This will wrap up my input entries for my super soil. Then I will go in to short detail about getting the substrate squared away.
As you can tell this section is about Potassium; yay! There aren't many choices out there when it comes to this input; as far as dry amendments go. I just chose to preferentially use these. There is a whole other field out there for organics that has me enthralled and it's Korean Natural Farming. I had started experimenting with it. Not because the soil recipe here lacks. I just dig all things organic; moving on.
Potassium is associated with moving water, nutrients, and carbohydrates in the plant. It's involved with involved with activating enzymes within the plant, which affects protein, starch and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. The production of ATP can regulate the rate of photosynthesis.
Any self respecting organic gardener using dry amendments should be utilizing Kelp Meal. This is only one of two inputs I choose to use and as you can see the numbers aren't high up there for Kelp, and aren't we concerned about having an unbalanced soil according to Mulder's Chart? Yes we are, but this amendment alone is a game changer. Kep is a slow release fertilizer. It brings so much to our soil but the two I would like to highlight are:
Gibberellins: A hormone that regulates growth processes, more specifically flowering and budding.
Cytokinins: A key growth hormone responsible for new cell growth, cell enlargement and chloroplast development.
Not to mention the amino acids, chelated nutrients, and micronutrients. The application rate of this input is like all the others; 2 Tbsp per cubic foot of soil, or 7 gallons of soil.
Then there's Langbeinite. This stuff is strong and supplements all that is lacking from the "K" category with Kelp's value coming in so low. Langbeinite is a slow release as well, but it all works somehow. It also brings a good dose of Magnesium to our soil and unlike other sources of Magnesium, it won't affect our soil's pH. Langbeinite comes from mines in New Mexico where ancient oceans beds dried up and deposited the minerals.
The application of this amendment is also 2 Tbsp per cubic foot of soil.
Kelp Meal - 2 Tbsp per cu. ft. of soil
Langbeinite - 2 Tbsp per cu. ft. of soil
I guess after all this writing I am going to need summarize it all to have one near little post. I would apply this recipe to my Sphagnum Peat Moss. I wanted to go the ProMix route, but I didn't want to drop all that money.
When I started this journey I think a bale of Sphagnum Peat Moss at Lowe's was going for about $12-$15. One of those single bales makes a ton of soil. I can't say exactly, but it was cheaper than ProMix. Peat comes in with a LOW pH. As I was making this soil recipe I also added Garden Lime to level out the pH.
Add at least 1/4 cup Garden Lime (limestone) to 1 cubic foot (7 gal) of Sphagnum Peat Moss. This will level out the pH. Then add perlite until it looks right. Also... Peat Moss drop in pH annually, so be sure to give a good dusting of Dolomite Lime annually to keep the pH sound and give a hit of Sulphur for good terpenes.
That's all for now and I may not add anymore past the summary. Peace!
