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Post by scorpio56 on Aug 20, 2013 6:23:03 GMT
I will wash my media from now on, after re-potting my typical and bragging about it it has almost died back completely because I did not wash my peat moss. Pics #2 + #3 are the same plant before and after, the first picture is of the one I separated a month ago and it is still suffering from being in unwashed soil.    |
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swt754
Junior Member
Posts: 57 
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Post by swt754 on Aug 24, 2013 2:32:50 GMT
Why must we wash the peat moss? What causes it to create problems? How exactly do you wash the media? (Sorry newbie questions). I just never really thought about it and now I am concerned for my own peat moss. Thanks in advance.
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Post by scorpio56 on Aug 24, 2013 5:43:27 GMT
I have found that by washing the peat moss before it is used to pot helps cut down on transplant shock and algae growing on top of the pot, the plants don't have to adjust as much because it is the same environment they were in before, peat moss from Home Depot is high in minerals, what I bought was measuring as high as 135ppm in the first wash, CP's must have media that is 0ppm or at least below 50ppm so when I transplanted from the old pots with very low or no mineral content it shocked them almost to death. I have an old pillow case that I put my sand and peat in and just repeatedly pour clean water over it and test it after each flush, I washed some peat while in some new pots until they measured 19ppm in each pot and transplanted seven of my flytraps three days ago and they have not shown any shock, I will keep an eye on them, I also did the same with four of my Drosera capensis and other sundews and no shock yet, keeping my fingers crossed, WHEW!
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Post by Andrew on Aug 25, 2013 5:01:07 GMT
oh no, i did not wash my dirt when i repooted some flytraps. I hope they make it, do not want to lose my red pirhna and big mouth.
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Post by scorpio56 on Aug 25, 2013 8:30:47 GMT
I don't think you have anything to worry about Andrew, you seem to know what you are doing just fine, you are way more experienced that I am and have more knowledge when it comes to these plants.
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coline
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by coline on Aug 25, 2013 12:59:30 GMT
The thing is, that some providers of the peat sell one that has too much minerals inside, and depends on your situation, here, in the past I even got the peat wet for the first time with tap water PPM >300 and it worked just as fine, with no washing at all. Of course now I do not do it but it showed no bad results.
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Post by scorpio56 on Aug 25, 2013 18:21:07 GMT
After going down the list of why my vft's died back so much it came down to the soil, the plant is mature, gets lots of sun and the water is clean so it came back to the soil, I bought Premium from Home Depot, used it last year also with no bad effects but the stuff this year is full of nutrients so at least for this bale I will wash it first, the tap water here comes in at around 150 so I did not want to use it to flush my pots as it may just cause more problems but it would be easier and cheaper.
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swt754
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by swt754 on Aug 25, 2013 20:49:17 GMT
This information that you guys put out is SO helpful for me. Where is the best place to get a meter for checking the soil? Any suggestions?
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Post by scorpio56 on Aug 26, 2013 4:45:19 GMT
I got mine on e-bay they are pretty cheap, you should be able to get one for about $10-15, maybe someone else here has a better solution, maybe a brick and mortar store you can walk into close to you, search for TDS meters.
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swt754
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by swt754 on Aug 26, 2013 13:18:39 GMT
I am going in to Home Depot today so I will pick one up today. Thank you again.
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Post by Andrew on Sept 9, 2013 4:22:16 GMT
Did you ever find a tds meter there?
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swt754
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by swt754 on Sept 15, 2013 19:51:27 GMT
I looked but still had a question. Does a tds meter only measure water or does it measure the soil too?
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coline
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by coline on Sept 24, 2013 11:01:27 GMT
soil is not possible to be measured other than with a soil analizer test made by an agronomist.
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swt754
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by swt754 on Sept 25, 2013 2:09:23 GMT
So the tds meter measures the amount of stuff in the water? Do you rinse the soil and then measure the water left over in order to see if the media is ok to use? Sorry my questions are probably so silly to you guys. I really do appreciate your patience with me. Sorry, but a huge thank you!
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coline
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by coline on Sept 25, 2013 23:10:30 GMT
I have never ever seen a TDS other than in college lectures so as you may see I do not even ever wash any peat substrate I use
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