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Last Updated: March 11, 2010 eOrganic author: Michelle Wander, University of Illinois This article covers basic information about organic potting mixes for organic farming systems. It includes an overview covering the kinds of media (compost, peat, and manure-based materials) commonly used, potting mix test information, and information on how to make and use organic potting mixes in your organic greenhouse operation. It also summarizes basic organic potting mix recipes and provides tips on how to handle materials. Overview Test Your Mix Before Using Making and Using Mixes Recipes Handling Tips References
Overview
Soil or potting mixes used to start seed must be very light, have high water- and air-holding capacity and be free of disease and weed seeds. Planting mixes containing soil can be blended with peat, humus, compost, and/or manure with approved additives intended as soil conditioners and/or organic fertilizers. The need for disease- and weed-free media favors the use of soilless media, or potting mixes, that are made primarily from natural materials, such as peat, compost, and/or manures augmented with perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, and organic fertilizers. Soil-based mixes provide adequate water holding and supply some nutrients. Loamy soils are usually preferred for soil based media. A mix made with high quality compost will generally provide adequate amounts of phosphate, potash, and trace elements, but in some situations a mix will be need to be supplemented by adding bone meal, rock phosphate, sul-pomag, greensand, kelp meal, and/or other approved organic fertilizers.
Figure 1. A commercially supplied soilless germination mix containing peat, compost, and perlite. Photo credit: Michelle Wander. 1
Growers can 1. purchase premade mixes, 2. arrange for a custom blend made by a media supplier, or 3. mix their own media. Consistency and time savings associated with the purchase of premade mixes as well as their comparative ease of handling, make them an attractive option for many. Freight costs might be a consideration, especially where growers can produce their own high quality compost. Purchased and homemade mixes can vary notably. Typically, media pH ranges from 4.2 to 7.5, with soluble salts from 20 to 840 dS and nitrate from trace to over 800 ppm. The most important first step for growers is to make sure ingredients are approved for organic production. This means they are approved for organic use, and include OMRI Listed or "WSDA Approved" on their label. If you have questions, confirm with your certification agent that any potting mix you are about to use, or any ingredient you intend to use, is allowed. Growing media and commercial composts can include fertilizers, wetting agents, and other inorganic materials not approved, so exert caution. Products like peat moss or limestone are sometimes treated with prohibited materials including wetting or anti-caking agents. See Can I Use This Input on My Organic Farm? for more information.
Physical properties
Particle size is appropriate to container Density, will it hold up plants? Good aeration and water-holding capacity 10 to 20% air space and 40 to 60% water when moist
Chemical properties
Nutrients levels: low to moderate Salts and EC: 4 to 8 dS/m (saturated paste extraction) pH near 7
Biological properties
No plant pathogens Decomposition rate should be low
soluble organic fertilizers can supplement the plants' nutrient needs, when mixes are exhausted of N. Some growers repot plants in fresh mix, often in larger containers, as a way to keep them growing well. A variety of organic and inorganic ingredients are commonly used in preparing potting mixes, including: Compost Material and Description Compost is derived from the biological decomposition of organic matter accomplished by mixing and piling to promote aerobic and/or anaerobic decay. Composting minimizes pathogens, viable weed seeds, and odors. Composts hold water and provide aeration while providing needed nutrients. The lack of availability of consistent, high-quality compost prevents its widespread use for organic media. Characteristics Compost used for potting mixes should have a pH of 6.58, less than 0.05 ppm ammonia, 0.23 ppm ammonium, less than 1 ppm nitrite-N, less than 300 ppm nitrate-N, and more than 25% organic matter. Finished compost should have soluble salts less than 3 mmohs and moisture content 3035%. Composts made from manures typically have higher nutrient contents (C:N less than 20) than those made from plant materials where the C:N is higher (2030). Common Usage Compost can be used in place