Super Soil ingredients

[nightmarecreature]

Ive used perlite and vermiculite. All perlite does is float to the top of the pot. Vermiculite keeps my stuff airy without floating. I use coco coir in my homemade soil, aeration is not an issue.

I dont use fresh horse manure. I only use aged horse manure, its been sitting outside for four years. Manure less than 6 months old will burn the crap out of plants.

Roots is expensive, 8 bags will cost me around $150, not including the rest of the items i will have to buy. I have a very cost effective mix im using, ive left out a few ingredients on purpose. I ditched the rock phosphate, its not needed. Its only going to cost me about $100 for 14cuft of super soil.

 

[nightmarecreature]

I met a new buddy who runs a worm farm. He sells vermicompost and EWC. The vermicompost is cheaper but from the results hes showed me, the vermicompost is equally as good as the pure EWC. He said he does not like making EWC because the worms have to eat their own poop several times and it kills them, it also takes a little over a year to make pure EWC. The vermicompost has worm poop in it, its just not pure worm poop. This vermicompost is grass clippings and produce.

 

[Seamaiden]

I'm going to attempt to make my own base soil. I think horse manure,coco coir, coffee grounds,epsom salt, compost, 5lbs of EWC and vermiculite. Horse manure is free. Coffee grounds from coffee shops, I got 50 pounds for free. Coco coir is about $11 for a big brick. Epsom salts are about $3 for a big bag. Vermiculite is better than perlite, perlite likes to float to the top of soil when it's watered, I think it's useless. Vermiculite is good stuff and it's about $20 for a huge bag. 5lbs of EWC will cost about $1 per pound, so $5. Compost should be pretty cheap, the stuff I found is used mushroom substrate. 8 large bags of good soil would cost me at least $160.

I can make a huge amount of base soil for about $64. This might help people figure out the correct N-P-K's. Just the Coffee Grounds,EWC and horse manure alone would give me
N 8-P 2.86-K 6.67, which would be perfect for veg. Once flower rolls around, the roots will hit the super soil.


