Dirt question

PaulG · 10-22-2012, 08:47 PM

Can you use dirt straight from the garden? Sure I've heard of people doing this but wanted to check.

Edit: Gah this was meant for the substrate section sorry!

**mitchfish9** · 10-22-2012, 09:02 PM

Yes, but theres always risk even if you do boil and sanitize it.

lochaber · 10-22-2012, 09:08 PM

You would want to make sure you use dirt from an area that didn't have any pesticides used in recent history, or other sort of pollutants (I'd be a bit hesitant to use stuff near a big highway or any sort of industrial center, but that might be excessive worrying)

Also, it would depend on what your soil type is. I would think mostly loam is what you want, just throwing down a few clods of clay probably wouldn't be too helpful.

but, if terrestrial plants seem to grow well enough in it, it will probably be ok.

PaulG · 10-22-2012, 09:10 PM

It's mostly clay. I'll just buy something! Used John Innes 3 before but it sent my already hard water off the chart because of the lime.

10-22-2012, 08:47 PM	#1
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 330	Dirt question Can you use dirt straight from the garden? Sure I've heard of people doing this but wanted to check. Edit: Gah this was meant for the substrate section sorry! __________________ Fraternity of dirt no. 60. 29G NPT Riparium http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lo...-riparium.html 1ft cube. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=193390 29G No tech redo http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...896&highlight= Last edited by PaulG; 10-22-2012 at 08:48 PM.. Reason: Wrong forum sorry

10-22-2012, 09:10 PM	#4
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 330	It's mostly clay. I'll just buy something! Used John Innes 3 before but it sent my already hard water off the chart because of the lime. __________________ Fraternity of dirt no. 60. 29G NPT Riparium http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lo...-riparium.html 1ft cube. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=193390 29G No tech redo http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...896&highlight=

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10-22-2012, 09:02 PM	#2
mitchfish9 Planted Tank Nation (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 874	Yes, but theres always risk even if you do boil and sanitize it.

10-22-2012, 09:08 PM	#3
lochaber Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 734	You would want to make sure you use dirt from an area that didn't have any pesticides used in recent history, or other sort of pollutants (I'd be a bit hesitant to use stuff near a big highway or any sort of industrial center, but that might be excessive worrying) Also, it would depend on what your soil type is. I would think mostly loam is what you want, just throwing down a few clods of clay probably wouldn't be too helpful. but, if terrestrial plants seem to grow well enough in it, it will probably be ok.