Soil for dummies

[poison]

So I wanna build some vivariums and obviously I need soil. Some of the enclosures are larger and ordering premixed ABG would just cost to much. Any kind of organic soil that I can get from Home Depot that would work well for plants? I've tried a few but with no success. Any help would be great .

[deranged chipmunk]

I use miracle grow's organic choice in my mix. I love the stuff. I use it darned near everything. My grow out tank, my aquatics, containers, ect. I had to switch to that because I can't get my fav hydroponics soil anymore


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DiggenEm]

You can get a huge bail of milled peat from Lowes for under $15. I also get a pack of high quality sphagnum and some orchid bark and oak leaves and make my own substrate.

[deranged chipmunk]

You can get a huge bail of milled peat from Lowes for under $15. I also get a pack of high quality sphagnum and some orchid bark and oak leaves and make my own substrate.

This works too!!


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[poison]

I use miracle grow's organic choice in my mix. I love the stuff. I use it darned near everything. My grow out tank, my aquatics, containers, ect. I had to switch to that because I can't get my fav hydroponics soil anymore


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

Thanks, Bill. Are you talking about this? http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pro...00643a_400.jpg

I'm using that as well at the moment. Seems to be working well for a pothos plant but I have yet to try anything else in it.

[poison]

You can get a huge bail of milled peat from Lowes for under $15. I also get a pack of high quality sphagnum and some orchid bark and oak leaves and make my own substrate.

Hi, DiggenEm. Thank you for the response. Can you by any chance provide links to the products that you are talking about so that I know what to look for?

[deranged chipmunk]

That would work. That's the garden soil. I use the orange bag. Potting soil.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DiggenEm]

http://m.lowes.com/pd_26986-1803-008...ductId=3029472

[poison]

Ok, I'll have to look for it. What kind of plants have you grown in it and what else do you mix into it?

[poison]

Lowe's Home Improvement

Cool. I'll check this out as well. Thank you very much

[deranged chipmunk]

Wow, I've grown everything in it, with the exception of carnivorous plants. They get a special mix. All my containers use that mix and I grow some unusual plants like amorphophallus konjac, my begonias are grown in it, my crypts, both submerged and emersed. I use of for almost everything lol

I mix mine with coco fiber, orchid mix, peat moss and horticultural charcoal. (You can use activated carbon as well) I also add some worm castings and bat guano in mine, when I have it, but not always.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DiggenEm]

Where do you get bat guano and what is its purpose? Organic fertilizer?

[deranged chipmunk]

Yup, organic fertilizer. One of a few I use along with some chemical ferts. I know, GASP!! He uses chemicals in his tank!! Hehe

I get guano at either at a hydroponics shop or one of the better garden centers around.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[deranged chipmunk]

Oh, I should probably mention that the tanks I do use guano in, I keep a lot of se Asian plants that really like a nice, acidic soil (piptospathas, cryptocorynes, schismatoglottis, aglaonemas). Between peat moss, worm castings and bat guano, I can get my soil pH down into the low 5's


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[poison]

I heard (from TV) that guano can cause respiratory issues in people. Is this true? Is it not that same with animals?

[deranged chipmunk]

I have heard that too, but as I understand it, You would have to be inhaling pure guano, and dust at that. Since everything is kept moist, no worries on that one.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[poison]

Ah OK. Makes sense.

[DiggenEm]

Oh ok I see.

I wonder if bat guano would be beneficial for microfauna culturing? What is your take on that Bill?

[deranged chipmunk]

I don't think i would waste it on cultures. the stuff can be pretty pricey. I pay about $25 for a small (maybe 2lbs) bag. Although with it being essentially waste material, I could see where some Isopods would probably groove out on it.

Daniel, I was reminded last night about a documentary about bats I saw not too long ago. When they visited the caves of the bats to study them, they had to wear bio suits because of the air quality being so bad from the guano. So it does validate the claim of respiratory issues, but of course they dear dealing with a mound of guano 100 ft or so high and in an enclosed space. I think I would pass on that job lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[flybyferns]

miracle-gro-organic-choice-potting-mix
The fertilizers in this are safe for long term ie PDF exposure? I'm such a worrywart

Each part of the ABG mixture can be purchased separately at about 50% of the cost
ie
Reptile Substrates and Amphibian Substrates | Josh's Frogs

If done this way plan on having to break -up the tree fern fiber and the sphagnum moss
-especially the sphag

lots of other places- Bill knows them all ......... but Josh's is less $$

Potting Media : Kelley's Korner Orchid Supplies, We offer everything to grow great Orchids!

Best quality orchid potting mix, orchiata orchid bark, cactus potting mix and hoya potting mix.