sassejan
Active Member
Posts: 13
Zone 6
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« Reply #450 on: July 13, 2012, 06:09:17 PM » |
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Coir came with my first earth box, why don't they sell it? Its much lighter weight then the heavy bag they have now??
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sassejan
Active Member
Posts: 13
Zone 6
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« Reply #451 on: July 13, 2012, 06:16:02 PM » |
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Is there a specific brand of soil anyone recommends then adding the replant kit?
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Tania
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« Reply #453 on: July 18, 2012, 05:08:57 AM » |
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Those of you who live in the So Cal, LA area.... Have you seen Kellogg Champion's Blend Potting Soil in any of the garden centers you shop at??? I used to buy it at All American Home Center, but the store closed last year. Lowes sells the Premium blend but it contains sand. Not exactly what I'm looking for...
Tania ~_~
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Tania
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« Reply #455 on: July 20, 2012, 04:11:19 AM » |
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That's the one Kellogg recommended in place of the Champions Blend. I may give it a try. If push comes to shove, I'll probably just have to special order a pallet of the Champion's Blend. I used to be able to buy coconut coir for a buck a block at the 99cents store. Have not seen it there anymore. Otherwise I'd add it to the Blue Ribbon. I'll have to read this whole post to see what other EB'ers are using. Thanks! Tania ~_~ |
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rkwood
Newbie
Posts: 2
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« Reply #456 on: August 16, 2012, 09:39:49 AM » |
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The whole "mix vs. soil" question is very confusing even after reading most of the posts on the forum regarding this question. I just bought and filled 3 EBs with "Natural Organic Gardner and Bloome Planting Mix." Underneath that it says "Premium Garden Soil. Ideal for general soil amending. Raised Bed Planting. Bare Root Planting. Large Outdoor Container Planting." The ingredients are: forest humus, peat moss, rice hulls, chicken manure, worm castings, bat guano, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, oyster shell and dolomite limes" It didn't have any rocks or sand in it, or any perlite or vermiculite. It didn't seem as "fluffy" or "spongy" as the Earth Box potting mix I used previously which had a lot of perlite in it. So is this going to be okay? When I bought it I thought that "Planting Mix" was synonomous with "Potting Mix." Is perlite or vermiculite an essential ingredient or will I be okay without it. Any answers out there?  It may be too rich once you add the lime and fertilizer planting kit then it may burn your plants roots. Lamberts potting mix always works best for me, it's light and fluffy. |
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mjb8743
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« Reply #457 on: August 16, 2012, 12:08:57 PM » |
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The whole "mix vs. soil" question is very confusing even after reading most of the posts on the forum regarding this question. I just bought and filled 3 EBs with "Natural Organic Gardner and Bloome Planting Mix." Underneath that it says "Premium Garden Soil. Ideal for general soil amending. Raised Bed Planting. Bare Root Planting. Large Outdoor Container Planting." The ingredients are: forest humus, peat moss, rice hulls, chicken manure, worm castings, bat guano, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, oyster shell and dolomite limes" It didn't have any rocks or sand in it, or any perlite or vermiculite. It didn't seem as "fluffy" or "spongy" as the Earth Box potting mix I used previously which had a lot of perlite in it. So is this going to be okay? When I bought it I thought that "Planting Mix" was synonomous with "Potting Mix." Is perlite or vermiculite an essential ingredient or will I be okay without it. Any answers out there? It may be too rich once you add the lime and fertilizer planting kit then it may burn your plants roots. Lamberts potting mix always works best for me, it's light and fluffy. You are answering a post that's over 4 years old. This topic has been dissected and discussed well into the millenium... good reading. |
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111 EBs and growing... so how come there are never enough boxes??
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monine
Newbie
Posts: 1
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« Reply #458 on: October 16, 2012, 10:37:45 AM » |
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how did this soil work for you? I have 20 boxes that I just planted yesterday with Mel's mix square foot gardening soil. How did it work for you through out the season. Did it hold too much moisture? and do I need to add dolomite? I added earthworm castings and bloodmeal in transplants planting holes.
