Earthtainer mixture help
 

Good morning, I am trying to renew / add additional mixture to my mother's earthtainer. It currently has Metro mix 360 in it now but it has been in there for at least 3 years. I would like to renew it but I have found that I am having issues finding product. I am currently on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and have a very few private nurseries but mostly big box stores.

Can someone help me with a mixture from items that I can locally-source?

Thank you in advance

The 3-2-1 combo mix is comprised of 3 parts ProMix HP; 2 parts mini Bark Chips; and 1 part Perlite. Lowes carries all 3:

[URL]https://www.lowes.com/pd/PRO-MIX-Growing-Medium-2-2-cu-ft-Peat-Moss-Moisture-Control/3745337[/URL]

[URL]https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Time-2-cu-ft-Brown-Garden-Bark/3731889[/URL]

[URL]https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sta-Green-8-Quart-Organic-Perlite-Improves-Soil-Structure/1000329705[/URL]

Mix all 3 together in a wheelbarrow then thoroughly wet the Mix before placing in the EarthTainer. Be sure to blend 3 cups Dolomite Lime in as well as adding the fertilizer strip as per the EarthTainer written instructions below.

Raybo:D

how to post new topic???
 

I apologize but: this isn't the right place but: How do i post a new topic??? i am thick and can't figure it out???

Go to the home page and select the appropriate forum. Scroll towards the end and select [B]new topic.
[/B] edit, also a [B]new topic[/B] box towards the top left.

[QUOTE=tryno12;756086]I apologize but: this isn't the right place but: How do i post a new topic??? i am thick and can't figure it out???[/QUOTE]

I have found Pro-Mix products difficult to source in different areas. I've never personally seen it in a big box store, so I'm guessing it's carried regionally.

My suggestion is to find a local hardware store that can order it for you from their supplier. Mine is happy to order for me and gets it within a few days whenever they receive their next regular supply truck.

You might also have better luck with a place that caters more to commercial growers.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

Hydroponic stores will also carry Pro-Mix.

Thank you guys for your replies.

Just contacted our Lowe's and they don't have the promix or the ground bark but they do have the Perlite. :(

Okay just got off the phone with customer service desk. I gave them all of the item numbers off their Lowe's website and they don't carry any of these items on the Gulf Coast.

[QUOTE=shatbox;756130]Hydroponic stores will also carry Pro-Mix.[/QUOTE]


[SIZE=4][FONT=Garamond][B]I agree![/B][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][FONT=Garamond][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][FONT=Garamond][B]For the regular users (not greenhouse operators), a hydro store is the best option. Those stores are the most likely to carry it and have the best price on the bales as Pro-Mix is highly popular with 'indoor growers'. ;)[/B][/FONT][/SIZE]

Yes, I forgot that. I did get Pro-Mix from a hydroponic store once. If they don't have it in stock, they can almost certainly order it for you from their supplier.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

Unfortunately, most hydro stores charge a lot of money for Promix. So do some comparison shopping.

Walmart is carrying a homeowner Promix line
in a red or yellow (organic) compressed package which makes
2 cubic feet for $12.88.
You could add a little more perlite for a higher porosity. And the pine bark if you can find it to put together Raybo’s 3-2-1 mix. I don’t know how the quality compares to their professional line of potting mixes like Promix BX
(Popular with EarthBox users) or Promix HP (more perlite for higher porosity).

I use metro mix products (and some Promix as well). MM 360 is for filling small seed cells. Particle size is fine so the drainage is low and water
retention high.

Okay seriously discouraged here. :(

I found this[URL="http://https://www.walmart.com/ip/PRO-MIX-Moisture-Potting-Mix-2CF-Compressed-Soil/325675412"]http://https://www.walmart.com/ip/PRO-MIX-Moisture-Potting-Mix-2CF-Compressed-Soil/325675412[/URL]

[QUOTE=MsCowpea;756206]Unfortunately, most hydro stores charge a lot of money for Promix. So do some comparison shopping.