Alfalfa Pellets (3-1-2) avg release 40g/sq ft
Corn Gluten (6-0-0) avg release 15g/sq ft
Compost (1-1-1) slow release 125g/sq ft
Bird guano (10-3-1 variable) fast release 25g/sq ft
Cow manure (2-0-0 variable) avg release 60g/sq ft
Horse manure (5-2.5-6 variable) avg release 20g/sq ft
Soybean meal (6-1.5-2) avg release 20g/sq ft
Worm castings (1-0-0) slow release 150g/sq ft
Kelp (1-0.2-2) fast release 15g/sq ft
Insect manure (4-3-2) fast release 35g/sq ft
Fish emulsion (5-2-2 liquid) fast release 1ml/sq ft
Cottonseed meal (6-2-2) avg release 20g/sq ft
Bone meal (2-11-0) slow release 25g/sq ft
Blood meal (12-0-0) fast release 10g/sq ft
Alfalfa Hay: 2.45/05/2.1
Apple Fruit: 0.05/0.02/0.1
Apple Leaves: 1.0/0.15/0.4
Apple Pomace: 0.2/0.02/0.15
Apple skins(ash) : 0/3.0/11/74
Banana Residues (ash): 1.75/0.75/0.5
Barley (grain): 0/0/0.5
Barley (straw): 0/0/1.0
Basalt Rock: 0/0/1.5
Bat Guano: 5.0-8.0/4.0-5.0/1.0
Beans, garden(seed and hull): 0.25/0.08/03
Beet Wastes: 0.4/0.4/0.7-4.1
Blood meal: 15.0/0/0
Bone Black: 1.5/0/0
Bonemeal (raw): 3.3-4.1/21.0/0.2
Bonemeal (steamed): 1.6-2.5/21.0/0.2
Brewery Wastes (wet): 1.0/0.5/0.05
Buckwheat straw: 0/0/2.0
Cantaloupe Rinds (ash): 0/9.77/12.0
Castor pomace: 4.0-6.6/1.0-2.0/1.0-2.0
Cattail reeds and water lily stems: 2.0/0.8/3.4
Cattail Seed: 0.98/0.25/0.1
Cattle Manure (fresh): 0.29/0.25/0.1
Cherry Leaves: 0.6/0/0.7
Chicken Manure (fresh): 1.6/1.0-1.5/0.6-1.0
Clover: 2/0/0/0 (also contains calcium)
Cocoa Shell Dust: 1.0/1.5/1.7
Coffee Grounds: 2.0/0.36/0.67
Corn (grain): 1.65/0.65/0.4
Corn (green forage): 0.4/0.13/0.33
Corn cobs: 0/0/2.0
Corn Silage: 0.42/0/0
Cornstalks: 0.75/0/0.8
Cottonseed hulls (ash): 0/8.7/23.9
Cottonseed Meal: 7.0/2.0-3.0/1.8
Cotton Wastes (factory): 1.32/0.45/0.36
Cowpea Hay: 3.0/0/2.3
Cowpeas (green forage): 0.45/0.12/0.45
Cowpeas (seed): 3.1/1.0/1.2
Crabgrass (green): 0.66/0.19/0.71
Crabs (dried, ground): 10.0/0/0
Crabs (fresh): 5.0/3.6/0.2
Cucumber Skins (ash): 0/11.28/27.2
Dried Blood: 10.0-14.0/1.0-5.0/0
Duck Manure (fresh): 1.12/1.44/0.6
Eggs: 2.25/0.4/0.15
Eggshells: 1.19/0.38/0.14
Feathers: 15.3/0/0
Felt Wastes: 14.0/0/1.0
Field Beans (seed): 4.0/1.2/1.3
Feild Beans (shells): 1.7/0.3/1.3
Fish (dried, ground): 8.0/7.0/0
Fish Scraps (fresh): 6.5/3.75/0
Gluten Meal: 6.4/0/0
Granite Dust: 0/0/3.0-5.5
Grapefruit Skins (ash): 0/3.6/30.6
Grape Leaves: 0.45/0.1/0.4
Grape Pomace: 1.0/0.07/0.3
Grass (imature): 1.0/0/1.2
Greensand: 0/1.5/7.0
Hair: 14/0/0/0
Hoof and Horn Meal: 12.5/2.0/0
Horse Manure (fresh): 0.44/0.35/0.3
Incinerator Ash: 0.24/5.15/2.33
Kentucky Bluegrass (green): 0.66/0.19/0.71
Kentucky Bluegrass (hay): 1.2/0.4/2.0
Leather Dust: 11.0/0/0
Lemon Culls: 0.15/0.06/0.26
Lemon Skins (ash): 06.33/1.0
