Moving to Searles

[Flange]

Hiya people,

 

After a few totally disarstarus grows with osmocote soils iv decided its time to move onto somthing new, And iv heard good things about Searles brands.

 

Iv just been flicking though their products online, and they seem to have a few good types, but being a layman (dumbass ), i thought ild ask you friendly geniuses on what your opinions are for a good soil. There a 2 main products im looking at, and was hoping if any kind soul can help me out with the choice to make.

 

First is called Searles Kickalong Organic® Premium Potting Mix Stats are as in quote --

 

Searles Kickalong Organic® Potting Mix is a high grade premium potting mix containing a special blend of finely selected organic ingredients, such as:

 

• Searles 5 IN 1 Plus® Pellets Organic Plant Food

• Searles Fish & Kelp Plus®

• Blood & Bone

• Potash Bloom Booster

This premium blend of composted organic and natural ingredients is designed for sustainable and organic growing of potted plants. This mix has excellent water retention properties while also allowing ideal drainage, providing the right conditions for your loved plants.

 

• Certified Premium Grade AS3743.

• This mix contains sufficient fertilisers for up to 1 months of plant growth.

 

Searles 5 IN 1 Plus Pellets

To this mix has been added Searles 5 IN 1 Plus Pellets, an organic fertiliser to boost plant performance and provide long term nutrition.

Searles Fish & Kelp

Fish & Kelp is renowned for promotion of plant health and boosting plant resistance to disease. This mix is boosted with Natural Fish & Kelp nutrients, to stimulate healthy root development and promote plant vitality.

Searles Blood & Bone

Organic Blood & Bone has been added to supply essential slow release Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Calcium and Trace Elements.

Searles Potash Bloom Booster

Potassium is an essential nutrient for healthy plant growth and for promotion of flowering and fruiting. Potassium also assists plants in strengthening cell walls and providing protection form fungal attack. This mix is boosted with Natural Sulphate of Potash to provide plants with a balanced start for healthy growth.

 

The saecond product im thinking is Searles Peat 80 Plus® Premium Potting Mix Stats are

 

Searles Peat 80 Plus® Potting Mix is the top of the range potting mixture which is professionally formulated using only the highest quality selected ingredients complete with specialised fertilisers and minerals.

 

A constant programme of quality control, testing and research is maintained to ensure that you are receiving a consistant premium quality mix at all times. The ingredients are specially treated and formulated to ensure a mixture with excellent water holding capacity, ideal aeration and drainage properties plus essential nutrients and minerals for strong long term healthy growth.

 

• FEEDS PLANTS FOR UP TO 9 MONTHS.

• Contains Searles Flourish® Soluble Plant Food.

• Contains Searles Robust® Controlled Release Fertilisers (12-14 month longevity).

• Contains Searles Penetraide® Re-wetting Granules.

• Contains Searles Recharge®.

• Contains Searles Water Crystals.

• Contains Zeolite, Trace Elements and Minerals.

• Contains a high percentage of Peat Moss.

• Contains Real Organic Compost.

• Certified Premium Grade AS3743.

• Suitable for a wide range of indoor plants, ferns, verandah and patio pot plants, potted colour, hanging baskets, shadehouse and greenhouse pot plants.

 

 

And another im not too sure about, but sounds like it has a few goodies in it is Searles First Prize Potting Mix

 

Regular grade price with premium quality benefits.

 

• Certified Regular Grade AS 3743.

• An excellent regular grade potting mix.

• Contains composted sawdust, composted pine bark fines, organic compost, screened ash and washed river sand, Searles Penetraide® Re-Wetting Granules and complete plant food.

• Good water retention and drainage properties.

• Composted to reduce nitrogen drawdown.

• Add fertiliser to pot plants after two to four weeks of repotting.

• We recommend to fertilise with extra Searles Flourish® Soluble Plant Food and Searles Robust® Controlled Release Fertiliser.

 

They are the 3 main ones im looking at, of course the final mix will be the mix + minimum 20% perlite to add some airation and drainage, but im not sure which one is best?

 

Im mainly looking for a mix to go all the way from start to end, and i also dont want too much self fertilization for much more then a month minimum,other wise i get confused on when to fertalize it, so it looks like the first choice (the organic mix is best) but again, im not too sure on how that mix will do for babies, i dont think ittle burn them up but would like to hear it from an expert b4 i try, iv had too many failers lately so im trying to get it right this time..

 

So, what do you guys recon? which is the overall better mix to start with in terms on the searles line of products?

Here is a link http://www.searle.com.au/PottingMixes.html to the site if anyone finds it easier to read it from there, but yea, any and all help would be great, the main reason i post this is so i can get a better idea of the good stuff to look out for in mixes, as all osmacote is, is just plain soil, some mixed in fert and alot of bark.

 

Anyway,Thanks for ready and hope to hear from you guys soon, My future is in your hands

 

 

Peace

Thanks again

[MongyMan]

Two bags of the potting mix in the picture below, mixed to one bag of the 5in1 fertilizer with perlite works well from my expereience. It's best to re-bag it after you mix it and let it sit for about a month untill use (especialy if potting seelings into it) to avoid any chance of the 5in1 burning the roots but I've used it straight away and had no problems.



Peace MongyMan

 

PS the searls bags are the 65ltr bag and the 5 in 1 are 30 ltr

Edited May 19, 2016 by MongyMan

[loylty gets u nothing]

yep

wen i did soil

searles premium got the money..

i just used to add some perlite

soem blood n bone,

and supoerthrive for the 1st few waters

a;ll tha best

bil

[jimbojones5678]

I use Searles Liquid Potash as an additive - tis very good, scs turned me onto it.

 

\As for the potting mix - either MM or billo would be on the money.

 

Jimbo

[Flange]

Cools, thanks for pointing me in the right direction people.

 

The premium and 5 in 1 mix sounds good as it seems to have pretty much everything nute wise. I just have 1 more questein about it tho, seeing as it is very rich in minerals and nutes, is this a mix that wont need much manual fertilization or should one start a normal fert program a month or so in? or would it be best to just foiler feed and let the girls take what they need from the soil?

 

Also, kinda off topic, but is there a tool that one can buy to check nutrent levels in the soil so one can judge when a feed is needed?

 

Thanks again for the help, once im into my next grow with this mix ill let you all know how it goes.

 

Peace

[Kingherb]

I use osmocote premium soils never had a problem, I grow WW.

What sort of problems have you been having ?

[MongyMan]

Only thing I fertilize with is fish emulsion during mid to late late veg for the nitrogen if they show any deficency signs. Being water soluble, nitrogen is quickly depleated in all potting mixes. Re-pot them when you turn them to flower to give them fresh soil and room to grow roots into and the only thing I use in flower is PK 13-14 if anything. A couple of rusty nails to each pot will ensure plenty of iorn.

 

Peace MongMan

[Flange]

Thanks Mongy

[staunch_1]

Hey Mongyman how often and how much did you feed you ladies pk 13-14.I no its an old thread but would love to no

[MongyMan]

Hey Mongyman how often and how much did you feed you ladies pk 13-14.I no its an old thread but would love to no

 

I don't remeber now sorry s-1 has been a while I'd assume i just followed to bottle mix rate though an mid flower I would have used it a couple of times.

 

Personally I use a liquid potash in soil over the pk13-14  now.  Can't remeber any specific reason why I changed but the liquid potash is better suited to soil being less harsh on the soil microbes imo.

 

MongyMan