Mix ratio error

Hi. I mixed my first batch of Mel's Mix (1/3,1/3,1/3) and put it 2 of my 6" deep boxes (have 6 boxes in all). When I looked at my remaining materials I realized I forgot to add in about 2 cubic feet of vermiculite. Is my mix okay without the rest? My 2 boxes are very full and it looks right (I think). Does a box need all of the ruffly 3 cu. ft. of vermiculite? Thanks.

enduro6x6 wrote:Hi. I mixed my first batch of Mel's Mix (1/3,1/3,1/3) and put it 2 of my 6" deep boxes (have 6 boxes in all). When I looked at my remaining materials I realized I forgot to add in about 2 cubic feet of vermiculite. Is my mix okay without the rest? My 2 boxes are very full and it looks right (I think). Does a box need all of the ruffly 3 cu. ft. of vermiculite? Thanks.

I've previously been told that the most important ingredient is the compost. I too have had difficulty doing the 1/3-1/3-1/3 thing...I try and try, but... anyways...

My first attempt at Mel's Mix used 2 bags of medium (hadn't found course at the time) Vermiculite, 4 bags of compost, roughly a bag's worth of my own compost, and a compressed bale of peat moss.

My next batch used 5 bags of cow manure compost, a bale of peat moss, and (most of) a large bag of Coarse Vermiculite. I put the remaining Vermiculite into my two beds, and mixed it in with my first attempt... made a huge difference in the consistency of the mixture. Then, I mixed the new in with the first stuff. I hadn't planted anything yet, so I tried to mix it pretty good.

Now that I've done this twice, I have managed to fill up both of my boxes. I'm hoping between the two attemps, I managed to get the mix right, in the end. We'll see how it turns out! *Crosses fingers*

i would suggest wetting the mix down a bit and then stirring in the vermiculite.

the vermiculite will just add to the water retention properties as well as increased friability - sometimes the compost can get hard if it dries out between waterings.