Lobster Refuse: 4.5/3.5/0
Milk: 0.5/0.3/0.18
Millet Hay: 1.2/0/3.2
Molasses Residue
(From alcohol manufacture): 0.7/0/5.32
Molasses Waste
(From Sugar refining): 0/0/3.0-4.0
Mud (fresh water): 1.37/0.26/0.22
Mud (harbour): 0.99/0.77/0.05
Mud (salt): 0.4.0/0
Mussels: 1.0/0.12/0.13
Nutshells: 2.5/0/0
Oak Leaves: 0.8/0.35/0.2
Oats (grain): 2.0/0.8/0.6
Oats (green fodder): 0.49/0/0
Oat straw: 0/0/1.5
Olive Pomace: 1.15/0.78/1.3
Orange Culls: 0.2/0.13/0.21
Orange Skins: 0/3.0/27.0
Oyster Shells: 0.36/0/0
Peach Leaves: 0.9/0.15/0.6
Pea forage: 1.5-2.5/0/1.4
Peanuts (seed/kernals): 3.6/0.7/0.45
Peanut Shells: 3.6/0.15/0.5
Pea Pods (ash): 0/3.0/9.0
Pea (vines): 0.25/0/0.7
Pear Leaves: 0.7/0/0.4
Pigeon manure (fresh): 4.19/2.24/1.0
Pigweed (rough): 0.6/0.1/0
Pine Needles: 0.5/0.12/0.03
Potato Skins (ash): 0/5.18/27.5
Potaote Tubers: 0.35/0.15/2.5
Potatoe Vines (dried): 0.6/0.16/1.6
Prune Refuse: 0.18/0.07/0.31
Pumpkins (fresh): 0.16/0.07/0.26
Rabbitbrush (ash): 0/0/13.04
Rabbit Manure: 2.4/1.4/0.6
Ragweed: 0.76/0.26/0
Rapeseed meal: 0/1.0=2.0/1.0=3.0
Raspberry leaves: 1.45/0/0.6
Red clover hay: 2.1/0.6/2.1
Redrop Hay: 1.2/0.35/1.0
Rock and Mussel Deposits
From Ocean: 0.22/0.09/1.78
Roses (flowers): 0.3/0.1/0.4
Rye Straw: 0/0/1.0
Salt March Hay: 1.1/0.25/0.75
Sardine Scrap: 8.0/7.1/0
Seaweed (dried): 1.1-1.5/0.75/4.9 (Seaweed is loaded with micronutrients including: Boron, Iodine, Magnesium and so on.)
Seaweed (fresh): 0.2-0.4/0/0
Sheep and Goat Manure (fresh): 0.55/0.6/0.3
Shoddy and Felt: 8.0/0/0
Shrimp Heads (dried): 7.8/4.2/0
Shrimp Wastes: 2.9/10.0/0
Siftings From Oyster Shell Mounds: 0.36/10.38/0.09
Silk Mill Wastes: 8.0/1.14/1.0
Silkworm Cocoons:10.0/1.82/1.08
Sludge: 2.0/1.9/0.3
Sludge (activated): 5.0/2.5-4.0/0.6
Smokehouse/Firepit Ash:0/0/4.96
Sorghum Straw:0/0/1.0
Soybean Hay: 1.5-3.0/0/1.2-2.3
Starfish: 1.8/0.2/0.25
String Beans (strings and stems, ash): 0/4.99/18.0
Sugar Wastes (raw): 2.0/8.0/0
Sweet Potatoes: 0.25/0.1/0.5
Swine Manure (fresh): 0.6/0.45/0.5
Tanbark Ash: 0/0.34/3.8
Tanbark Ash (spent): 0/1.75/2.0
Tankage: 3.0-11.0/2.0-5.0/0
Tea Grounds: 4.15/0.62/0.4
Timothy Hay: 1.2/0.55/1.4
Tobacco Leaves: 4.0/0.5/6.0
Tobacco Stems: 2.5-3.7/0.6-0.9/4.5-7.0
Tomatoe Fruit: 0.2/0.07/0.35..Hot compost kill seed.
Tomatoe Leaves: 0.35/0.1/0.4
Tomatoe Stalks: 0.35/0.1/0.5
Tung Oil Pumace: 6.1/0/0
Vetch Hay: 2.8/0/2.3
Waste Silt: 9.5/0/0
Wheat Bran: 2.4/2.9/1.6
Wheat (grain): 2.0/0.85/0.5
Wheat Straw: 0.5/0.15/0.8
White Clover (Green): 0.5/0.2/0.3
Winter Rye Hay: 0/0/1.0
Wood Ash: 0/1.0-2.0/6.0-10.0 (A note on Wood ash: Wood Ash can contain chemicals that could harm plants and also carcinogens so, they should be composted in moderation)
Wool Wastes: 3.5-6.0/2.0-4.0/1.0-3.5

