Indoor fox farm ocean forest - happy frog ??'s

[JM]

you're probably packing it too much... when it comes in the bale its compressed... break up while its still dry... powdery and light it will become... then water it with your ph'ed water... and give it 1/2 hour or even a couple days to soak in and evenly distribute... then scoop into your pots or cups... just shake it down (while moist) dont pack it in... you want lots of air room for roots...

I'll say it again... MOIST... not damp, or wet... just moist... its a careful balance to learn but its important.

most people water till they have 10% runoff to prevent excess slats building up... personally, I find I dont have to even have pots that drain, but I know my water balance very well... I'd say water till 10% runoff is good practice.

:smokebuds:

 

[JbBurnin]

Water the soil before putting it in pots? I was mixing it up good then lightly pouring it into pots with 1" perlite on bottom for drainage. Then id lightly tap cup to shake it down some, then water till runoff , check ph, plant seed, cover and wait. That's it, no packing it down. But everytime I water soil gets lower and seems to get more compacted.


Just puffed up some jiffy pellets. Gonna try a seedlings or two in those see if I have less problems.

 

[Muddy]

The Pro Mix Organic is a new product, and far as I know, you're one of the first using it. I wouldn't expect it to be much different, even with the added components, from regular Pro Mix. It will compact some after multiple waterings but because of it's makeup, will never compact to the point where it prevents oxygen from reaching the roots. It's also not unusual for some of the peat to float the first time you water. Once it soaks up enough water it will settle down and you probably won't see that again.

 

[RabbitFighter]

Once I've exhausted my supply of OF I'll be switching over to Pro Mix Organic, right now I'm seeing some fungus gnats on my new grow, don't know if the bag was contaminated or it became contaminated in my garage... In any case I added some DE to the top of the soil and it has quieted them down.

 

[Muddy]

DE works good. Also, hang some fly paper. That will get them.

 

[Ricky]

Once I've exhausted my supply of OF I'll be switching over to Pro Mix Organic, right now I'm seeing some fungus gnats on my new grow, don't know if the bag was contaminated or it became contaminated in my garage... In any case I added some DE to the top of the soil and it has quieted them down.

Over the years I have bought probably 50-60+ 1.5 cubic feet bags of OF

I think twice I got bags that had fungus nats in there already when I opened the bag, I stopped buying from that one place and never saw it again, Are you getting your supply local? If so it probably sit outside on a pallet . (the place i got mine that had nats was like that) Started getting OF exclusivly from a local shop that buys it directly from distributor for me as Ineed it. Never had that problem again.

 

[RabbitFighter]

Hi Ricky,

Now that you mention that I remember that this supply company had just moved from another location, who knows it might have been contaminated then or it was left outside for some time during the move, in any case I won't be buying from them again.

Regards - RF

 

[JbBurnin]

The Pro Mix Organic is a new product, and far as I know, you're one of the first using it. I wouldn't expect it to be much different, even with the added components, from regular Pro Mix. It will compact some after multiple waterings but because of it's makeup, will never compact to the point where it prevents oxygen from reaching the roots. It's also not unusual for some of the peat to float the first time you water. Once it soaks up enough water it will settle down and you probably won't see that again.

If the soil level drops after I water can I keeping adding new to the top?

 

[L]

yes you can

 

[Muddy]

Sure can.