Walmart is carrying a homeowner Promix line
in a red or yellow (organic) compressed package which makes
2 cubic feet for $12.88.
You could add a little more perlite for a higher porosity. And the pine bark if you can find it to put together Raybo’s 3-2-1 mix. I don’t know how the quality compares to their professional line of potting mixes like Promix BX
(Popular with EarthBox users) or Promix HP (more perlite for higher porosity).

I use metro mix products (and some Promix as well). MM 360 is for filling small seed cells. Particle size is fine so the drainage is low and water
retention high.[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much! I missed this post. On my way to get some of this from Walmart. Haven't had any luck finding bark fines

Sounds like you probably feel you are on a "Snipe Hunt"!:))

Check local Nurseries for "decorative ground cover bark" and use the bark which has the smallest particle size (nuggets). Use only Bark product - not the hardwood stuff that is artificially colored brown, etc.


You can alternatively use Orchid Bark if you only need enough to make the 3-2-1 Mix for a few EarthTainers. (Can be expensive).


Raybo:)

[url]https://www.promixgardening.com/en-us/product/detail/promix-premium-moisture-potting-mix[/url]

This was the product at Walmart.
Unfortunately, goes out of stock quickly when they get it in.

Ingredients: (heavy on the peat)
Sphagnum peat moss (80-90% by volume)
Coir
Perlite
Ground Limestone (for pH adjustment)
Wetting agent
Mycorrhizae

Andrea, hope you were able to find it or a substitute. Sometimes bark is called composted soil conditioner.

[QUOTE=MsCowpea;756206]Unfortunately, most hydro stores charge a lot of money for Promix. So do some comparison shopping.

Walmart is carrying a homeowner Promix line
in a red or yellow (organic) compressed package which makes
2 cubic feet for $12.88.
You could add a little more perlite for a higher porosity. And the pine bark if you can find it to put together Raybo’s 3-2-1 mix. I don’t know how the quality compares to their professional line of potting mixes like Promix BX
(Popular with EarthBox users) or Promix HP (more perlite for higher porosity).[/QUOTE]

+1 shopping around hydro stores. Hydrofarm is a distributor of Pro-Mix so ask the store about that first; that has saved me so much time rather than explaining. Hawthorne Gardening Company is also a dist, but they are owned by Scott's Miracle Grow and as a preference I don't. The mom n pop hydro shop near me knows I don't spend more than $60 bucks a season, so I will ask for old bags and give me discounts. I have been in the store when a lady casually ordered $15k+ for her cannabis operation, so they want to give her the newest, best looking stuff.

Also, no shipping fees at hyrdo stores. In my part of Los Angeles, Pro-Mix BX is $25 to $30 at a hydro shop. I paid almost $50 (before covid) for myco+fungicide for the standard 3.8 cuft bale, which I only use for starts and will last a long time for me.

I have four Earthboxes and I use the Raybo mix now, but don't see the results I had when I had Pro-Mix many years ago. Plain o'l Pro-Mix BX is what I am planning to switch to if i [I]really [/I]want to spend the $25.

Saw an open bag of the walmart Pro-Mix and it looked pretty close to Pro-Mix BX, just a few more short, narrow sticks really no big deal, in fact people like the tiny bit more drainage they provide. I wish I had the presence of mind to take a pic to compare.

[QUOTE=rnewste;756254]Sounds like you probably feel you are on a "Snipe Hunt"!:))

Check local Nurseries for "decorative ground cover bark" and use the bark which has the smallest particle size (nuggets). Use only Bark product - not the hardwood stuff that is artificially colored brown, etc.


You can alternatively use Orchid Bark if you only need enough to make the 3-2-1 Mix for a few EarthTainers. (Can be expensive).


Raybo:)[/QUOTE]

LOL MOST definitely! Was not able to find any kind of bark mixture.

Found perlite finally yesterday.


So this is what I have

Majestic Earth sphagnum peat moss 3 cubic feet
8 quart dry vermiculite
8 quart dry perlite

Unfortunately I fly out in about 3 hours. So I am going to have to put together this Earth Tanner with what I have. Am I still sticking with the three two one mixture

Dork Fish sent me a message and I can't find a way to reply. If anyone has an email for him, please PM me. Thanks, Neil (retiree)