Alternate mix

thehoo 4/2/2010, 2:02 pm

How about a mix of 60% Peat Moss, 20% Perlite and 20% rice hulls? Compost would then be added to the Peat/Perlite/rice hull mix. Any thoughts on that?

junequilt 4/2/2010, 4:17 pm

Hmmm . . . perlite promotes drainage and gives plant roots some grit to wrap around, but doesn't retain moisture. I don't see it as an adequate replacement for vermiculite.

Do rice hulls retain moisture?

And yet, there are no (as far as I'm aware) SFG police, so you could always test it out and see what happens!

Not to be a pain, but you're already up to 100%. Alternate mix Icon_wink

Just go ahead and kick me.

thehoo 4/2/2010, 6:30 pm

Yea, I know its 100%, but that's only for that mix, which would represent the Peat/Vermiculite part (66%) of Mel's Mix. I still would mix in 33% (OMG, that's only 99%. What to do?) of compost.

Also, according to Mel in his SFG book, Perlite does absorb water, just not as well as Vermiculite.

I'm thinking that I will go the Mel's Mix way for a couple of reasons. The lack of water absorbtion by the perlite, and the rice hulls will eventually break down, reducing the % ability of the soil to breath even more.

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Alternate mix

Alternate mix

Re: Alternate mix

Alternate mix

Re: Alternate mix


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