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Questions/advice about making your own super soil...
- Thread starter CaptPicard
- Start date
Minoo96
New member
When I started making my own soil, it was such a pain in the ass doing maths and fetching all these ingredients... It is cheaper, but it's also supposed to be easy and simple in my opinion.
So, I just dug some soil from outside, if you could get it from a forest it'd be the best. Dig more than 2cm from the top layer (it's usually leafs covering these 2cm in forest). that'll make ~70% of your total soil, so you need to take quite a lot. it's also free.
Then I added some compost (~25%), because I make my own by throwing any food leftover in a bin. (That takes time though, around 6 months i'd say, maybe more, maybe less. You need to get the bottom of course. It's even better if that compost is against the ground and not in a bin. Just made a square of cinderblock and threw everything, everyday, in there.)
Then I added some dried blood. Not everyone has access to that, so you could replace it with any "bio" nitrogen. It doesn't need to be a lot, I didn't do maths, instead I added using my eyes.
Some dried bone for potassium. (of course grinded to dust, just like the dried blood). Again you could buy any bio potassium.
And I bought some phosphorus at my local gardening shop. The quantity in each of these "bio" NPK is huge, just buying a small bag is more than enough for a lot of soil.
After that you can add whatever comes easy to you. Ashes from the fireplace. Horse manure. Fish emulsion (careful with those three, they are powerful). Whatever floats your boats.
Mixed all that on a tarp, to make sure it was evenly spread.
I don't let my soil "cook", rather I placed it in it's final resting place, ready to for the plants. Waited a month, rain and insects did their things stabilising the pH of the soil, spreading the good stuff as well.
In the end, I've got 2.5m plants, sun was nice that year, but soil definitely helped. I didn't had to do anything, didn't had to add nutrients. Perhaps because it was directly in soil and not in pots. Although I had used the same soil for a single potted plant, and it didn't require any nutes.
This year, I just went at the same place and dug my soil again, because now it's going to be in pot. I added again some NPK and ashes for good measure, but I could see the soil was rich, it looks dark like compost only. Perhaps too strong even? Probably because I didn't measure the correct amount. But it wasn't any problem last year, I don't see why it'd be a problem this year. Adding bio stuff doesn't give a chemical taste to the end product. It's also pointless to flush in such soils, it'd take weeks of flushing to remove all the good stuff. It rained often and yet its still dark this year.
I did protect the top layer with mulch or leafs, just like in the forest.
My idea was to enjoy doing it, not go through so much trouble and stress up "did I add anything too much? Too less? Will it be enough? did I make a mistake in my calculations? How do I get bat guano?".
Through repeated use i'll eventually get the right amount using eye judgement.
Oh yeah I also added some potting soil, the one you buy at your local gardening shop, so that the final soil would be more airy. Perlite would do the same, but it was tough to acquire.
Does that help? Or are you ONLY looking for the perfect recipe?
So, I just dug some soil from outside, if you could get it from a forest it'd be the best. Dig more than 2cm from the top layer (it's usually leafs covering these 2cm in forest). that'll make ~70% of your total soil, so you need to take quite a lot. it's also free.
Then I added some compost (~25%), because I make my own by throwing any food leftover in a bin. (That takes time though, around 6 months i'd say, maybe more, maybe less. You need to get the bottom of course. It's even better if that compost is against the ground and not in a bin. Just made a square of cinderblock and threw everything, everyday, in there.)
Then I added some dried blood. Not everyone has access to that, so you could replace it with any "bio" nitrogen. It doesn't need to be a lot, I didn't do maths, instead I added using my eyes.
Some dried bone for potassium. (of course grinded to dust, just like the dried blood). Again you could buy any bio potassium.
And I bought some phosphorus at my local gardening shop. The quantity in each of these "bio" NPK is huge, just buying a small bag is more than enough for a lot of soil.
After that you can add whatever comes easy to you. Ashes from the fireplace. Horse manure. Fish emulsion (careful with those three, they are powerful). Whatever floats your boats.
Mixed all that on a tarp, to make sure it was evenly spread.
I don't let my soil "cook", rather I placed it in it's final resting place, ready to for the plants. Waited a month, rain and insects did their things stabilising the pH of the soil, spreading the good stuff as well.
In the end, I've got 2.5m plants, sun was nice that year, but soil definitely helped. I didn't had to do anything, didn't had to add nutrients. Perhaps because it was directly in soil and not in pots. Although I had used the same soil for a single potted plant, and it didn't require any nutes.
This year, I just went at the same place and dug my soil again, because now it's going to be in pot. I added again some NPK and ashes for good measure, but I could see the soil was rich, it looks dark like compost only. Perhaps too strong even? Probably because I didn't measure the correct amount. But it wasn't any problem last year, I don't see why it'd be a problem this year. Adding bio stuff doesn't give a chemical taste to the end product. It's also pointless to flush in such soils, it'd take weeks of flushing to remove all the good stuff. It rained often and yet its still dark this year.
