posted
hi all, been absent a while, what with winter and all. decided to try to grow some indoor vegies. i bought about 200lb of potting soil about 5 months ago, havent used much of it, but i have noticed that it gets realy compact realy fast. i think its inhibiting my plants. i have a habenaro plant that i planted in a 5 gal bucket when i got the stuff, and the habenaro is no bigger than it was... well, maybe about a half inch taller. anyways, i live in a small apartment now, and have no room for a compost bin, however there are a lot of oak leaves behind the apartment, i was wondering if i could mix them directly in with the potting soil to help aerate it? would i need to tear/break the leaves up a whole lot? i know it would be better to let the leaves decompose, but im realy looking for a quick fix so i can get something growing. i have access to some rabit poo thats about 6-8 months old if that would help any as well... anyy (cheap) suggestions?
* * * * Wizzards pics Plants: 120 | From: murray KY 6a/6b | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 65.114.124.153
posted
No, don't mix leaves, fresh or brown with any dirt/soil you are trying to grow......
It steals the nitrogen from the plant as the leaves break down...
Try some Perlite or Vermiculite both are good for lightening the soils and aerating them..
May I ask what brand of soil/dirt you bought??
Also some peat moss or compost into the soil will help.. *remember with peat moss, you must soak it in water *at least a day a head of time* before you add it to the soil.. it takes forever to get that stuff moist...*
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Wizzard...I think a lot of us have made the mistake of buying the wrong potting soil. I had the same experience with some pepper plants. You need to get the habanero, and probably anything else you've planted, out of that soil. You may need to take the plants outside on a warm day and soak the soil until it's mud in order to get the plant out with the roots intact. Then repot using good soil or a mix of the old soil and some new, or with the things Weezie recommended. You'll see results in no time. I wouldn't use any raw organic stuff like poo indoors, but you might see if there is any decomposed leaf mulch under the whole ones and use that.
Plants: 2290 | From: norman, ok | Registered: Apr 2005
| Seeded: 72.16.97.202
posted
Yeah, we picked up some at Wally~World this summer and it was really really bad.. Real hard and almost cement like when it got wet.. I had to add alot of my compost to lighten it up, but I used it for outdoor use in a raised bed I made... didn't even want to use it in my regular hanging plants pots...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
thanx for the advice. yeah, it was that same walmart junk. i think i will try to find a friend willing to let me have a compost pile and just add the dirt to that.... in the mean time i guess im just gonna have to buy some dirt. thanx again for the help
* * * * Wizzards pics Plants: 120 | From: murray KY 6a/6b | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 65.114.124.153
That stuff was wayyyyyyy nasty... I talked with a few people here on the forum that had bought the same stuff.. and had the same results I did... *also had two people that I know garden here in my area that it was the same way*
I also added peatmoss and the vermiculite and perlite too.. they add a bit of nutrients to it too..
And remember what that bag looked like and stay away from it..
***Tip for you too, if buying stuff at Wally~World.. (at least they do do this here at my Walmart) is looked for the ripped bags of any kind of potting soil or mulch, etc.. they would take off 30% for the bag... *I'd watch the one's that were still on the pallets, and if there was say 5, 7, 10 bags, I'd tell them I would like to buy all of them.. they'd patch up the holes and sell them to you...I'd get a $8.00 bag for $5.00, can't beat that..***
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
lol, i guess next time im going to buy a lot of dirt i should get 1 bag and check it out first. so you say it was useable after peat moss and vermiculite? i might go that route, not sure yet.... im broke, so i may still just add it to some compost if i can start a bin.... i mentioned it to a friend today, hes gotta ask his wife... hopefully it will be ok with her.
* * * * Wizzards pics Plants: 120 | From: murray KY 6a/6b | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 65.114.124.153
posted
Yes, I think it would be good for your compost..
Dirts' a good additive to compost and when you can't use it for potting soil, it's a good thing to do with it so you're not wasting it....
