Jimster
Supporter
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I echo your observations. I've used Promix for over 3 decades and I bought my 1st Ph meter last year, as well as a chemical Ph test. They both indicated right around 7. I use tap water exclusively, which is medium hardness. Promix has worked very well for me over the years, but perhaps the local water conditions keep things in balance. It DOES shrink away from the bucket edges towards the finish, but not enough to cause any problems other than not holding as much water, which might be decreased by the near root bound condition at the end.promix bales have 2 kinds of lime added. Calcitic and dolomite. With any reasonable tap water the ph of the medium will self buffer.
I use moderate alkalinity well water with 150 ppm mineral content and 8.0 ph and never need to adjust the ph of water only or a nute mixture.
I echo your observations. I've used Promix for over 3 decades and I bought my 1st Ph meter last year, as well as a chemical Ph test. They both indicated right around 7. I use tap water exclusively, which is medium hardness. Promix has worked very well for me over the years, but perhaps the local water conditions keep things in balance. It DOES shrink away from the bucket edges towards the finish, but not enough to cause any problems other than not holding as much water, which might be decreased by the near root bound condition at the end.
A big part of that shrinkage and reduced water holding capacity near the end is because it comes precharged with a surfactant which only works for a month or two tops. Promix actually recommends recharging it with surfactant when it starts doing that if I recall correctly. I usually apply a surfactant called revolution to my promix once a month or so and it never shrinks or loses its water holding capacity.I echo your observations. I've used Promix for over 3 decades and I bought my 1st Ph meter last year, as well as a chemical Ph test. They both indicated right around 7. I use tap water exclusively, which is medium hardness. Promix has worked very well for me over the years, but perhaps the local water conditions keep things in balance. It DOES shrink away from the bucket edges towards the finish, but not enough to cause any problems other than not holding as much water, which might be decreased by the near root bound condition at the end.
The shrinkage that I get is pretty small...topping the buckets up to near the top mitigates the ptoblem. There is a little pullback along the inside of the bucket at the bucket/soil boundary, but I've seen nearly every medium do that to some degree. Keeping things well watered also helps to prevent it. I used to sprinkle about a quarter teaspoon of laundry detergent in with the Promix/compost mixture, but it was mostly for hydrating the Promix and not for ongoing maint. I'll keep this in mind!A big part of that shrinkage and reduced water holding capacity near the end is because it comes precharged with a surfactant which only works for a month or two tops.
The shrinkage that I get is pretty small...topping the buckets up to near the top mitigates the ptoblem. There is a little pullback along the inside of the bucket at the bucket/soil boundary, but I've seen nearly every medium do that to some degree. Keeping things well watered also helps to prevent it. I used to sprinkle about a quarter teaspoon of laundry detergent in with the Promix/compost mixture, but it was mostly for hydrating the Promix and not for ongoing maint. I'll keep this in mind!
I use the hose to circle the inner bucket and stuff falls into the cracks, if there are any. It's sort of like finding something in a toilet bowl when you are taking a leak...you can't help but aim for it!I just scratch the surface up before each watering and the gap keeps getting filled in. Ocean forest hardens up as well as shrinks. And rejects water. This fixes all that.
You guys would probably both benefit from a little non-ionic surfactant right as they go into flower. Most grow store carry it and you can buy it online.
Yeah, I mean it's not necessary. i grew for over a decade with no real issues before i started treating my promix in flower. But I certainly find it helps the water penetrate the media much better, and it greatly improves drainage. It helps prevent the umbrella effect just below the crown of the root ball. Yucca works good too as an organic surfactant.
Im still carefully hand watering with a cup. I pour a few evenly around the pots and wait 10 min or so. Then the rest to runoff. I dont see the problems.
You know what they say, if it ain't broke dont fix it.
A lot of my growing has been in 10 gallon pots using promix, with 3-4 weeks veg time in those pots before flip was normal so I would get pretty obvious penetration issues midway through flower. A visible crust forming and sides pulling away from the pot etc. Surfactant helped. But like I say if it aint broke. It's just another tool in the toolbox.
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