I did protect the top layer with mulch or leafs, just like in the forest.
My idea was to enjoy doing it, not go through so much trouble and stress up "did I add anything too much? Too less? Will it be enough? did I make a mistake in my calculations? How do I get bat guano?".
Through repeated use i'll eventually get the right amount using eye judgement.
Oh yeah I also added some potting soil, the one you buy at your local gardening shop, so that the final soil would be more airy. Perlite would do the same, but it was tough to acquire.
Does that help? Or are you ONLY looking for the perfect recipe?
oldjarhead100
New member
I dont think you could find a better idea to help someone out
CaptPicard
New member
Awesome advice. I live the escarpment in Ontario, I could potentially get soil from it. Thanks!
RosettaStoned
New member
Bone meal is for phosphorus
Minoo96
New member
CaptPicard, i'm glad I could help you, just like i got help from others here.. Same way! I was trying so hard to find the perfect recipe... And I got the vibe "Chill. It's supposed to be fun" from people like Oldjarhead etc. (thanks to him again haha, and all the others!)
RosettaStoned, thanks I always confuse one and the other haha (potassium and phosphorus)! I thought of mentioning it in the post but it made me look really like I didn't know what I was doing (which is half true haha) and I didn't want CaptPicard to think because i'm an amateur my advice was less valuable hehe...
RosettaStoned, thanks I always confuse one and the other haha (potassium and phosphorus)! I thought of mentioning it in the post but it made me look really like I didn't know what I was doing (which is half true haha) and I didn't want CaptPicard to think because i'm an amateur my advice was less valuable hehe...
RosettaStoned
New member
No worries, just didn't want someone pumping phosphorus in when they think it's potassium
CaptPicard
New member
Trying to find Coco Loco... haven't come across it yet. What would be a similar alternative?
CaptPicard
New member
Hello all,
Yesterday I placed all my ingredients for my super soil together in a rigid plastic pool (59" diameter). The pool is covered with a tarp and only opened to move the soil around and add water.
The following items are what I used:
1 Bail of Pro Mix w/ Mycorrihizae (107L - 60lbs)
2 Bags of Fox Farm Ocean Forest (42.5L each - about 30lbs each for a total of 60lbs)
1 Bag of Earthworm Castings (20L - 26.46 lbs)
1 Bag of Sphagnum Peat Moss (this was just a small bag as there is peat in the FF and the ProMix)
1 Bag of Blood Meal (3lbs)
1 Bag of Bone Meal (3lbs)
I basically put a cup of each of the following ingredients:
Azomite
Rock Phosphate
Kelp Meal
Dolomite Lime
Gaia Green All Purpose
Epsom Salt
There are many ingredients that make up the Pro Mix and Fox Farm (Ex. Bat Guano in FF). I may put some worms in at a later date. This super soil will make up the bottom half in my planters.
I have a bag of coconut based soil and a bag of happy frog I will mix together as my top half. I don't think this will be too harsh for seedlings.
I tried my best to get what I could from the original recipe with some additions. Please let me know your thoughts. Too much of one thing? Not enough?
Thanks!! :smile:
[h=3][/h]
Yesterday I placed all my ingredients for my super soil together in a rigid plastic pool (59" diameter). The pool is covered with a tarp and only opened to move the soil around and add water.
The following items are what I used:
1 Bail of Pro Mix w/ Mycorrihizae (107L - 60lbs)
2 Bags of Fox Farm Ocean Forest (42.5L each - about 30lbs each for a total of 60lbs)
1 Bag of Earthworm Castings (20L - 26.46 lbs)
1 Bag of Sphagnum Peat Moss (this was just a small bag as there is peat in the FF and the ProMix)
1 Bag of Blood Meal (3lbs)
1 Bag of Bone Meal (3lbs)
I basically put a cup of each of the following ingredients:
Azomite
Rock Phosphate
Kelp Meal
Dolomite Lime
Gaia Green All Purpose
Epsom Salt
There are many ingredients that make up the Pro Mix and Fox Farm (Ex. Bat Guano in FF). I may put some worms in at a later date. This super soil will make up the bottom half in my planters.
I have a bag of coconut based soil and a bag of happy frog I will mix together as my top half. I don't think this will be too harsh for seedlings.
I tried my best to get what I could from the original recipe with some additions. Please let me know your thoughts. Too much of one thing? Not enough?
Thanks!! :smile:
[h=3][/h]
Minoo96
New member
Seems good to me! Mycorrhizae should be used more on the plants when it has roots already, to develop them no? If you just mix it in the soil it may be less useful than when using it on the plant itself, no clue i've never tried it myself.
