no growth on mostly whole sphagnum

[blade.grass]

I tried 8 10 liter trash cans (filled with whole sphagnum and a little perlite). They had the bottom 1/8 cut out and replaced with tight mesh net for air and water movement. They were sitting in a shallow reservoir. It didn’t go too well. Many died b/c the moss held so much water. There was very little growth in general but the physiology and color seemed ok. Sorry no camera. This was a learning exp with brick seed. I hope to do something better with the Attitude seeds that are in the mail.

Nutes are: Fish Emulsion, Schultz Rose Granular, and molasses. I mixed for NPK 122 50 120, but! I presoaked the sphagnum in plain water. I guess this was a mistake because during feeding the moss absorbs unpredictable amounts of nutes thus making them temporarily unavailable to the plants. The EC meter is in the mail.

I believe pH is around 6, a better meter is also in the mail. Topside temps varied between upper 70s and 90 the reservoir never got above 80. There is lots of air moving. They are under a 400w MH although like two feet away. I didn’t give the plants any dark period, will next time. I am planning to do wicks instead to reduce dampness and eliminate a source of light on the roots.

I’d appreciate feedback from people who have experience with whole sphagnum (versus peat moss). I like it b/c renewable, low environmental impact. I still have a lot left and it is not “cheap”. Also to reduce mining and give the roots some space, I plan to add a bunch of ground styrofoam and just use perlite at the top near the stem. I plan to make a little germinating area on top with verm + perlite and do the rest styrofoam + moss with some gravel at the bottom. Feedback? My only guess about what went wrong is that the roots were unable to develop probably because of dampness but maybe whole sphagnum is not an appropriate medium for seedlings… any one else?

[john]

Originally Posted by blade.grass

They had the bottom 1/8 cut out and replaced with tight mesh net for air and water movement. They were sitting in a shallow reservoir. It didn’t go too well. Many died b/c the moss held so much water.

That was the mistake, keeping it in stagant water/nutrients. The nutrient solution needed to be oxygenated (airstone/ air pump) if left for more than a day or so, the plants sufficated from lack of oxygen to the roots.

[blade.grass]

So a 10-20 liter can with an ample wick would be better, yes? It doesn't seem like there would be all that more oxygen in that situation but maybe so... it works for lots of people.

[john]

I dont know, i've never grew from a wich system before. I was just commenting on your roots sufficating, as the roots need a mixture of water, nutes and oxygen for your plant to survive.
Someone else may chime in, whos tried wick systems before.

[ChochMachio]

Lets not forget that sphagnum averages at 4.2 pH, it ranges up to 7 but the average shit is low 4's.

[dkkon]

Why do you plan to use a "wick"? Seems like a liability to me.

[blade.grass]

The run off was measuring on the bottom of scale (~6) for the two cheapo test kits I have. I'll report back when I get a real meter in a day or two. The plants don't look stunned or injured, just not growing.

[blade.grass]

My goal is to have a nearly unattended system, thus the res. I like the idea of top watering just occassionally with clean only. Obviously I would let the pots wet themselves with the wick to make sure its ok. You have a better suggestion I hope

[blade.grass]

Nutes #s are in PPM, btw

[HERB INSURGENT]

Originally Posted by ChochMachio

Lets not forget that sphagnum averages at 4.2 pH, it ranges up to 7 but the average shit is low 4's.

yup i wont use that shit no more ph starts out way too low and i dont enjoy having to pre treat my growing medium that much oh well learned the hard way again like always now i just mix a little in my soil mix to add some better drainage

[ChochMachio]

sphagnum wont get you any drainage, use perlite instead. I use 2pts soil 1pt perlite 1pt peat. But I buy my local variety potting soil and they vary by location.

[HERB INSURGENT]

sorry but it does add drainage just not like you'd get from perlite
i mix in sphagnum peat moss into my garden soil outside for that vary reason. my soil outside has a high clay content i mix in one thcik layer of peat moss before adding my top soil with out doing so i'd get no drainage from the clay and all my plants outside would rot away.

"just because it's not YOUR way doesn't mean it's not A way."