recipes for success
Coco coir
Many soil companies are incorporating coco coir (coconut husks) as either
the base or secondary ingredient in
their potting soil mixes. Coco coir is a
by-product of the coconut industry and
is more environmentally friendly than
sphagnum peat moss. It is able to hold
moisture and oxygen like peat moss; in
fact, it actually has slightly higher oxygen retention. This fact alone has made
coco coir’s popularity increase among
indoor gardeners and greenhouse
horticulturalists.
Compost
Compost is a general term referring to
aged and broken down organic matter. It can be made from a number
of different sources, but it’s usually
derived from plant material or manure. Although compost usually isn’t
microorganisms. Revered by many
organic growers as the best soil additive available, worm castings are known
to enrich soils and improve disease
resistance in crops. If you choose to use
worm castings as an ingredient in your
potting soil, be sure to purchase pure
worm castings. There are many products
on the market that are labeled as worm
castings but only contain a small percentage of actual worm castings in their
composition.
crop. Most of the following ingredients can be obtained at your local
hydroponic retail shop or local garden
vsupply store.
Aeration additives
Fish meal
Fish meal is another fast-releasing nitrogen source. It’s a great nitrogen additive
that enhances microbial life in the soil.
Fish meal also contains a significant
amount of phosphorus, which helps
trigger root development.
Perlite
Perlite is expanded volcanic glass and
adds air pockets to soils. Soils with added perlite will dry out quickly between
each watering, which gives a grower
more control over a feeding regiment.
Perlite is lightweight and relatively inexpensive, which makes it the most popular choice among commercial
potting soil manufacturers.
Common nitrogen (N) ingredients:
Blood meal
This is an extremely rich, fast-releasing
nitrogen source. Blood meal is a great
additive for plants that require high
amounts of nitrogen.
Feather meal
Feather meal is a slow-releasing nitrogen
source best used on plants that require
high amounts of nitrogen over a three
to four month period.
Pumice
Pumice is a type of volcanic
rock that is naturally porous.
Like
perlite,
pumice
has the
used in as high of
ability to
a volume as peat
add air
moss or coco coir,
pockets
its role as a base
in a soil,
which
ingredient is just as
results
crucial. Not only
does compost have significant nutrient in higher oxygen content around the
value, but it also provides an abundance plant’s roots. Pumice is less commonly
used by commercial manufacturers,
of microbial life to the soil mixture.
however, simply because it is heavy and,
These beneficial microorganisms are
the foundation for nutrient uptake and therefore, expensiveto ship.
the stimulation of root development.
Worm castings
Like compost, worm castings—or,
vermicompost—are a significant
source of nutrient value and beneficial
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Maximum Yield USA | September 2012
Soybean meal
This slow-releasing nitrogen source is
not quite as slow as feather meal. It’s
a great additive for plants that require
adequate nitrogen for two to three
months and that need a little phosphorus boost to help promote fruiting
or flowering.
Bat guano (high nitrogen)
There are many compositions of bat
guano on the market, including highnitrogen bat guano. High-nitrogen
bat guano is rich in micronutrients,
beneficial microbes and, of
course, nitrogen. This
beneficial diversity
combined with fastreleasing nitrogen
makes high-nitrogen
By using individual organic ingredients bat guano the fertilalong with the base, a grower can tailor izer of choice for many
their soil to meet the needs of any
organic growers.
Individualingredients
organic