It's a good idea to make a bottom layer (at what depth is it?) and a top layer. Both ingredients for both layers seems very good... By the time it'll reach the second layer it'll start needing all these nutrients, but in the beginning happy frog will be sufficient.
Also I personally advise to grow in special mix for seedlings, much more airy and soft. I've had increase in germination if I use this soil (just for the seedlings) then a transplantation to the ground. If you don't like transplanting, for fear of breaking the seedling, try those pots in biodegradable, those that let the roots poke through the pot eventually (cardboard kind of thing, but with some sort of mesh so the roots may pass)
It's a good idea to make a bottom layer (at what depth is it?) and a top layer. Both ingredients for both layers seems very good... By the time it'll reach the second layer it'll start needing all these nutrients, but in the beginning happy frog will be sufficient.
Also I personally advise to grow in special mix for seedlings, much more airy and soft. I've had increase in germination if I use this soil (just for the seedlings) then a transplantation to the ground. If you don't like transplanting, for fear of breaking the seedling, try those pots in biodegradable, those that let the roots poke through the pot eventually (cardboard kind of thing, but with some sort of mesh so the roots may pass)
CaptPicard
New member
Hey Minoo96,
I'm not sure on the Mycorrhizae on that. I thought that Mycorrhizae improves the web of bacteria/ fungus, the plant has an easier time finding available nutrients. Still learning a lot here.
The planter height is 12". So I was thinking I would use 10-11" inches of that. Then splitting the difference for the top and bottom layer, so about 5" to 5.5" per layer. I wonder how much the soil will settle over time. Any thoughts on layer heights? I've read 50/50.
So my bottom layer is the super soil I made and for the top layer I two bags I will be mixing together: a bag of "COCO Plus" and a bag of Fox Farm Happy Frog. I will post pictures of these and the details on the back. I think this light mixture will be good for seedlings. I have five feminized (auto) NYC Diesel seeds and the package gives specific instructions on how to germinate them. I was initially going to put them in solo cups to start, but now I'm thinking I may just plant them in their final home - no transplanting.
I have a new problem of trying to find sufficient size saucers for these 15 gallon planters. They are 20" in diameter, so I've been searching for 21" saucer - no luck though. I was thinking about macgyvering my own somehow (garbage bags, hard cardboard, whatever...).
I'm not sure on the Mycorrhizae on that. I thought that Mycorrhizae improves the web of bacteria/ fungus, the plant has an easier time finding available nutrients. Still learning a lot here.
The planter height is 12". So I was thinking I would use 10-11" inches of that. Then splitting the difference for the top and bottom layer, so about 5" to 5.5" per layer. I wonder how much the soil will settle over time. Any thoughts on layer heights? I've read 50/50.
So my bottom layer is the super soil I made and for the top layer I two bags I will be mixing together: a bag of "COCO Plus" and a bag of Fox Farm Happy Frog. I will post pictures of these and the details on the back. I think this light mixture will be good for seedlings. I have five feminized (auto) NYC Diesel seeds and the package gives specific instructions on how to germinate them. I was initially going to put them in solo cups to start, but now I'm thinking I may just plant them in their final home - no transplanting.
I have a new problem of trying to find sufficient size saucers for these 15 gallon planters. They are 20" in diameter, so I've been searching for 21" saucer - no luck though. I was thinking about macgyvering my own somehow (garbage bags, hard cardboard, whatever...).
CaptPicard
New member
buffalobuds
New member
Capt. ---There are lots of formulas for super soil, What your trying to create is a balanced food chain. In nature plants need help from the micro-organisms to eat. They take the nutrients and break them down to a point the plants can absorb them. In turn the plant produces sugar on the outside of the roots which feeds the micro-beasties. You provide a loose airy soil with humus, all the basic and micro nutes, micro-beasties and good clean water and let nature do her thing. This may be over simplified but you feed the soil, the soil feed the mico-life, they feed the plants. the plants grow,produces then die, in turn they turn to compost,enriching the soil....cycle complete. All the fancy bags have done this for you, As you figured out it's cheaper and can be custom blended. I grow autos outdoors in 3 gal. pots. They take around 10 weeks seed to harvest and I add NO extra nutes,just water. Good luck
Last edited:
CaptPicard
New member
I wasn't really sure to be honest. I was just following the recipe that was provided. I did find some info on the following site:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/epsom-salt-gardening.htm
If others know more I'm sure they will add their expertise
I think one thing to keep in mind when using it - is that you don't need very much of it.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/epsom-salt-gardening.htm
If others know more I'm sure they will add their expertise
I think one thing to keep in mind when using it - is that you don't need very much of it.