Just put in layers, not all at once..
I do that with alot of my old potting soil too, dump it in the compost bins and let it compost, then sift and reuse.. the next season, it's nice dirt, and I can add it to some seed starting mix, for seeds...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
so, how much would peat moss help my soil? walmart sells that also. i bought a cubic foot of it to try it out. but you say i need to soak it? this is my first time with peat moss, do i just put it into a bucket of water?
by the way, thanx for all the help. i would hate to waste that much store bought dirt
* * * * Wizzards pics Plants: 120 | From: murray KY 6a/6b | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 65.114.124.153
posted
I'm an "Eye~baller" so to speak.... I mix all my mixes up in wheelbarrows.. throw in "X" amount.. and ammend.. The compost, the vermiculite and/or the perlite, and peatmoss..
Sometimes what I do for my peat moss is, put the bag on the ground and put a hose to it..
Or put it in an old kids swimminm pool, that has some cracks in it...
Or if I need smaller loads, put it in a bucket with a little bit of water, load up about half way with the peatmoss, ***Becarefull not to breathe it in, it's dusty when dry***, kinda mix it around, throw in somemore water and let it sit for a day or two or three.... just keep checking it, and stirring it, sometimes you can have dry~pockets in it...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
i put some in with scalding hot water, instantly turned to mud, worked my hands in it. mud all the way through. however, i think i used too much water, but when i mix it with my dry dirt that will probably fix it right up. just thought of that.... gotta go try it now
* * * * Wizzards pics Plants: 120 | From: murray KY 6a/6b | Registered: Nov 2004
| Seeded: 65.114.124.153
posted
Wizzard you can also use Texas Green sand or lava sand I use both in mine to help keep the soil loose. Trying to remember the potting soil I buy I don't use straight potting soil like every one above said mix it with dirt or your compost if you have any. I also use pearlite. The potting soil I use is made by the company that sells a powdered fertilizer my mind is gone today want to say greenlight but that's not it. Maybe I will think of it later or somebody else will remember the name. Jimmy
* * * * Meet Clyde my Male Sugar Glider. Clyde says. Keep it organic GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. Pray for our Troops!
posted
I also Like the Miracle Gro potting soil, but using it, you'll have to be careful depending what you are planting in it...LOL I used some by accident (didn't look to see which bag I was scooping out of) and I had tomato plants 2 foot tall before it was time to plant them outdoors, it was alittle hard to deal with those large tomato plants in a small space for three more weeks.
posted
Comfrey I never use any commercial potting soil straight I always mix with some of my compast as well as a little pearlite and some steer (or what ever manure I can find)Manure as well as Lava sand and or Green Sand. Always had good results. I also use Miracle gro potting soil for a seed starter it is great. Put it in the peat cups plant seed as directed walah got a plant before long. Jimmy
* * * * Meet Clyde my Male Sugar Glider. Clyde says. Keep it organic GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. Pray for our Troops!
posted
Thanks Jimmy, I will make a note of the things you add and give it a try, as far seed starting.... I would be afraid to try anything new, since I have been doing it a certain way for years with good results, LOL guess I am to set in my ways. I have to admit I do use a soilless mix (Jiffy Mix) to start my seeds and then transplant to individual pots using a mixture of different things. I could make my own soilless mix though, if anyone has a recipe for the things to make that I would be interested.
posted
I never had any luck with the jiffy mix I have tried several times. I started experimenting with things now I think I have what works for me be it is subject to change at any time. Jimmy
* * * * Meet Clyde my Male Sugar Glider. Clyde says. Keep it organic GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. Pray for our Troops!
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I would be afraid to try anything new, since I have been doing it a certain way for years with good results, LOL guess I am to set in my ways. I have to admit I do use a soilless mix (Jiffy Mix) to start my seeds and then transplant to individual pots using a mixture of different things. I could make my own soilless mix though, if anyone has a recipe for the things to make that I would be interested.
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