of peats or added as a source of fertility. It commonly makes up 2070% of media, depending on quality and purpose of use, and often displaces peat in mixes. Typically 75% of mix is made of compost and/or peat with 25% perlite or vermiculite. Quality and proportion varies depending on materials (feedstocks) used to make compost. The proportion of peat to compost should be varied with the qualities of compost. Low C:N materials should be added in smaller proportions. Manure Material and Description Dried, pulverized, shredded, composted, or otherwise processed, manipulated, or treated animal manures are the excreta of animals mixed with whatever organic bedding or other materials are needed to follow good dairy barn, feedlot, poultry house, or other livestock practice in order to maintain proper sanitary conditions; to conserve plant food elements in the excreta; and to absorb the liquid portion without the addition of other material. Characteristics Ideally, manure should be composted before it is added to mixes. Manures vary greatly in quality; some are very good fertilizers but analysis must be done before you can be sure of this. Common Usage Manure may be added in small amounts as a source of fertility. Variability in quality makes its optimal use difficult unless very recent soil tests have been made. In most cases manure will be nutritionally imbalanced and require that additional sources of N be added. If the harvested part of the crop has the potential to come in contact with the manure, soil, or soil particles (for example, by soil splash), manure may not be used less that 120 days prior to harvest for human consumption. Sphagnum peat moss Material and Description Peat is a common ingredient in soilless mixes because it is widely available, relatively inexpensive, and has desirable physical characteristics. It holds a lot of water and air and decomposes very slowly. Most peat used in the U.S. comes from Canada and is harvested at rates that are renewable. Barkseven aged barks should be avoided as seedling mix components because they immobilize nitrogen. Characteristics Peat is quite acidic (pH of 3.54.0); limestone is usually added to the mix to balance the pH. Add about 515 lb lime per cubic yard for mixes containing 70% peat. Peat is not a source of plant nutrients. Color varies with extent of decay; lighter-colored 4
peats (grower or professional grade) provide more aeration. Finer, darker peats (retail grade) are used as a soil amendment. Common Usage Often makes up 3080% of the mixes. Blending equal parts peat and compost results in desirable pH range. Perlite Material and Description Is a silica-based volcanic rock that has been heated using natural gas, causing it to expand and become less dense. It improves aeration and water holding capacity of mixes. Characteristics Perlite is sterile and has a neutral pH. Common Usage Typically makes up 3050% of mixes when combined with peat or high C:N compost. Vermiculte Material and Description Is a micaceous mineral expanded in a furnace using natural gas. Characteristics Handled roughly, it can lose its air holding capacity. Vermiculite can supply some K, Mg, and other trace minerals. Common Usage Typically makes up 3050% of mixes when combined with peat or high C:N compost. Coconut coir Material and Description Is a by-product of coconut fiber industry that is renewable but requires transportation from long distances. Coir lasts longer than peat but usually is more expensive due to transportation costs. Characteristics Coir has higher pH (5.5 & endash;6.8), electrical conductivity and thus, soluble salts than peat. It is easier to wet than peat. Depending on fertilization practices, coir can become acidic. Common Usage Can be blended to high proportion of mixes (up to 80% reported in the literature with success). Coir is commonly blended with perlite and compost. Worm castings Material and Description Produced by red worms as they breakdown organic wastes. Inconsistent quality makes custom mixes necessary. Characteristics Castings are nutrient rich and claimed to have growth promoting attributes. The amount of available P and N varies with bedding materials. Common Usage Often makes up 1040% of mixes; the proportion varies with composition in the same way as other composts or manures. Kenaf Material and Description This is the waste product of a fibrous plant grown in the southern U.S. Waste of core fibers of kenaf is suitable for use as potting media. Characteristics Ideally is composted before use so it does not immobilize nitrogen. Common Usage Blended at up to 50% of mixes, it is advocated as a possible peat replacement where available.
