catch, no mycos, not inoculated.. I have a bottle of Microbe Brew and a bottle of Root Drench though, so I can inoculate the soil NP, at least that's my hope. It does have a "wetting agent" in it too. Still donno if I should add more lime to it or not, might just run it out and see what all happens.
The consistency is identical to my last bale of ProMix BX
The Squid
Spaced-out CephaloMOD
I have found that most of my issue with the swing are in the first few weeks. Then once a decent amount of nutes are added it keeps it down. You just can't let it dry out all the way before watering again or you'll be near 7 Ph it seems. There is a fine line in between when to water and over water or wait and have the Ph jacked up...Annoying yes, because I thought Promix was the best there is! 
If that other mix is the same, but with no lime, that will either be too low or spot on. Peat is acidic and Promix adds the lime in, two kinds actually from what I remember and apparently it's too much for Cannabis. I've no issues with plain Promix for my herbs and veggies, and we don't usually Ph those feeds and everything just rocks. Not ole Cannabis though, gotta keep that lady's Ph in line for great results.
I still have about a half a bale or more of Promix BX and I have been planning on making my own TLO mix anyway...This would allow me to add to it with amendments and lime to get it into a lower Ph range. But I'll still need something to start the seedlings in...I bought a couple smaller bales of the plain peat bales, same company that makes the PM, Premier Horticulture. As you know, Muddy, I got them for my outdoor grows, but I am wondering what the Ph will be of the plain peat...I can easily add a little lime if needed and perlite and Myco. It wouldn't have the wetting agent, but not entirely sure how important that is...Otherwise you have a custom Promix of sorts, but with a better, lower Ph for growing what we grow.
Just brainstorming and typing here...:smokebuds:
If that other mix is the same, but with no lime, that will either be too low or spot on. Peat is acidic and Promix adds the lime in, two kinds actually from what I remember and apparently it's too much for Cannabis. I've no issues with plain Promix for my herbs and veggies, and we don't usually Ph those feeds and everything just rocks. Not ole Cannabis though, gotta keep that lady's Ph in line for great results.
I still have about a half a bale or more of Promix BX and I have been planning on making my own TLO mix anyway...This would allow me to add to it with amendments and lime to get it into a lower Ph range. But I'll still need something to start the seedlings in...I bought a couple smaller bales of the plain peat bales, same company that makes the PM, Premier Horticulture. As you know, Muddy, I got them for my outdoor grows, but I am wondering what the Ph will be of the plain peat...I can easily add a little lime if needed and perlite and Myco. It wouldn't have the wetting agent, but not entirely sure how important that is...Otherwise you have a custom Promix of sorts, but with a better, lower Ph for growing what we grow.
Just brainstorming and typing here...:smokebuds:
spelsylver
AFN's MultiMedia Bitch...♥
Hey squid have you ever tried sunshine advanced mix #4? It's just like promix except it's got bigger wood chunks in it. Those wood chunks need nitrogen to be broken down. As the wood chunks absorb the nitrogen, it releases it back to the plant late in flower, perfect for autos as they get that extra lil stretch and some green in the leaves. This totally fixed the problem I was having with promix, same as yours actually. Only other difference between the 2 is no wetting agent in the sunshine mix. The two mixed together tho are a great combo. Just my 2 cents talking out loud too from what I've experienced
The Squid
Spaced-out CephaloMOD
Thanks spels and I can't seem to find it anywhere around my parts. I am very interested, it seems like all the former PM users are now going for the Sunshine#4. Sounds good to me. Hey here's a thought and Muddy tell me what you think.
So it's gotta be the lime that keeps the PM too high eh?
What if I just cut it with plain peat? Peat is acidic and wouldn't that lower the overall Ph without adding nutes?
Hell I may be on to something...but it also seems like you would have thought about this already with all your experiments that you do. Hmmmm
