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Minerals in Mels Mix
+3
camprn
bnoles
CapeCoddess
7 posters
Page 1 of 1
Minerals in Mels Mix
The neighborhood master gardener was walking by this morning and she says to me, "I was thinking about your garden and was wondering what medium you use to get minerals in your [Mels Mix] since you don't use soil?" I said probably the seaweed & shells. She says no, that wouldn't do it, that I should read up on 'cation exchange', which I haven't done yet.
Sooooo....where do we get the minerals in the Mels Mix?
CC
Sooooo....where do we get the minerals in the Mels Mix?
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: Minerals in Mels Mix
CC.... I would not let her mess with my head. Fact is, MM grows our food as well if not better than any medium out there. Plants are strong, healthy and beautiful in appearance. I doubt they would be any of this if they were not getting what they need from our homemade compost.
bnoles- Posts : 804
Join date : 2012-08-16
Location : North GA Mountains Zone 7A
Re: Minerals in Mels Mix
Oh for cryin out loud, exactly what minerals are in question?
Why doesn't the MG explain it to you...... my guess is because it's complicated, that's why...... this get's into pH, ion exchange, electrical conductivity, etc, etc, etc.
The minerals come from the products used to make the compost or any amendments that may be needed in a deficiency is noted... The more limited your ingredients, the more likely there are going to mineral deficiencies in the MM. This is the reason I will use Epsome salts,for example. Next year, based upon my growing this year. I may opt for other amendments, or not.
http://rodaleinstitute.org/2004/what-can-you-use-to-boost-your-soil-fertility/
It is quite possible the MG just wanted a way to open a gardening conversation ........ so go ahead, do the homework, then dazzle with your new found knowledge!
Why doesn't the MG explain it to you...... my guess is because it's complicated, that's why...... this get's into pH, ion exchange, electrical conductivity, etc, etc, etc.
The minerals come from the products used to make the compost or any amendments that may be needed in a deficiency is noted... The more limited your ingredients, the more likely there are going to mineral deficiencies in the MM. This is the reason I will use Epsome salts,for example. Next year, based upon my growing this year. I may opt for other amendments, or not.
http://rodaleinstitute.org/2004/what-can-you-use-to-boost-your-soil-fertility/
It is quite possible the MG just wanted a way to open a gardening conversation ........ so go ahead, do the homework, then dazzle with your new found knowledge!
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Minerals in Mels Mix
This is the reason for the 5 types of compost, to insure the various minerals and such are available.
Kay
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
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walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4374
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 81
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: Minerals in Mels Mix
The minerals are contained in the very varied materials you use to make your MM compost ( not the peat or vermiculite ) , so that you end up with a " shot gun blast " of all sorts of mineral , nutrients and fungi etc.
They are long and short term in giving out nutrients to your plants providing you have correctly composted as per Mel's suggestions.
Suggest to the MG that they also read , " The Berkley 18 day hot composting method" , as it's all in there .
Perhaps also suggest that they might like to have a few months here on ANSFG to get the gist of things .
They are long and short term in giving out nutrients to your plants providing you have correctly composted as per Mel's suggestions.
Suggest to the MG that they also read , " The Berkley 18 day hot composting method" , as it's all in there .
Perhaps also suggest that they might like to have a few months here on ANSFG to get the gist of things .
plantoid- Posts : 4096
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 73
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
Re: Minerals in Mels Mix
This is (was) my first year of SFG.bnoles wrote:CC.... I would not let her mess with my head. Fact is, MM grows our food as well if not better than any medium out there. Plants are strong, healthy and beautiful in appearance. I doubt they would be any of this if they were not getting what they need from our homemade compost.
I have plants growing such I've never seen anywhere, just typical everyday plants and herbs growing with root systems hard to believe.
The compost I used last spring was from our local recycle center, I added 3-4 ingredient of my own.
From here on I'll have my own home made compost that I visit every day.
This system works for me, I'll be using MM for every bit of planting I am going to do.
Hanging basket's this year were a total success, they even came to assist the greenshouse baskets wife purchased that died, A marigold plant that grew 3 time as large as the container it was in.
Cayanetta pepper plant that had to be cut back , it grew so well in a container..
Below is my cold frame, I'll be tending this hopefully all winter, or at leat until very low temps dig in.
jimmy cee
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 2215
Join date : 2013-02-16
Age : 88
Location : Hatfield PA. zone 6b
Re: Minerals in Mels Mix
Beautiful garden!
squaredeal- Posts : 192
Join date : 2011-05-09
Location : Indianapolis=6a
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