In this article we’ll be looking into the structure of potting mixes and the differing products obtained from the different methods of cutting peat. On top of all this useful information we’ve worked out some valuable tips for you to reduce disease and increase yield and we’ve drawn up that promised list of FAQs and growing tips.
But we’ll start off by discussing how best to measure the nutrients present in your growing medium. This will also come in handy towards the end of your grow, when you decide whether or not to reuse your potting mix. More about that elsewhere in this article where we talk about rejuvenating the potting mix.
The most reliable way of measuring the nutrients present in the potting mix is to use the 1:1.5 extraction method, which can be used to determine the EC and pH in the root environment. The EC and the pH of the drainage water will normally vary because the potting mix is capable of holding back a number of elements or even refusing them. It is best to carry out a 1:1.5 analysis after three to five weeks. The easiest way to make this analysis is to follow the plan given below step by step:
The structure of potting mixes determines how much water and air are available to the roots growing in the potting mix. Air is important for the roots’ oxygen supply and for the micro-organisms in the root environment. Roots need oxygen to grow, to maintain the root system and for the intake of water and nutrients. To obtain good final results for fast growing plants, it is even more important to ensure there is a good supply of air in the root environment. A shortage of air in the early stages of cultivation will result in a poorly developed root system, which will hamper growth, resulting in a smaller yield. In order to ensure that the root environment has sufficient air it is necessary for oxygen to be taken from the air in the growing room, which happens, by diffusion.
The structure of the potting mixes will mainly depend on the quality of the raw materials in it. In order to get good potting mix it is essential to start with virgin peat that has stable structural characteristics.
One of the main ingredients in potting mix is peat. This is an ancient natural material that is formed from old vegetation. Peat originates from regions where climatic circumstances caused new plant material to form faster than the dead vegetation could rot. Slowly but surely this process has built up a layer of organic material that could become several metres deep. Two different types of peat can be differentiated: high peat and low peat.
1. High peat; is formed under the influence of rainwater in low nutrient regions and its principal ingredient is sphagnum moss. This is a small plant that dies off from below while continuing to grow above on its own remains. The remains of other plants can also be found, cotton grass for example. The profile of the high peat in the flat peat region in Northwest Germany contains different layers that have been formed in different periods.
2. Low peat; is formed in regions where groundwater levels are high and there are plenty of nutrients. Low peat typically contains a high proportion of rotten material and can have high levels of silt; sand and harmful salts which make it an unsuitable basis for good potting mix.
2 different methods can be used to exploit peat deposits:
When peat is cut into blocks it has to be turned by hand to dry out. The coarser the peat is, the better the balance between the water and air it contains. This means the plant’s roots will develop better in the growing medium, that the plants will be healthier and that the potting mix is less likely to become compressed.
Sphagnum moss is particularly suitable for use as a growing substrate because it is natural, light, clean and easy to work with. It has a low nutritional content, a pH that ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 and it has good water retention properties (up to 20 times its own weight).
In this section we will give you some tips to prevent plant stress in your growing room. Besides publishing CANNAtalk, CANNA also produces some useful things to help you with your growing hobby.
As a result the entire plant will come under stress and growth will be stunted. To prevent this happening you need to make sure that the decaying old roots are broken down quickly into useful components. A product such as CANNAZYM can best be used in such a situation. The enzymes in CANNAZYM ensure that dead root material is quickly converted into minerals and sugars. This is important because these elements form an important nutritional source for the plants and the potting mix environment.
Also, rotting produces poisonous materials, which will be counteracted, and the chance of infection arising caused by pathogenic fungi will be reduced considerably. As well as this, a number of easily absorbable vitamins have been added to CANNAZYM, which will stimulate the plants to produce new roots. This is a good reason for adding a little CANNAZYM continually to your feeding solution from the second week of cultivation, dilute it in the ratio 1:400.
For this reason RHIZOTONIC is an ideal product for cuttings and plants that have to be potted or for plants that have developed poorly after being in a state of shock. As well as this RHIZOTONIC contains a wide variety of trace elements that are advantageous for the plants. The tonic is easy to apply and you don’t need very much at a time. The first 2 or 3 times that you use RHIZOTONIC we recommend you to add it to the feeding water in the ratio of 1:250 or spray it on the leaves.
This is a pure, high value mix of phosphorus and potassium that is usually given frequently during flowering. Given to your plants together with the feed for 3 to 4 weeks prior to harvesting. During flowering the plants need extra phosphate (P) and potassium (K) and giving PK 13/14 will satisfy this need. PK 13/14 dissolves very easily and is consequently immediately available to the plants. To get the most out of this product use it along side CANNABOOST. This will truly optimise your results!
Still puzzled about which potting mix to use for your next grow? Well, take a look at our grow guide, or drop us a line at info@canna-uk.com We will be more than happy to answer your questions and to advise you which fertilisers and additives to use with your choice of potting mixes.