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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > A solution to my lack of space and what i use as a soiless mix.
 
 


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penandpike

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Since a picture is worth a thousand words I am not going to say much.
I don't have space at home so I came up with this solution. One backet can hold some 14 plants. Easy to water, move and clean after. As a soilless mix I use 80% fresh sawdust (Oak, cut with Chainsaw) and 20% peatmoss Ph 6.0 or (composted pine needles from a nearby pine forest Ph 5.8)
Every time I water I add watersoluble fertilizer Kristalon 18:18:18 +3 magnesium + micros 1gr per litter of water witch is 180ppm nitrogen. ( I don't advise anyone to use this as I am still experimenting for the best rates of fertilizer for this mix) The Lay Flat Tube Pipe is so cheep that for one plant it cost only 2 Us cents. the tall and slim disign of this "pot" is a very important feature because no perched water is allowed anywhere near the newly rooted cutting and also excellent airation with the side cuts.
I would offer anyone to make a very simple experiment with the soilmix they use.
Here is how I do it: I put the moist mix into the pot witch I am planing to use for my rooted cutting. Than I will water it very heavily making sure it is very wet. I will leave it for 20-30 minutes. After that period I will start testing the mix by taking samples from the top and bottom of the pot. I will fill my palm with a poting mix and squeese it as hard as I can in my fist. A proper mix for me is: no mater how strong you squeese there should be no drops of water from the top of the pot, and no more than 3-4 drops from the bottom.
As soon as I am able to take the plants outside in the spring I will transfer them in larger containers with a diffrent soilmix that holds more water.
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Pen
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GreenFin

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Great pictorial, thanks for sharing :)
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James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile
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Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Very creative ;)
nycfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Nice!
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pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Great idea Pen!
One question how do you check on root development?
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
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dkirtexas

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Anyone have a source (USA) for that type of lay flat hose??
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penandpike

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Pino I don't care about watching the roots anymore. It was interesting at the beggining. And roots like it in the dark!
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Pen
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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Have you ever used fresh saw dust before? I am interested in your results, not that I am planning on using any or have a source for some. Just that I have always heard that fresh sawdust can be more unpredictable with pH swings and initially takes nitrogen to begin it breaking down. Eventually it makes a great soil builder though. Please update us with your progress over the next few months.
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penandpike

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
I am growing some 30 decares of blueberries and I use very heavy mulch around the plants. Blueberries love it and the roots grow strate in the fresh sawdust. The only problems I have is adjusting nitrogen rates. Sawdust breaking down consumes tons of nitrogen. I am sure figs will love growing in the sawdust if nitrogen rates are right. Ph will not be a problem right now is around 7.0 I will keep the forum informed of any ups and downs.
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Pen
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penandpike

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Sawdust turns out as not a very good media because it is difficult to adjust the N rates plus some other problems.
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Pen
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