Old Reviews Monrovia Organics Potting Soil... Anyone ever tried this?

[Mr Piggy]

I Don't use hydrated, it's the wrong kind for soil mixing. You want powdered dolomite.

 

[TheMoose]

Alright so I just ran some ph tests on the Monrovia. I did one cup straight Monro and one half and half that and Promix. I ran plain water through at ph of about 7.1 and it came out lowwwww. High 4s for the straight soil and low 5s with half Promix.

I sorta expected this, and the mix contains no lime at all so it obviously must be amended for much of any good use with some lime. I will go scoop some up later this afternoon if I can and get that mixed in and run some more tests. I want to get it raised up so that I can try out a half and half mix and a straight Monrovia soil test on some Autos if I can get it worked out in time. I don't have much time to get started on my last Indoor before the move and all. I know lime takes time to work, but I'll try it if I can get it going in time. Either way will be able tier to it later after my plants sex in a few weeks, just probably won't be able to start in them.

That is all. Just wanted to add the ph tests.

That acidity will be caused primarily by the sheer amount of Pine Bark in that mix. Since it's unlikely that the bark has completely broken down, the mix will slowly return to being acidic if not maintained. This doesn't have to be an issue however.

Here's what I would do:

1) First of all, add a good handful of "Dolomite Lime" per couple gallons of medium. This will have a delayed effect, but eventually it will keep the PH level between 6.5-7~

2) Dissolve and water in just enough "Hydrated Lime" to get the PH level to 6+. You can test this on small amounts of your medium first, then use it on the rest when you're confident you aren't overdoing it. Hydrated lime is inferior to Dolomite Lime for our purpose, but it offers a near-instant change in PH level, which will prove beneficial in the short-term.

That should fix it

 

[Muddy]

IMO I'd use that in the veggie garden and not bother trying to grow any weed in it. Weed and pine bark aren't a good combination. A little is okay, but that has 40-50%, so almost half the mix. As Moose pointed out, they are acid and as they continue to break down, will probably give you low pH issues. Also, the myco they use isn't anything special. The Mycorise in Pro Mix, as well as other products like Myco Madness, Great White, etc., all contain at least that many, if not more, different fungi.

Hydrated lime is okay to use in small amounts to address a low pH issue but for mixing soil, dolomite only.

 

[swampman]

sound like that stuff wiull be great for a blueberry mix ...It has alot of sphagun peat moss which stays acidic ...i have that for my blueberries and they love 4.5-5.2 .....i get the best results in that range and i had to slowly add a lil dolomite cause my blueberries soil gets down to 2.7-3 with that stuff .....

 

[TheMoose]

IMO I'd use that in the veggie garden and not bother trying to grow any weed in it. Weed and pine bark aren't a good combination. A little is okay, but that has 40-50%, so almost half the mix. As Moose pointed out, they are acid and as they continue to break down, will probably give you low pH issues. Also, the myco they use isn't anything special. The Mycorise in Pro Mix, as well as other products like Myco Madness, Great White, etc., all contain at least that many, if not more, different fungi.

Hydrated lime is okay to use in small amounts to address a low pH issue but for mixing soil, dolomite only.

I agree with this post. Pine bark is only beneficial in small amounts, preferably as a mulch or topdressing. In my experience, almost anything will be viable so long as you have the appropriate amendments; however my preference lies towards mediums with higher water/air content. Soil is often quite "dead" when it comes to potential, as it dries out and repels water and offers little in the way of organic matter compared to compost. This is why I choose either straight Coco or a Coco/Compost mix (70/30~) and treat it like I would soil/potting mix. Coco/Compost (or soil/potting mix) offers the best of both worlds and leaves plenty of room to adjust the PH (Coco buffers it to near neutral/slightly on the acidic side depending on your water).

 

[The Squid]

Cool very good points. I learn everyday. Thanks a lot guys! I got it mainly for that anyway so we are good to grow...outside ...with veggies and herbs.

 

[swampman]

im gonna have a battle as well the ph in the MGMC is terrible goes down every couple of days ...I have added 5 tabls of dolomite to the 5 gal bags and it was down today in the 5.5 range and was in the 6.2 range couple days before .......It has had dolomite for 2 weeks almost ....

 

[TheMoose]

Exactly how much dolomite did you add per gallon of soil? I would use at least a big handful per couple gallons. It takes quite a long time to start to breakdown as well (and lasts at least a few months once it does). You can save the hassle by adding it to your medium ahead of time and giving it a couple months head start.

 

[swampman]

Exactly how much dolomite did you add per gallon of soil? I would use at least a big handful per couple gallons. It takes quite a long time to start to breakdown as well (and lasts at least a few months once it does). You can save the hassle by adding it to your medium ahead of time and giving it a couple months head start.

yeah moose i was new but i have created the soil for the second grow already ...learned the hard way
heres my grow
I have 4 plants in 5 gal, 2 in grow bags and 2 in pots
I have 2 plants in 3 gakl buckets 1 in grow bag

I have slowly added in dolomite AND HAVE reached the tablespoon to dirt ratio yesterday i was below 5.5 on almost all dirts
i watered them halfway added anpther tablesppon to each plant and watered slightly just to get a lil runofff for ph test .....
Can u add to much dolomite???

just checked and all my pots are in Great Ph range ......Im sure ill have to monitor for 2 more weeks but i am seeing alot of growth the last day or 2 they are setting their feet so i need the soil in shape asap cause its almost time to give them a slight drink of nutes

MY soil fert test are very low in but arent depleted ...I will be watering on Monday....
Should i add more after A GOOD watering and then spray a little water to dissolve the lime in

 

[TheMoose]

yeah moose i was new but i have created the soil for the second grow already ...learned the hard way
heres my grow
I have 4 plants in 5 gal, 2 in grow bags and 2 in pots
I have 2 plants in 3 gakl buckets 1 in grow bag

I have slowly added in dolomite AND HAVE reached the tablespoon to dirt ratio yesterday i was below 5.5 on almost all dirts
i watered them halfway added anpther tablesppon to each plant and watered slightly just to get a lil runofff for ph test .....
Can u add to much dolomite???

just checked and all my pots are in Great Ph range ......Im sure ill have to monitor for 2 more weeks but i am seeing alot of growth the last day or 2 they are setting their feet so i need the soil in shape asap cause its almost time to give them a slight drink of nutes

MY soil fert test are very low in but arent depleted ...I will be watering on Monday....
Should i add more after A GOOD watering and then spray a little water to dissolve the lime in

First of all, it's good to hear you've seeing improvements. I personally have never added too much dolomite, although I'm sure you can. Due to the way Dolomite breaks down, it's a hard thing to overdo. From what I know, Dolomite does not dissolve in water and breaks down under acidic environments, in term neutralizing them. If you're adding dolomite into water, and then watering it in, you will find the dolomite filters back out of the water as it travels through your pot. It is a better option than topdressing with it however.

As for adding more. It's up to you, if your PH is sitting strong on 6.5-7 and you have no foreseeable Cal/Mag problems in the near future, you could afford to wait a bit and add some a little later.