skip to main content

ran out of peat?????

18 years ago

Hiya all....another newbie question.....I was busy as a bee casting. Then I went to mix up another batch....and I am out of peat. So I mixed a 1:1 portland and sand....any ideas as to how this will turn out??? How strong will it be??? Any help would be appreciated....Thanks Tammy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

Herb
18 years ago
So long as your mix wasn't too wet, I expect it'll be very strong. It may just be like the mix I once made, without recording exactly what was in it, & that I couldn't break with a hammer, though the hammer easily made dents in it...... Please let us know how it turns out!
0
tango88
18 years ago
One-to-one Portland and sand makes for a very dense and hard mix with extremely low permeability. Keep your water low, mist it a lot after initial set and it will yield a very strong product.
0
Related Discussions
Peat Pots or Plastic Trays
Q
Comments (8)
disclaimer: My experience spans all of ONE season of planting seeds. I started out with the peat pots, not terribly expensive,(they seemed like the most likely thing to use, it is afterall what plants I have bought came in)... Later I ran out of the peat pots and went to the dollar store for styrofoam cups, meanwhile I have also re-used plastic containers from other plants and the trays that the 6 pack plastic thingies sit in...I had some with only small slits on the bottom, not the more open criss cross ones... anyway...the plants that were started in the peat pots are noticeably smaller and less developed than the ones transplanted into plastic. I'm convinced if for no other reason :)
...See More
Peat moss substitute - redwood compost?
Q
Comments (7)
Ok, rather than starting a new post, I have another question to ask. As it turns out, vermiculite is crazy expensive. I thought the landscaping supply company would have it on the cheap, but no dice - $38 per 4cu ft. bag, and I'd need 5 bags of it. So, now I'm rethinking the whole mix. I can get Napa Floor Dry for $8.99/bag delivered, but to make up the 1/3 of the mix, it'd take around 20 bags. I'm thinking of maybe 2/3 compost, 1/6 napa floor dry, and 1/6 redwood amendment, which basically looks like ground up redwood lumber. OR 1/3 of the company's premade "essential soil mix", 1/3 compost, and 1/6 napa, and 1/6 redwood. I'm still not sure if the redwood amendment is supposed to be moisture retentive, or provide aeration, or if it's just to change the ph of soil. Maybe it's some combination of all 3?
...See More
Installers ran out of backsplash tile
Q
Comments (13)
I think that before contemplating tearouts of perfectly new expensive tile you just wait until you get the additional pieces. Encore is a reputable tile company and I am sure they have good quality control over their production and colors. There is a good chance the new tile will match the old tile perfectly. I would wait to do the grout. imo, that's where you have the most chance of the colors not matching. If you are so inclined, now might be a good time to seal the tiles. Then when the grout is applied it should have no affect on the craquelure of tiles. You can seal the grout later (after it cures) unless you are doing epoxy and then you don't have to seal it at all.
...See More
Ran out of room under the grow lights
Q
Comments (22)
Dave, I think I will be fine now with the extra room I got from moving the herbs and peppers to under the artist lamp and getting rid of the extra Green when ripes and yellows. (Very sad to toss them, but I did) They all have plenty of room under the lights now. I started seeds on the 18th of February, 8 weeks before the last frost date. Which I have always done and believe that is what is recommended. I do dense seeding (well, not real dense, probably 4 seeds to a cell) so as soon as the first true leaves are showing, I transplant them to the dixie cups. That way the roots don't get tangled together as they would if I left them until later. They are tiny, but they always survive. They are tough little plants. I plant them in a cup only half full of potting mix, this allows me to fill in with more mix as they grow and gives them a stronger root system. Here in North Carolina, our springs are generally warm so I will start hardening them off about two weeks before plant out. And they are going into containers, so if it is an unusually cold spring, they can come be moved into the garage during a cold snap. This is how I have always done it since moving to North Carolina and it has worked for me. I was worried about not enough room under the lights, but have solved that problem so I think they will do fine now. Jennie
...See More
shirleywny5
18 years ago
I am in the process of making a large faux log flower pot. Instead of peat, I used Pro-Mix. It's a mixture of peat, vermiculite, perlite, a wetting agent and limestone. It's a seed starting medium used in greenhouses. Home Depot has it for around $12.99 for 2 cubic ft. compressed which is 4 cubic shreaded. It's much cleaner than the regular peat.I used it with sand and portland. The best part for me is I can unmold in 24 hours but I can carve in it for about a week. You may use a brush on it but don't spray it for about 5 days. Then cure in the normal way.
0
Shade1
18 years ago
can you give me the basic receipe for the mix? I get garden gate magazine and they said 1 part portland 1 part vermiculite and and 1 part milled sphagnum moss. Can I use something other than Portland cement as it onley comes in 50 lb bags and it,ll go to waste I,m sure Sue
0
shirleywny5
18 years ago
I use a flower pot to measure all ingredients. 1-1-2. Portland,sand and peat or vermiculite. I am never exact. I use the Pro-Mix as I would the peat moss. The portland is necessary. I can handle a 50 lb. bag easily. Our HD's smallest size is 94 lbs. Actually, it's the only size.
0
sweetiela
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all for your help. I love the way they turned out. Very smooth. Sue I thought the same thing about the portland....our Lowe's only had the 94lb bags. But it is addictive....I have started running around molding everything...lol. I have even started hand molding somethings. Now I need more portland...lol.Tammy
0
Belgianpup
18 years ago
It's funny how fast that big 94# bag on cement gets used up, isn't it?

Sue
0
paws4pets
18 years ago
Had to run to the "store " for 2 grey and 2 white portland(94#). Yes it goes fast.
Paws
0
gottatufa
18 years ago
If you run out of peat, don't try using cocoa shell mulch. I only used half a measure yesterday in my mix, and it isn't setting up. Must be it has carbs in it. I should have tasted it first to see. :) WOW did it smell good! Sort of like a tufa mousse.
Jo
0

Related Stories

MODERN STYLE Out-of-This-World Decorating: Space Age Style for Today

Set starbursts and more around your personal universe for a look alight with imagination

DOORS Discover the Ins and Outs of Pocket Doors

By Natalie Myers

Get both sides of the pocket door story to figure out if it's the right space separator for your house

DOORS 10 Ways to Work Screen Doors, Inside and Out

By Laura Gaskill

Take this functional feature up a notch with one of the many alternative door styles available

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Your Fridge, Inside and Out

By Bonnie McCarthy

Keep your refrigerator clean and fresh, while you gain storage space and lose those ‘UFOs’

FURNITURE Holding Out for Quality

By Michael Cannell

Cheap furniture has its place, but more shoppers are waiting to invest for the long haul

BATHROOM STORAGE 10 Design Moves From Tricked-Out Bathrooms

By Natasha Saroca

Cool splurges: Get ideas for a bathroom upgrade from these clever bathroom cabinet additions

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Bring Out Your Home’s Character With Trim

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

New project for a new year: Add moldings and baseboards to enhance architectural style and create visual interest

DECORATING GUIDES Weekend Project: 9 Ways to Branch Out Around the House

By Becky Harris

Natural pieces can change the feeling of a room, whether you use them to hang pots or to serve as chandeliers

DECORATING GUIDES Go for the Green: Artificial Grass Surprises, Inside and Out

By Jess McBride

Synthetic turf springs up on patios, living rooms, furniture and walls. Basement golf, anyone?

STONE Pebble Surfaces That Rock, Indoors and Out

By Claire McCall

A pebble floor, path or wall can create calm, grab attention or be a supporting player

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Can you use coarse peat moss without straining in hypertufa recipe? Or

0