Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Perlite is one of the more widely available TLO soil mix additions
Perlite
Hydro shops and grow shops both usually stock this one. Higher end nurseries and even the Home Depot I
used to live near carried this product. You will usually find it in 4-cubic-foot bags for around $20, and you
can find it in smaller bags too in places like Fred Meyer or in Kmart type stores in the gardening section.
Also, with a little bugging you can easily get a local nursery to carry some or order it in for you. You need
this addition, so go to whatever lengths you need to, because nothing I know of can replace it in container
growing with a living soil mix. The microlife eats everything else too fast, like coir fiber and even shred-
ded bark. Vermiculite will not sub out for perlite, so please don't make that mistake.
Greensand
This one can be hard to find in certain places, but fear not, because you can get it online in a 7 lb. box for
about $10 with free shipping from American Agriculture. But for real, any good nursery should carry this
one. Cannabis loves her greensand, so do what you need to do to get some of this. In a living soil mix it
has many benefits beyond potassium and iron. I also add greensand to my earthworm food.
Compost & Earthworm Castings Teeming with Microbeasties
Fresh compost will always be the best, but you have to be sure the person making that compost knows
a bit about what they are doing. Bagged compost is all fine and good, just avoid sterilized versions, and
you should be able to find this one easily at any nursery. Earthworm castings are a little harder to find,
and lately I have seen these “designer castings” that are outrageously priced and are actually 50% coconut
fiber. Full of life for sure but dayum they're expensive! Check your local nurseries and have them order
worm castings for you if you can't find them because shipping will be a lot of money for a 20 lb. bag.
Avoidsterilized versionsofthese,andlivewormsinthecastingsindicate alliswell!Iwouldjustgoahead