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mjb8743
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« Reply #459 on: October 16, 2012, 01:26:44 PM » |
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how did this soil work for you? I have 20 boxes that I just planted yesterday with Mel's mix square foot gardening soil. How did it work for you through out the season. Did it hold too much moisture? and do I need to add dolomite? I added earthworm castings and bloodmeal in transplants planting holes.
You may well be on the fast track to failure. Mel's mix may be fine for in-ground gardening, but if you read anything about the Earthbox, you would know that it's a very different method of gardening. The first thing you need to understand about planting mixes is their function in the Earthbox. The primary function is to wick and transport water to the plants. Nutrients are carried to the roots by the water. The mix must be able to retain air as well. Anything added that doesn't support this function will create problems. Compost, sand, rock, clay and soil will be too heavy, absorb too much water and eliminate air spaces, thus are big no-no's. Since you have 20 boxes already set up, before it's too late, you would do well to read the Earthbox instructions as well as the "Approved for Use in the Earthbox" article. In a nutshell, all EB planting media should be peat-based, and absolutely must have the prescribed amount of dolomite added to offset acidity and provide essential magnesium. http://www.earthbox.com/earthbox-faq.asphttp://www.earthbox.com/earthbox-pdf/EB-WEB-INSTRUCTIONS_NEW-2.pdfhttp://www.earthbox.com/approved-for-earthbox.aspIf it were me, after reading through the materials suggested, I would salvage my plants and redo the boxes from scratch, using the correct media and procedures. The discarded mix would go into a raised bed or traditional garden... but, that's just me... others might just take their chances. Mickie |
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« Last Edit: October 16, 2012, 01:30:55 PM by mjb8743 »
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111 EBs and growing... so how come there are never enough boxes??
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movrshakr
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« Reply #460 on: October 16, 2012, 01:55:01 PM » |
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I would think that a media for square foot (on the ground) growing would not be right for an EarthBox. Completely different.
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kathy
The EarthBox
Hero Member
Posts: 3568
Horticulturalist. Zone 5, almost 4
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« Reply #461 on: October 17, 2012, 11:19:31 AM » |
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I agree with Mickie.....not the right growing media! You are heading quickly for trouble.....change it now, while you can.
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kath, gardening is my game, EarthBox is my fame.
BER...happens.
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wittorfj
Newbie
Posts: 1
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« Reply #462 on: March 30, 2013, 03:14:42 PM » |
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There is a product called "ProMix" that I have used in my Earth Boxes with great success for the last several years. It is described as: "Pro-Mix BX is a General Purpose peat-based growing medium with vermiculite and perlite and mycorrhizae, used for the cultivation of a wide variety of plant species." I buy it at my local feed store/garden supply place and I understand itis available in co-ops elsewhere.
It comes in a big compressed bail, but it is not all that heavy.
You can "Google" "ProMix" and learn more.
The key words here are "growing medium" -- notice neither "soil" nor "mix" are used. LOL
Pat
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movrshakr
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« Reply #463 on: March 30, 2013, 05:04:35 PM » |
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...The key words here are "growing medium" -- notice neither "soil" nor "mix" are used. "Mix" and "media" are acceptable. It is the 'soil' or 'dirt' words that set some of us off into correction mode. Not a big deal really when you KNOW what is intended. We are just afraid that a newbie will read the wrong words and get a wrong product. |
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corinne
Jr. Member
Posts: 28
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« Reply #464 on: April 04, 2013, 01:47:01 PM » |
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Just came in from cleaning out my EB's from last year's fiasco using Organic Potting SOIL.
What a muddy mess in the bottom of the boxes! Also, there were so many little worms in there. I dumped it all in a wheel barrow and spread it out behind the garage area away from everything. UGH!
So now I have Pro Mix BX on order at the hydro store , but need something to mix it with for 1 other box. I have 2 EB's and 1 EB Jr.
I need 1 cu ft more, and really don;t need another whole bale of Pro Mix BX.
2 questions...
Can anyone recommend another mix, smaller packaged ,to add to the ProMix for 1 of the larger EB's?
What's the diff between Pro Mix BX and Pro Mix HP?
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