Makeshift TLO batch critique

[Albert Eimstoned]

Hey guys, semi experienced grower here. I've been working with Eyes on Fire to get my mix right as this grow has been a nightmare and his plants are top freaking notch! My pH is all screwed up from using a pre-made TLO mix. He suggested I make the following mix and as of today I have it cooking for my next grow:

4 gallons of the Rev's 2.1 mix from TLOsoils.com
4 gallons of Dr. Earth's Home Grown potting mix (the black bag)
3 gallons organic sphagnum peat
3 gallons of organic medium sized perlite
1 gallon of earthworm castings

I then watered with de-chlorinated tap water with a little bit of liquid kelp, cal-mag, and some molasses until the soil was just a little moist.

How does this mix sound? Is there anything anyone would add to it? I plan to let it sit until December 1st.

Also I have a seedlix mix so my autos (tangelo rapido & dark devil) so I won't burn them. It's a 50/50 mix of the Rev's Mellow Mix and Espoma Organic Seedling Mix.

Thanks in advance!

-Al

 

[A4]

Hard to say Albert. It is nearly impossible to guess at how a soil is going to do by looking at components. Generally, for a newbie to tlo it is normally best to go with a proven recipe. What you have posted up there looks like it should work, the only thing that worries me is you have added peat, ewc and another potting mix to the base mix. The potting mix should have some lime in it but the ewc and peat are going to be acidic and you haven't added any more lime. That could cause your soil to be slightly to moderately acidic but honestly there is no way to tell but try it.

Best of luck, post up a thread when you get something going in it and I will follow along and try to help out if needed.

 

[Albert Eimstoned]

I have dolomite lime available and could add some no problem. Is there a recommended amount?

 

[Eyes on Fire]

thats a bit different than the recipe i mentioned,or additions to be used..lol jus sayin.cuz prilled lime was used in the 2.1 mix.n blending that earlier on would have been significantly better for leveling n blending time.cuzyer 2.1 4 gallons is from the full strength smaller hott mix.so thinning that by 50% ,w/ sum castings and perlite and some soil alone,but with that small of a batch its most likely not going to blend n cook effectively.

 

[Albert Eimstoned]

thats a bit different than the recipe i mentioned,or additions to be used..lol jus sayin.cuz prilled lime was used in the 2.1 mix.n blending that earlier on would have been significantly better for leveling n blending time.cuzyer 2.1 4 gallons is from the full strength smaller hott mix.so thinning that by 50% ,w/ sum castings and perlite and some soil alone,but with that small of a batch its most likely not going to blend n cook effectively.

Crap I did exactly what you said but made a slightly smaller batch. I did accidentally use one extra gallon of the Dr. Earth's (Stoned, lol). Here's what you told me a couple of days ago:

"so thats all your full strength mix 6.5 gallons mixed with 5 gallons of dr earths soil.and 5 gallons of spag peat and 5 gallons of perlite total. then add 5 or 6 gallons of castings or vermicompost and mix that up well and stick that inside to cook for a bit.prolly have to stir it once in a week or less.really well and get the corners really well and then it should be fine for the duration of 45 days man.should be golden.any water to water it in with you should use about 6 or 7 drops of cal mag per gallon and water the mix in and stir it reaaalllly well too.then squeeze test it to make sure.moist not wet and it should partialy(half way)fall apart."

What did I do wrong? Sincerely trying to learn and do well here not flame or point fingers.

 

[Eyes on Fire]

its the size of the mix.Smaller onces will cook but take longer to blend.and with the full batch of prilled lime used it'll help buffer the soil.if you want to go smaller dude.use your WHOLE 6.5 gallons,some dr earth soil.an equal split 50-50a gallon of perlite and a gallon of casting and cpl gallons of spag and let that stew away with another gsallon of casting added a week after when you first mix it. but its the size and amounts of certain things that are contained within the original mix that needs to be utilized man lol thats all dude

 

[Albert Eimstoned]

I gotta tell you that I cut the mix down because I only had 4 gallons of the 2.1 mix instead of my estimated 6.5. How much does this change things? I'm willing to let this cook for as long as needed so if I need to buy and add anything now is the time for me to do it.

once again thanks for all the help guys. I'll pay it forward when I can.

 

[Eyes on Fire]

lol honestly Id tell ya go get another pack of pre mix to be honest(you have 5 gallon of all the components.and maybe an extra gallon or so of what you still have.that'll be great.and go a loong way too.all you can essentially do is cut it by 50 or maybe even 65 percent with a cpl cups of castings n let that blend for a cpl weeks n use that.with a small tea here or there.shouldnt need a ton.but without the whole batch mostly in tact,there is olny so thin you can spread something to where it cannot become utilized as it was ment.thats all man.it can work,just not gonna give you the grow your hoping to see..lol thats all bro.its your call.

 

[Albert Eimstoned]

So I should order another bag of the 2.1 mix from TLOsoils.com and add everything to make the ratio you originally told me about? That sounds like the cheapest route. Id need to get a bigger tote too. I really really want the best soil possible.

 

[Eyes on Fire]

Yeah dude,thats what I thought ya had in that 7 gallon hot mix.lol. but thats cut in half.but yeah man ,buy one pack of the mix.5LB deal.

add your 6 gallons of castings even all of your 7 gallons of you wanted to use it all.

assuming you use it all add all your castings the 5LB pack ofcourse.

6 gallons of spagnum peat moss
7 gallons dr earth soil.
7gallons castings
6 gallons perlite
and the 5LB pack and mix it really really well in a 30 gallon tote and water it in with 30cc liquid kelp.

1TBspoon molasses(roughly a few teaspoons)eye it,its fine.
a dash cpl teaspoons of endo spectrum mix if you have it like the BioAG VAM and about 7 drops cal mag,per gallon of filtered water and you have magic.stir it once in a week really really well and again like the first time make sure it passes the squeeze test.seal it up in a warm place n come back in 45 days n plant away.