Crappy Soil ... Need Input ....

[GrowRebel]

I'm on a tight budget so I bought some of that $.96 bags of potting soil at Walmart, well it's too damn sandy and packs down pretty good even though I added perlite.

I'm concerned about the roots not getting enough air because the dirt is packed so tight. What I have been doing is using a water meter to loosen the soil.

My question is how often can I do that without damaging the roots .... or am I damaging the roots?

I've gotten another soil that doesn't pack, and don't plan on getting anymore of that can of soil from Walmart .... but in the meantime can I loosen the soil as I have (every other day after watering) or am I doing more harm than good?

Thanks:rastasmoke:
:noel:

[TheGreenFog]

I would say that you shouldnt be doing that if you already have a big root system. You are most assuredly damaging the roots if you are jabbing a sharp object down there repeatedly. :(

Get better soil. Transplant. Smoke. :D

Good luck, girl.

:rastasmoke: RastafarI

The Fog (TGF)

[rhizome]

Well,what you're doing is a lot like aerating a lawn- I think that you're probabley doing just a wee little bit more good than harm. I'd blow the money and get some decent media, take some cuttings, and start over- I think that you're looking at disease problems sometime in the mid-near future. Either being 02 starved and over-wet causing probs, or repeated physical damage to the roots opening things up for infection.

Second choice- carefully remove the rootball, rinse ( in a bucket, not running water) what will come off easily, and repot in decent media. Use some superthrive if you've got it.

[invision]

when the soil is completely dry squeeze the pot all around a few times and the dirt loosens right up.

[GrowRebel]

when the soil is completely dry squeeze the pot all around a few times and the dirt loosens right up.

Yeah that's sounds good. These plants are on the flower level now .... I don't want to mess that up with a transplant and they are far too big and nice to disgard and start over .... once they are done that soil will be put in a compost pile for outdoor use.

I was able to get better soil so I won't have that problem in the future, just have to deal with what I have now.

Thanks for posting all.:rastasmoke:

:noel:

[ValkyrieAg]

I have some walmart soil in 1 gal containers that have 2 foot plants in them. They look just as good as the ones in my custom mix soil. You do have to airrate them, i use a wooden skewer stick. I mixed it with the sand you buy at walmart for 1.00.

Just don't skimp on the fertilizer....but yes, they will grow.

[GrowRebel]

Oh I'm not having any problems with the plants that are in that soil .... I was just concerned about the roots getting enough air that's all .... preventive maintainance so to speak ....

You can tell by the pics I put up that all the plants are doing well .... I just don't like having to air the soil every other day.

Thanks:rastasmoke: