View Full Version : What to add for soil mix
ewitte
09-21-2009, 12:59 PM
Usually buy a mix but need about 31cf so trying to do this for a decent price.
Here is what I have.
would like to use these as a base
Soil Conditioner - badically really fine pine bark - 2cf
Composted cow manure - 2cf
other left overs
~2qt perlite
~1cf peat moss
I would love to throw a lot of perlite in there but its about $4-5 for a very small amount (4qt). Possibly some sand but I do not recall seeing sterile sand.
Peat moss is a common base in most potting soils and is relatively cheap. I have used composted cow manure as a potting soil directly--it is also pretty cheap, but quality is highy variable depending on manufacturer.
ewitte
09-21-2009, 01:44 PM
Yes peat is pretty cheap.
1 part composted manure
1 part soil conditioner
1 part peat
Sound good for this "container"
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23453&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23453)
john_ny
09-21-2009, 02:02 PM
You should be able to get the perlite a lot cheaper than that at a grower/greenhouse supply.
Richard
09-21-2009, 03:36 PM
A novice grower should buy a high-quality mix so that they learn what a good soil looks like. The "Sunshine" / "SunGro" brand is nation-wide brand. You can get the 1.5 cu.ft. "General Purpose" mix at retail centers and the 4 cu.ft. (and 55 cu.ft.!) compressed bales of "Sunshine #2" at agricultural supply stores.
When I make a mix for a long-term container, I use:
2 parts Humic Compost
1 part Perlite
1 part Horticultural Sand
1 part Scoria (1/4 inch diameter "hard" pumice")
1 part Sphagnum Peat Moss
1 part Worm Castings
For short term container (Annuals, Nursery stock), I leave out the Scoria.
ewitte
09-22-2009, 06:36 PM
A novice grower should buy a high-quality mix so that they learn what a good soil looks like.
If they wanted it that way they wouldn't charge 4x the price with most likely less organic matter ;) I've been buying mix for my containers but this needs so much it would be cost prohibative. I already have more than 16cf of mix in there and its only about 40% full!
Richard
09-22-2009, 11:05 PM
If they wanted it that way they wouldn't charge 4x the price with most likely less organic matter ;) I've been buying mix for my containers but this needs so much it would be cost prohibative. I already have more than 16cf of mix in there and its only about 40% full!
A compressed 4 cu.ft. bale of Sunshine #2 yields about 8 cu.ft. of soil. That works out to about $2.75 per cu.ft.
ewitte
09-23-2009, 05:46 AM
A compressed 4 cu.ft. bale of Sunshine #2 yields about 8 cu.ft. of soil. That works out to about $2.75 per cu.ft.
I've never seen most of what you recommend in the stores. Right now I'm around $1.70/cf even with about 15% of the expensive perlite.
EDIT: I did find someone selling sunshine products about 40 miles away. The cost of my time and gas would not make it worthwhile.
Richard
09-23-2009, 09:09 AM
I did find someone selling sunshine products about 40 miles away.
Seems about right. Agricultural supply stores are less frequent than retail stores.
Right now I'm around $1.70/cf even with about 15% of the expensive perlite.
That's pretty good !
Here's what the agricultural suppliers in my area are charging:
Humic Compost - $6 per cubic yard
Perlite - $6 per 4 cu.ft.
Horticultural Sand - $12 per cubic yard
Scoria - $21 per cubic yard
Sphagnum Peat Moss - $17 per 4 cu.ft. compressed bale, expands to 8 cubic feet
Worm Castings - $175 per cubic yard
And for wholesale soil mixes:
Sunshine General Purpose 1.5 cu.ft. bag - $9
Sunshine #2 4 cu.ft. compressed bale - $23
A1 Soils "Garden Soil" - $40 per cubic yard.
ewitte
09-23-2009, 09:21 AM
Well composted cow manure is only $1.79 for 2cf and $2.70 for 2cf of the soil conditioner (fine pine bark). Lots of cows in Texas maybe why it is so cheap lol.
djmb74
09-23-2009, 03:21 PM
I prefer vermiculite over perlite...
ewitte
09-23-2009, 05:17 PM
Never used it, I should try it out sometime.
djmb74
09-23-2009, 05:49 PM
vermiculite doesn't float to the top or blow away like perlite does...
ewitte
09-26-2009, 07:18 PM
lol this feels bottomless. I was off on my estimate of 31cf, its slightly over 40. Thats about 300 gallon and its wide not deep so the banana should love it. I'm going to top off with another 2 bags af compost to fill out the holes and update the picture.