Table 1. Organic fertilizers suitable for use in organic media; modified from Biernbaum (2001). Source and Material Amount (lbs/cu.yd.) Mined Lime (calcium carbonate) 510 Calcium sulfate (gypsum) 12 Calcium phosphate (rock phosphate) 510 Greensand 515 Potassium sulfate 0.51 5
Potassium magnesium sulfate 12 Basalt rock powder Granite rock powder Animal by-products Bone meal 510 Blood meal 315 Fish emulsion Fish meal 510 Feather meal Manure Plant products Alfalfa meal 2040 Soybean meal 1020 Cotton seed meal (can acidify; contamination is an issue, check with certifier) Kelp and seaweed Wood ash Dry greens, such as nettle, comfrey, and yarrow (13 % N). Add in higher amounts 12; 2040 in to compost compost
Recipes
Recipes range from simple to complex. Most growers begin with a recipe and quickly make it their own. A challenge associated with many of these recipes is the reporting of components as percents or proportions where it is not clear whether this is by volume or mass. In many cases the recipes include a mixture of volumes and masses to be combined in some proportion that is difficult to determine exactly. Volume can be converted to cubic feet or yards. Some common conversion factors are: 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard (3 x 3 x 3) Loose bags come in 1 to 4 cubic feet Compressed bales contain 3.8 cubic feet Four 2 gallon buckets equal a cubic foot
Figure 2. Soil block mix. Photo credit: Chris Jagger and Melanie Kuegler, Blue Fox farm. 6
For a potting mix example from an experienced farmer, watch this video of Steve Pincus of Tipi Produce.
For another potting mix example, see gardener Bob Strawn's Potting Mix article describing the mixes he uses in his container gardening. The following recipes are cited in Kuepper (2004) unless otherwise specified.
Soilless potting mix (used by Windsor Organic Research on Transition project, E. Zaborski) 1 part compost 1 part vermiculite 1 part peat moss Screened with inch screen to mix together. Per 1 gallon mix add: 0.6 oz blood meal (17.01 grams) 0.4 oz clay phosphate (11.34 grams) 0.4 oz greensand (11.34 grams) Soil-based seedling mix (Hamilton, 1993) 2 parts loam (stacked turf to kill any weed seed and disease) 2 parts sphagnum peat 7
2 parts coarse grit (sand) 30 g or 1 oz lime for each 2 gallon bucket (9 liters) 60 g or 1 oz blood meal for each 2 gallon bucket (9 liters) Organic potting mix (credited to Eliot Coleman in Kuepper, 2004). 1 part sphagnum peat 1 part peat humus (short fiber) 1 part compost 1 part sharp sand (builder's) 1 cup greensand 1 cup colloidal phosphate 12 cups crabmeal or blood meal cup lime
Soil block mix (Kuepper, 2004; adapted from Coleman, 1995) 3 buckets (standard 10-qt. bucket) brown peat cup lime (mix well) 2 buckets coarse sand or perlite 3 cups base fertilizer (blood meal, colloidal phosphate, and greensand mixed together in equal parts) 1 bucket soil 2 buckets compost Seedling mix for soil blocks or seedling flats (from John Greenier of Stoughton, WI in Kuepper, 2004) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2 3-gal. buckets Sphagnum peat moss cup lime 1 cups fertility mix (below) 1 buckets vermiculite 1 buckets compost 2 cups colloidal (rock) phosphate 2 cups greensand 2 cups blood meal cup bone meal cup kelp meal Add peat to cement mixer or mixing barrel. Spread the lime and fertility mix over the peat. Mix these ingredients thoroughly. Add the compost and vermiculite and mix well again. When done, examine the distribution of vermiculite to ensure that it has been mixed in evenly.
Fertility mix:
Note that all bulk ingredients should be screened through 1/4 inch hardware cloth. Well matured, manure-based compost should be used (avoid poultry manure and wood-chip bedding).
Figure 3. Flats can be reused but must be cleaned between uses with approved materials. Photo credit: Michelle Wander, University of Illinois.
