Thanks everyone. I have decided to buy the amendments necessary to follow the build a soil recipe for the letter.
My last few grows have been disastrous, so I am hoping for something bulletproof
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For karma purposes, I think fish bone meal, and aquatic fert amendments would suit a mix made by @fishdude ? Just kidding , I found, when going thru all the mixes, (rev, bas, coots) the best addition for a ‘bulletproof’ mix was adding actual living garden soil(25-50%, depending how cheap I am) as the base. re-using/ re-charging your soil is far better than starting from scratch, it gets better and better as your experience with it grows. Compost is free and virtually all you need to add after a couple years… It can be a rough start with mixes as it is a bit tedious getting a balanced soil ecosystem going in a few months in a baby pool…don’t give up.
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My mixes now run 50% to 60% used mix which is itself that same ratio. The leftovers go to ornamental containers outside. It does get easier and better. After a few runs, it grows on you.
As time goes on I take it easy adding rock type amendments. Been doing this for many years.
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When I first started with organics I began with a bagged super soil. I found it didn’t have enough nutrients to go the whole show. Then I started using that brands add ons but the costs and not knowing what was actually in the products got me thinking and reading.
Since then, because the soil was expensive, I started recycling my soil. Only once did I start over from scratch due to a massive fungus gnat infestation that occurred while I was away at work.
Now I use the following as a guideline, originally posted by dank.frank at ic:
I throw all my rootballs and scraps into my bins to decompose. Amend as I feel is needed (use cheap soil tests for the basic n•p•k) and wet with ewc tea and left to cook until used again.
When I start new seedlings I still use that same bagged super soil as it’s not very hot. When I use my recycled soil I add in a bunch of ewc and extra perlite as required. I havent yet added any new peat or anything like that but I will be adding some coco in the near future, though compaction isn’t an issue yet.
It’s an awesome water only soil with enough nutrients from start to finish. It’s full of life, if I do top dress with anything it’s growing fungus very quickly. My end product is the best it’s ever been and seems to get better every grow. I feel it’s pretty easy but it’s not the cheapest option with all the dry amendments I use. Knf would probably be a better option in that sense.
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I know that I’m late, but try to keep from using the rock phosphate. Fish bone meal or something would be much better for P, plus it will give you some amino acids instead of heavy metals.
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I tripped over a vendor a couple hours away that had some interesting products that I trying out on my grow.
First is a soil mix they worked out with Tad Hussy, KIS mix blended soil (I love this stuff)
and the second is this:
I haven’t tried it out yet, that will be in the spring.
This material’s been prilled so no dust and much longer shelf life.
Cheers
G
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That’s interesting, thanks for the link. I started out using Bluesky Organics products. Not local local, but Western Canada at least and carried in my local shops. But since recycling I’ve been using gaia green amendments.
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Aren’t heavy metals going to be a concern with any rock powders? I could be backwards here but I think basalt was the safest option?
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I was using GG as well, I really like their products but I have to watch their pricing.
I have a seasonal project out in the garage (frozen I expect)… a 200L worm bin that was processing all of my old soil. I’m looking forward to cracking that open this spring.
Cheers
G
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It doesn’t take long for $22 2kg pails to add up!! I grab bigger bags if I can.
I accidentally tossed a few of my worms in a couple of my pots this round which I didn’t want, I worry that over time they’re going to reproduce like mad and turn all my soil into castings 🤦
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Tad Hussey is the SHIT!!! I learned a lot from listening to his podcasts and also had a lot of my theories confirmed. I was dealing with constant micronutrient def and I wasn’t getting any help from Kelp or Rock Dust, soil tests confirmed this too. With kelp, I was getting way too much Na to make it viable. Rock Dust seemed to help with Fe mostly but always low in Mn and Zn. Greensand seemed to work best for me, but I think that it’s high in lead too. Turns out, there is a weed growing in my backyard called “Lambsquarter/Goosefoot” that is supposed to be high in Mn, so I started making JADAM ferments with it. My soil agronomist said that it’s 3x too high in Mn, but adding it to soil that needs it is great. I’m rambling agin… Anyways, Tad is great and he actually had my soil agronomist on recently, Bryant Mason. Love both of them!
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Kelp too, it has arsenic. I was a little let down when I found out that Greensand had lead, it was my favorite… I think that basalt mostly brings Fe and Mg to the table, both of which I need in my flowering pots right now lol…
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Ugh…
I would love to have my soil fully tested but I can’t justify the cost for my small amount. There are ups and downs with many of these amendments, in the back of my mind I tell myself/hope that the small amount isn’t really going to hurt me. This is all personal after all.
As far as the rocks, sands etc, and I’m not fully read up on all this, but I believe ph and hydrogen content have a huge affect on the breakdown and uptake. How much does this affect the elements we don’t want? Im not sure. I think aluminum needed a high ph? But cannabis is a bioaccumulator…soo
Anyhow, I think we’re taking this a little bit off topic…Let’s help build a soil!
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Organic farmers failing testing because of rock dust/kelp I felt was important…
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I do agree, I just feel we’re going a little further in depth than a first time soil builder is lookin for initially. I agree it’s important information and if the plan is to stick with organics it’s good idea for the OP to read up on these things.
Maybe I’m wrong, I was just thinking there are threads specific to the subject.
Greensand does not necessarily contain lead. Greensand comes from the ocean floor, and is naturally high in magnesium, potassium and some other trace elements; some of that greensand ends up being used in foundry metal blast furnaces, where it’s contaminated with other metals. In particular, greensand used in blast furnaces processing non-ferrous metals tend to be contaminated with heavy metals and unsuitable for fertilizer. Unless you’re sourcing your greensand very irresponsibly, however, it should be safe according to my research.
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I’ll just leave this here @fishdude, if u feel like browsing this is my organic soil build
The Dr earth is a nice “meal mix” of kelp flour, bone meal,fishbone meal,alfalfa meal, feather meal, kelp meal and rock phosphate all packaged together.
Since I’m doing compost teas every two weeks my plants get the other things they need from those feedings but some of the other things to consider throwing in the mix if just building a soil is
Bat guano
Insect frass
Blood meal
Rabbit poop
Azomite
Ground oyster shell
fireplace ash
EARTHWORM CASTINGS*** MOST IMPORTANT!
And a good watering with molasses diluted 3/4 tablespoon to 2 gallons of water 
and maybe some blended aloe leaves too
I’d also have to agree with others, skip the peat moss and substitute for coir
Something to mention cuz no one else has, if u are having fungus gnat issues then you are over watering, they don’t need water every day, my plants get watered maybe every 4-6 days. If they start appearing again cut out water for a couple to few days to let things dry out, those gnats are attracted to stagnant soil that stayed wet to long creating a fungus issue
Good luck and happy growing
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Whats a good amendment to use instead of kelp for K and other goodies? Ive read up on the NA issues with it, just havent found a good replacement in a coots style mix.
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Fire place ash is full of K
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I like to add free wood shavings or mulch to my soil. But, mixed in to the media not as a top mulch (often at the 2nd or 3rd transplant is when I add it). Fungi and mycorrhiza seem to love it. However, certain woods may not be recommended, I would avoid walnut and locust. Cherry shavings is a favorite.
I always have fungus gnats coming and going. Bti products are very effective at knocking them down, once or twice a grow does the trick for me. Gnatrol is one that I have found to work well.
Banana peel is an excellent source of K, dry roast at low temp and grind it to a powder.
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