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Is my Mel's Mix unworkable?
3 posters
Page 1 of 1
Is my Mel's Mix unworkable?
Hello all,
This is my first post on this forum. I live in Hong Kong, where everything is compact due. I stumbled upon SFG while casually exploring different methods of gardening and think it's perfect for the environment here. I tested out Mel's Mix with a small batch consisting of 10L fine vermiculite, 10L peat moss, 10L worm castings and found it workable; my beets seem fine, though most have some unhealthy-looking leaf patterns.
Encouraged by this, I went ahead and took the plunge: I gathered enough material for six 4 x 4 boxes (I'm using partitioned felt containers) and mixed them, paying special attention to getting a decent mix of compost as Mel recommended. My ingredients per unit are as follows:
225L peat moss
105L vermiculite (very coarse, 4-5mm)
105L vermiculite (fine)
20kg composted cow manure (2-2-2)
25kg composted chicken droppings (4-3-2)
20kg bone meal (P heavy; slow release)
25kg peanut meal (N heavy; releases heat when first wet)
Based on a visual guess, the stack of compost bags is roughly the same volume as the peat moss. However, when mixed the volume gets reduced due to the varying sizes of particles mixing together. The resulting mix, when watered, is slimy, smelly, and uneven, filling two-thirds of the expected volume (4 boxes out of 6).
It's been a week since I seeded the boxes and nothing has yet sprouted, while seeds planted in the test mix (worm castings) and regular soil have already done so. Transplants tend to wilt within the day. I suspect there's something fundamentally off about my mix, even though on paper it should at least be workable.
Is there an issue with my mix? If so, is there anything I can do to remedy this?
This is my first post on this forum. I live in Hong Kong, where everything is compact due. I stumbled upon SFG while casually exploring different methods of gardening and think it's perfect for the environment here. I tested out Mel's Mix with a small batch consisting of 10L fine vermiculite, 10L peat moss, 10L worm castings and found it workable; my beets seem fine, though most have some unhealthy-looking leaf patterns.
Encouraged by this, I went ahead and took the plunge: I gathered enough material for six 4 x 4 boxes (I'm using partitioned felt containers) and mixed them, paying special attention to getting a decent mix of compost as Mel recommended. My ingredients per unit are as follows:
225L peat moss
105L vermiculite (very coarse, 4-5mm)
105L vermiculite (fine)
20kg composted cow manure (2-2-2)
25kg composted chicken droppings (4-3-2)
20kg bone meal (P heavy; slow release)
25kg peanut meal (N heavy; releases heat when first wet)
Based on a visual guess, the stack of compost bags is roughly the same volume as the peat moss. However, when mixed the volume gets reduced due to the varying sizes of particles mixing together. The resulting mix, when watered, is slimy, smelly, and uneven, filling two-thirds of the expected volume (4 boxes out of 6).
It's been a week since I seeded the boxes and nothing has yet sprouted, while seeds planted in the test mix (worm castings) and regular soil have already done so. Transplants tend to wilt within the day. I suspect there's something fundamentally off about my mix, even though on paper it should at least be workable.
Is there an issue with my mix? If so, is there anything I can do to remedy this?
RoofTop- Posts : 1
Join date : 2021-03-13
Location : Near-tropical
Re: Is my Mel's Mix unworkable?
I wish I had some help to give but I am not sure. I know when I first started Mel's Mix, I used only fine vermiculite and it didn't work. The coarse works better. I am not sure why the mixture would smell unless the ingredients are not fully finished decomposing for compost. I hadn't considered using bone so I don't know if that would benefit or harm. You can measure your ingredients more easily by using a five-gallon bucket to make sure they all meet the correct ratio as you mix them together. Good luck and don't get discouraged.
GardenFairy- Posts : 12
Join date : 2021-04-01
Location : Palacios, Texas
Re: Is my Mel's Mix unworkable?
Odors from compost pile indicate anaerobic conditions. I think you have to much wet manure that may actually not be finished for composting. .worm castings alone should be enough in mixed proportional quantities. Chicken manure is very potent stuff and should not be added in large quantities. Dry out your mix by adding cardboard, straw, dry leaves will help, shredded newspaper, good quality sawdust. keep turning until drying becomes apparent.
Do not expose to sunlight to dry as this will destroy microbes.
I don’t measure anything other than using the same container for all ingredients.
1/3 of each.
Fine vermiculite is usually used only for seed potting....course, or better yet super course should be used in Mels Mix. Not easy to find, however it is available. .
Maybe contact PVP industries, they have been very helpful to many here.
Do not expose to sunlight to dry as this will destroy microbes.
I don’t measure anything other than using the same container for all ingredients.
1/3 of each.
Fine vermiculite is usually used only for seed potting....course, or better yet super course should be used in Mels Mix. Not easy to find, however it is available. .
Maybe contact PVP industries, they have been very helpful to many here.
jimmy cee
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 2215
Join date : 2013-02-16
Age : 88
Location : Hatfield PA. zone 6b
GardenFairy likes this post
jimmy cee
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 2215
Join date : 2013-02-16
Age : 88
Location : Hatfield PA. zone 6b
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