Old Reviews Pro-Mix BRK ... Looking For Users

[DirtyN0rth]

Awhile back I posted a thread about switching to Canna Terra Pro+. Since then I've been searching the net for different soilless products. I use a fairly extensive lineup of nutes... so I don't need the "don't feed it anything for 4 weeks" soil. Anyways, if you're not familiar with CTP+ ... it uses bark rather than perlite, has a lime charge to help maintain pH, is super light for root aeration, and is an airy peat moss based product.

Well, when I brought up the switch Muddy mentioned Pro-Mix as an alternative as well. They have an extensive lineup of products geared towards high porosity and aeration. But, they use perlite as well.

I ramble...to get to the point I came across [Click Me ----->] Pro-Mix BRK ... this stuff only ends up being about 50% sphagnum peat moss (click on Specifications and look under Ingredients) and the rest is a combination of tree bark and perlite. It also comes in other versions like [Click me too! ------>] this one ... with mycorrhizae and biofuncide... basically good stuff for your roots.

Has anyone ever tried this Pro-Mix BRK??? It seems like the porosity and aeration etc. would be excellent. Best of both worlds. I would love to hear of anyones experiences with this stuff. It's currently out of stock on Amazon and I'm happy with the CTP+ (just bought a bag too) but I'm very interested in this stuff. I've already considered adding perlite to the CTP+ but I'm not sure.

 

[DirtyN0rth]

Well screw it... I picked up a 2.8 cu ft bag. The watering issues I'm having with the CTP+ are making me crazy. The 5 Gal. Smart Pots I'm using take about 25 liters of the CTP+ so the 50 liter bag is perfect for two grows...oh well. The Pro-Mix BRK works out to 79 liters which should easily cover three grows so it works out to less than half the cost.

Pro-Mix BRK Biofungicide <---- There's the link for anyone that's interested.

I'm probably going to germ another Auto Ultimate for this stuff because I can't chance a small yield. For anyone that eyes my journals sorry for dropping off out of nowhere. I'm barely in good enough shape to water.

Edit: I'll continue to update this thread on what I think of the Pro-Mix BRK... I should be planting by late next week.

 

[DirtyN0rth]

I made the full transition to the Pro-Mix BRK with Biofungicide. My only other option was the Pro-Mix HP with Biofungicide and Mychorrizhae. The difference between the actual contents of the two products is that some of the moss HP is replaced with red pine bark (hence the BRK). Also, the HP was a 3.8cuft bale which is a bit much for what I've got going. I use Great White so the Biofungicide and Mychorrizhae are unnecessary, but it's nearly impossible to find the straight Pro-Mix. So, I went with the BRK because of availability, price (wayyy cheaper), and the aforementioned reasons.

Oh, quick explanation about the switch from CTP+ ... my issue with it seemed to be watering, but I can't say for sure. I was measuring my waterings down to the ounce, and if this stuff was just a bit too dry or too moist the plant would slump or curl like crazy. No matter what, my plants just didn't seem as healthy. I liked how light and airy it was, but I couldn't seem to get things right and they just kept getting worse. Now, don't get me wrong I got a couple of decent plants out of the stuff but I've definitely done better. That, and the issues could have been pH related as I don't pH my mixes. But, I also use AN's Connoisseur line so I shouldn't have to, and I never have prior to this. I have seen others like Grim Reefer do just fine with CTP+ so I'm not necessarily that it isn't a usable substrate.

Now for the Pro-Mix BRK so far... It's definitely more soil-ish than the CTP+. It's heavier, but still not as heavy as soil. It's got plenty of bark and perlite as well, both are easily visible. So far, it's taking the same amount of water as the CTP+...perhaps a bit more. But not much. Already, the watering issues have improved. The older of the two plants I have going is just a bit over-watered but still look great. So, so far so good. Of course only time will tell, but I'm always hopeful. I've also switched from Fox Farm's Grow Big to Advanced Nutrients Connoisseur Grow to match the Connoisseur Bloom I already use. I would love to get some monster vegetative growth with the change in substrate and base nutrients. I'll know in two weeks for the older and three weeks for the younger of my two plants as they are only a week apart. I'll be sure to keep this updated with how things progress with the Pro-Mix BRK. Hopefully, it churns out a couple of monsters.

 

[DirtyN0rth]

Review Update

I've grown (haha lame) to like this Pro-Mix BRK quite a bit. The results are undeniable as I've got some of the best vegetative growth I've ever had. Both plants (DP AutoUltimate and DP Blue AutoMazar) do still seem to be more sensitive to under/over watering, but not nearly as much as the CTP+. This is compared to the previous soils I've used, Roots Organics and Fox Farms Ocean Forest. As I've mentioned they seemed to give more leeway due to a higher tolerance to watering issues.

I have to point out still that I switched my veg nutes to AN's Connoisseur Grow A and B and that could account for some of the improvements as well, but the Pro-Mix certainly isn't hurting things. Both girls are taking more water than ever before too. Overall, I really like the stuff. I can't picture much going wrong from this point that isn't caused by me (unfortunately). I believe this stuff also has a lime charge to help maintain pH throughout a grow, so I suppose that's something to watch for.

I'll try and get some pictures up at some point. I'm not in the best shape, so the journals have been put on the back burner for now. Regardless, I'll try to grab a few shots here and there of the best parts.