BTW no vermiculite and I use up the entire supply of perlite at two Lowes stores. Which wasn't much 4 bags one place and 2 at another location.
Richard
09-27-2009, 12:17 AM
lol this feels bottomless...
Give it a thorough watering and see how much the soil mass condenses. You might hit 50 cf yet!
planetrj
09-27-2009, 01:39 AM
I know some people may disagree here, but I've become 100% Peat Moss free, just because of the negative environmental impact, plus throwing off the balance of the ecosystem. I haven't found an issue with not having Peat in the mix. I hope that more people consider giving up Peat Moss just for that same reason, if not just for the sake of the environment.
Richard
09-27-2009, 08:55 AM
The Canadian sphagnum peat moss is a renewable resource, harvested each year when the snow receeds from the lesser Slave lakes and across the north. The environmental concern is with the non-renewable peat moss harvested in the southern U.S.
However, fine-grain humic compost provided by greenery recycling centers across the U.S. is far less expensive (free for local residents) and a good substitute. Depending what it is made from, the fibers will break down faster and hence adding horticultural sand to the mix is a good idea.
djmb74
09-27-2009, 11:09 AM
I agree on doing what you can to help the environment. but until the nursery business makes a change, backyard gardening will not have much if any impact on the peat moss industry...
I know some people may disagree here, but I've become 100% Peat Moss free, just because of the negative environmental impact, plus throwing off the balance of the ecosystem. I haven't found an issue with not having Peat in the mix. I hope that more people consider giving up Peat Moss just for that same reason, if not just for the sake of the environment.
ewitte
09-27-2009, 03:08 PM
This is after being watered. Added a few flowers for my wife.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23952&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23952)
planetrj
09-27-2009, 03:49 PM
fine-grain humic compost provided by greenery recycling centers across the U.S. is far less expensive (free for local residents) and a good substitute. Depending what it is made from, the fibers will break down faster and hence adding horticultural sand to the mix is a good idea.
Richard! Exactly my experience... thanks for pointing this out. I now add in a 'tea' I make from Milorganite. It comes from Wisconsin, but I get it at Ace Hardware, and it really makes them take off!! :)
djmb74
10-12-2009, 04:23 PM
I thought Milorganite was made from sewer waste and not something you really wanted to use on edibles due to some of the things that get into waste water and your plants would take up that is toxic...
Richard! Exactly my experience... thanks for pointing this out. I now add in a 'tea' I make from Milorganite. It comes from Wisconsin, but I get it at Ace Hardware, and it really makes them take off!! :)
nannerfunboi
06-09-2011, 03:55 PM
trying to find "best potting mix" whether potted or to add to soil
where my bananas are planted..???
sure like some thoughts from ya all?????
my potted mix is my own compost,coco coir,worm castings,perlite..
seems to have good drainage..plants seem happy..
ive been thinking of adding coco chips to my mix..it should even loosen
up the soil more..even better drainage..????
for outdoor plantings..i have done about the same..except perlite..
but this yr.. i bought 5 big bags and mixed it with my compost and coir
any thoughts?? sucess stories to tell???
thanks :woohoonaner:
JuniPerez
06-22-2011, 10:29 AM
I thought Milorganite was made from sewer waste and not something you really wanted to use on edibles due to some of the things that get into waste water and your plants would take up that is toxic...
Isn't that why the garden at the White House had to be redone? I read that the previous use of milorganite left the beds contaminated and the veggies had to be disposed of and soil redone.
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