Got the results back for my container mix analysis from the county extension office. Here's the analysis:
PH: 6.3 (fine)
Conductivity: 1.87 mmho/cm (acceptable)
Nitrate-N: 3 ppm (VERY low, normal is 110-174 ppm)
Phosphorus: 22.3 ppm (very high)
Potassium: 318.6 ppm (high)
Calcium: 84.1 ppm (acceptable)
Magnesium: 22.0 ppm (very low)
Boron: 0.2 ppm (very low)
Sodium: 60.7 ppm (optimal)
They said besides the nitrogen issue, the mix should be adequate. Now about the Nitrogen, I took that sample before I had actually gotten the microbes in my mix to start being active (was still using tap water and hadn't applied a successful compost tea yet). My plants are now looking much better and growing much faster since I've switched to rain water and have had two truly active compost teas applied. I'm sure that the available nitrogen has gone up since then so I'm not too concerned about that number, although I have applied a fast release nitrogen to the plants that are still lagging a bit. I am concerned about the high levels of phosphorus and potassium. I'm afraid that they have now skyrocketed since the soil is active and breaking down the organic matter at a faster rate.
PH: 6.3 (fine)
Conductivity: 1.87 mmho/cm (acceptable)
Nitrate-N: 3 ppm (VERY low, normal is 110-174 ppm)
Phosphorus: 22.3 ppm (very high)
Potassium: 318.6 ppm (high)
Calcium: 84.1 ppm (acceptable)
Magnesium: 22.0 ppm (very low)
Boron: 0.2 ppm (very low)
Sodium: 60.7 ppm (optimal)
They said besides the nitrogen issue, the mix should be adequate. Now about the Nitrogen, I took that sample before I had actually gotten the microbes in my mix to start being active (was still using tap water and hadn't applied a successful compost tea yet). My plants are now looking much better and growing much faster since I've switched to rain water and have had two truly active compost teas applied. I'm sure that the available nitrogen has gone up since then so I'm not too concerned about that number, although I have applied a fast release nitrogen to the plants that are still lagging a bit. I am concerned about the high levels of phosphorus and potassium. I'm afraid that they have now skyrocketed since the soil is active and breaking down the organic matter at a faster rate.