Handling Tips
1. Growers are encouraged to experiment with materials not familiar to them before committing a large number of resources and time to an unknown. The risk of losing an early planning are too great for you to just risk it on an unknown media. Producers growing variety of crops need to consider space and the timing of transplants needed. Crops with similar morphology, germination times, nutrient needs and water requirements should be seeded together. 2. If you make your mix, you might let it rest for a period of time before using if you have added ingredients like blood meal or poultry manure that can release ammonia that might damage 9
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plants. Many experienced growers advocate that mixes be blended and aged or pre-wetted and left for a week before seeding. Containers range in size and form: soil blocks, trays and flats allow producers to grow and handle separate plants that maintain intact root balls for planting; pressed peat pots and soil blocks allow producers to grow plants without using plastics; transplants produced with larger cell size (48 to 72 cells per tray) are easier to grow and maintain. Plants in peat or soil blocks can be trasplanted without removal from pots. This reduces damage caused by extraction and separation. Roots air prune when they reach the edge of the block. Soil blockers are available for small and large scale growers. Watch Chris Jagger make soil blocks on his farm. Seed separation to facilitate precision seeding and reduce thinning can be done with a variety of technologies. Commercial and hand build vacuum seeders or needle seeders are commonly used. Commercial seeders and hand drilled seed plates can be expensive (hundreds of dollars) but, if you plant a lot of flats they can be worth it. Before filling containers media should be properly screened and moisture should be adjusted. Store this in air tight containers in the shade. Once peat and other highly organic materials dry out they can be difficult to re-wet. Flats or trays should be cleaned if reused. Surface disinfectants, such as sodium hypochlorite solutions (household bleach) should be used to clean work surfaces, propagation tools, gloves, boots, and equipment to eliminate pathogens. Keep in mind, however, that most detergents are not allowed in certified-organic vegetable production because they include a synthetic surfactant. Soaps generally are permitted. Prior to using any cleaning products, check with your certifier to make sure they meet NOP standards. For a brand name list of approved products, visit the Organic Materials Review Instistute. Screening of materials prior to mixing and before filling cells is important. Common methods include to inch screen or hardware cloth. Screens are often built for placement on wheel barrows for ease of processing. Larger organic materials removed can be returned to compost or used for larger pot mixes. Poor seedling performance may or may not be caused by the media. Potting mix characteristics that may cause poor seedling performance include low levels of available nutrients, high levels of soluble salts and excess nutrients, excessive density of the mix, and/or the presence of compounds like volatile organic acids that can inhibit plant growth. Cultural practices and conditions can influence plant performance too. Over watering, and/or slow growth caused by low temperatures or limited light can weaken plants and make them susceptible to damping off.
Leonard, B., and A. Rangarajan. 2007. Organic transplant media and tomato performance. Deptartment of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. (Available online at: http://wormpower.net/pdf/Cornell_Organic%20_Transplant_Media_and_Tomato_...) (verified 10 March 2010). Jagger, C., and M. Kuegler. 2008. Making soil blocks [Online]. Wanna Farm: A Farming Resource Blog. Available at: http://wannafarm.com/?p=7 (verified 10 March 2010). Jagger, C. and M. Kuegler.Soilblock recipe [Online]. Wanna Farm: A Farming Resource Blog. Available at: http://wannafarm.com/soilblock-recipe/ (verified 10 March 2010). Marlin, J. 2008. Tipi Produce's organic potting soil recipe [Online video]. Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program, University of Illinois, Urbana. Available at: http://www.vimeo.com/2316005 (verified 10 March 2010). OMRI - Organic Materials Review Institute [Online]. Available at: http://www.omri.org/ (verified 10 March 2010). This is an eOrganic article and was reviewed for compliance with National Organic Program regulations by members of the eOrganic community. Always check with your organic certification agency before adopting new practices or using new materials. For more information, refer to eOrganic's articles on organic certification. Source: http://www.extension.org/pages/20982/organic-potting-mix-basics
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