Outdoor soil + animal attraction

Hello.
This is my 2nd serious attempt at outdoor. Last year, I had three 8'' plants that i transplanted into the ground with Ocean Forest soil. Immediately the next night, they were dug up; I replanted them and hoped for the best. This continued (dug up, replant) until they were dead (I couldn't keep up with the animal).

Well this year, I have them sitting in smalls pots with MG seedling starter. They have been outside for about a week. They haven't been touched by anything (I used my urine, my hair, and Critter Ridder). They need a transplant bad, as they are still in their seedling pots.

This is my question. Should I try Ocean forest again, or maybe switch to happy frog. I hear critters (coons are my problem) are attracted to the shrimp meal. I know happy frog doesn't have as much organic stuff compared to ocean forest.

I'm just looking for advice from someone else that had critter (raccoon) troubles. I'm just scared to try FFOF again, but the plants just love that stuff....
:stoned::stoned:

I had bears attack my bags of FF soil supplement. Not sure what they were going for there. They never touched any of my plants once I added the soil to the ground. I use FFOF because it has more nutrients that Happy Frog. FFHF is mainly for starting plants where FFOF may be too hot for starting new plants but has more nutrients that the plants need for the long term. If you use FFHF you probably need to add a few more nutes later in the growth cycle.

Bears? Yikes.

Luckily they aren't my problem. I'm 90% sure it's raccoons because they live all over the property - I always hear/see them on the way.

That's interesting that they didn't touch it once in the ground; I know this is why a lot of people dig/fill the holes, and let them sit for 2 nights until they transplant. It reduces the risk of an animal digging up the plant.

For right now, I'm going to transplant into larger containers with MG organic potting mix + extra perlite. I know that the animals don't mess with MG, and I need to avoid being rootbound (which is on the brink). In the meantime, I'm going to scout an in-ground spot, fill it with FFOF, and let it sit a couple of nights before I transplant. I have more hair, more urine, and more Critter Ridder to protect the holes.

thanks for the feedback

I couldn't find MG organic, so I bought an organic potting mix at the local health food store. It's ingredients are worm castings, coco fiber(or something similar), perlite, and compost. I'm also planning to cut it with 25-30% extra perlite. Not too many ingredients, but Earth Juice should take care of that - this soil should be safe from animals.

I still plan on FFOF for the in-ground transplant. Probably after 2-3 weeks of growth in their new 1 gallon containers.

youd be best of just setting up some sort of barrier.. whether it is natural or man made. I cant plant anything and just hope that the animals wont get it because chances are they will.

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Originally Posted by MDFinest

youd be best of just setting up some sort of barrier.. whether it is natural or man made. I cant plant anything and just hope that the animals wont get it because chances are they will.

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I thought of putting a fence up, but due to its location, I cannot draw any attention. In case somebody comes close to the area, I have to have it looking as natural as possible. Animals are why I hate outdoor gardening. So far so good though.

I transplant tomorrow night into 2 gallon containers - using Organic Mechanics potting soil + perlite - I plan to give a half-strength feeding of Earth Juice.

thats why I gave you the option of using a natural barrier. Just think and be creative. :thumbsup: We're Im at right now is so secure I dont even worry about animals right now. Its in a shopping cart that was somewhat close to the site so I dragged it there. Usually this time of year I'd be figuring out how Im going to beat bugs/pests, animals.. rodents. Now Im just amazed at how great they're doing.

Im not going to use the shopping cart the whole season because it would draw attention but the location is so great that the odds of someone walking right up on it is very low. Im just using it for now. But I use plenty of nartural barriers lke trees, rough bushes, thorns that I gathered. Whatever works.

Well - Not one problem yet with animals (been outside for 1 week+). I think all of the precautions taken paid off; they were Critter Ridder, coffee grounds (for slugs), human hair, human urine, and I left them in pots when put in-ground. We have a couple of FAT raccoons and one FAT woodchuck that I see almost daily. I've even had to skip a checkup one night because I could hear 2 coons snarling/fighting in the field near my babies. As I approached the tall grass, I could hear rapid movement coming towards me, so I booked it. Just proof there are pests lurking in the area.

In a couple weeks I have to make the transition from 2 gallon pots to direct in-ground. I will dig the holes deep and fill them with FFOF and then leave the holes alone for 2 nights. By then, the babies will be tall enough to withstand smaller predators, and I think my precautions will take care of the rest.

It's about time this Midwest weather heated up - this has been our coldest spring in fifteen years. Somehow though, these tough little warriors were able to deal with the stresses of low night temperatures and relocation from indoors to out, while only being a couple weeks old.

Cold spring = warmer/later fall???? hopefully!!
Good luck this summer !

Sounds like you are on the road to Wellville. As long as your plant is not the only green thing in the area most animals will eat the native vegitation. If it is the only green thing in a dry area every animal in the area will eat it. If that is the case you may need to make some kind of natural looking fence. Hope all goes well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DOUGAL25

Hello.
This is my 2nd serious attempt at outdoor. Last year, I had three 8'' plants that i transplanted into the ground with Ocean Forest soil. Immediately the next night, they were dug up; I replanted them and hoped for the best. This continued (dug up, replant) until they were dead (I couldn't keep up with the animal).

Well this year, I have them sitting in smalls pots with MG seedling starter. They have been outside for about a week. They haven't been touched by anything (I used my urine, my hair, and Critter Ridder). They need a transplant bad, as they are still in their seedling pots.

This is my question. Should I try Ocean forest again, or maybe switch to happy frog. I hear critters (coons are my problem) are attracted to the shrimp meal. I know happy frog doesn't have as much organic stuff compared to ocean forest.

I'm just looking for advice from someone else that had critter (raccoon) troubles. I'm just scared to try FFOF again, but the plants just love that stuff....
:stoned::stoned:

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How to rid all pest:

1x spray bottle
1x blender
2x garlic cloves
2-3 really spicy peppers
few units of water


add them all together, not necessarily in that order but you get the drift. It's actually enjoyable to watch a pest land on my plant to his immediate dissatisfaction... I'm not evil, its my plant!

ha ha I like that plan..