[droid77]

A lot of people have great luck with cana coco coir, either with it without perlite (even though it doesn’t need it) but if you are looking at soil there are so many different camps that it can get overwhelming. The truth is that most bags of soil are the same. They are really just different levels of sifting out the larger pieces. However if you are growing outdoors you may want those larger pieces to protect your moisture .. I personally stay away from anything that is “enriched” or “pre-certified” and prefer to go with an old growers mix from the sixties… Get the most generic topsoil you can find. No nutrients added. These are usually about 6$ or less for 2 cubic feet. Run that over a simple sifter, you can even use an old section of screen from a window staples to a frame. The goal is to get anything larger than about a 1/4″ out of the mix. Set aside anything that wouldn’t shake out ( I use a fencing with 1/4″ – 1/2 holes I believe it was meant for a rabbit hutch). Now you have some great inert soil you can add in the following recipe:

60% soil

20% perlite (for drainage)

20% vermiculite ( for water retention)

Now follow recommended growdot formula, premix everything in, not just topdress,water in with plain water and put your auto in. Now check your soil daily and if when you put your finger into it up to the second knuckle it is dry, then water with recharge every other watering. Start with 1/4 your pot volume until you are watering every day, then move to half volume, again until you are watering every day. At this point you will be in flower and you can water daily with about .8 of your pot volume safely continuing to alter are recharge and you with end up with some dank stank.

[myokgarden]

I think I’m gonna try both. Grabbed a bag of vermiculite. Gonna have to order the canna coco. Waiting on an auto pack anyway. Going with a fast buds guava auto. Thank you for going into detail.

[shegrows]

I just use grow dots and happy frog soil with a little worm castings. my plants do great.

[myokgarden]

Ty. I know I’ve seen Happy Frog around here at a few places. I did good with Sunshine Mix#4. Tried making up my own soil and added too much peat I think. Was having trouble with figuring out the watering. Anyway, good to know and thanks for the recommendation.

[myokgarden]

Probably a stupid question but could I use peat for the water retention?

[shegrows]

I’m not a fan of peat…unless I mix it with happyfrog

[myokgarden]

Last question was for first respondent. This site is great but I get lost in operation sometimes.

[mrtimbobway]

May I recommend Fox Farms Bushdoctor Coco Loco, a large handful of Wiggle Worm worm castings, 3 Tbs grow dots (if using 3 gallon pots), water with recharge once a week. It’s a simple mix that you can expand on with each grow as you learn.

[myokgarden]

Yes you may. Thought I had my mind made up. Seeds arrived today and when I stared at my empty pot, I said SumBitch! I do know I want non amended coco of some sort I think?

[slamfm]

What did you end up getting? I’m using Coco Loco right now and I’m liking it more than Happy Frog, so far. I’d like to do just Coc, just need to get some.

[myokgarden]

Mixed some coco and husks I thinks they are called. In place of perlite. Had maybe a couple handfuls of mushroom compost left that I tossed in. Just waiting on a seed to pop… well pop a lil more I guess…