I detest vermiculite and for lightening a mix I really prefer rice hulls far over perlite now. So, I've got a big-ass bag of vermiculite in my garage, you want it?

Btw, what's up with the starfish? WTF? Starfish have been measured for their NPK value..? I wonder what species. Probably fuckin' blue Linckia.

 

[WalterWhiteFire]

Rockwool granulate is better/cheaper than perlite or vermiculite. Some SS ingredients I find important.

Langbenite
Neem seed meal
Oyster shells
Diomite

GL with your mix. Get a cheap NPK soil testing kit.

 

[nightmarecreature]

From the way my mix is coming out, ill have to skip the vermiculite. Theres enough coco in it, i dont need it.

I have not even mixed everthing together and its getting pretty warm.

 

[nightmarecreature]

Keep it simple
50/50 roots & black gold mix
Few cups of dolomite lime,perlite, worm castings

ACT teas love this soil mix

Which black gold mix do you recommend? There's so many different types.

 

[nightmarecreature]

Here's my final recipe. It's very cost effective. The only hydro store in my town charges $20 a bag for Roots and FFOF. $160 plus tax for 8 bags is too much. It costs me $66 to make my own base soil and it's cheaper every time I make another batch because I have left overs. Next batch will cost me $46! Here's what I use.

BASE SOIL
Compost 6cuft (Screened out wood chips) $16
Perlite large chunk Two 5 gallon Buckets full $20 (I can get three batches out of one bag)
Coco Coir brick 2.5cuft $10
Aged Horse Manure 10 pounds Free
Coffee Grounds 10 pounds Free
EWC or Vermicompost 25lbs $20

Feather Meal 5lbs (12-0-0) $12
Peruvian Seabird Guano 5lbs (12-11-2) $18
Fish Bone Meal 5 lbs (3-16-0) $8.25
Beneficial Biologics Kelp 1 tsp per 5 gallons (1-0-18) $23
Epsom salt 1 cup
Lime 1 cup
Azomite 1/2 cup
Humic Acid powdered 2 TBSP

Total $38+ $23 Kelp Logic. Most people have all the small stuff and most are ordered by the pound so these last a long time. Epsom salt,lime,Azomite,humic acid.

Total Price for me $104.
Total
Nitrogen 30/Phosphorus 27.36/ Potassium 20.67

 

[burn4me]

I don't think perlite is useless at all. It is super good for aerating your soil so your roots grow a helluva lot faster and stronger. Vermiculite holds a ton of water, which I don't need unless I was growing outdoors and couldn't get to my plants very often. Also be careful with manure, it runs very hot. If I ever use manure, I mix it in with the notion that its not going to get used until the next year. It really takes some time for manure to start to break down and do its thing the way you want it to. When I grow in soil, I take a big bag of fox farm Ocean, and a big bag of happy frog soil...they come with compost already...mix in more perlite, add worm castings, and finish it off with some happy frog fertilizer that already has kelp meal, fish meal, bone and blood meal, potash, alfalfa, bat guano, gypsum and all of the super good living organisms like mycorrhizae etc....then all you have to do is water them puppys and your set...good luck...peace...elk..

is that the 5 5 5 all purpose mix you speak of? How much do you add to your mix?

 

[WalterWhiteFire]

Interesting choices. Looking forward to your results.

 

[elkhunter]

is that the 5 5 5 all purpose mix you speak of? How much do you add to your mix?

I use the 5-5-5 if im going to veg out a big one...or the fruit and flower (5-8-4) if im using a clone that is basically ready to flower...I follow the directions but back off about 25%..good luck..elk..

 

[nightmarecreature]

The big chunk perlite makes my soil fluffy. The tiny ground up perlite sucks! It just floats. I'm liking the big chunky perlite!

 

[nightmarecreature]

What do you guys think about growing clones in coco and transplanting to soil when they are a 1 1/2ft tall for the flip?

 

[nightmarecreature]

Here's some good info right here.