KNF Potting soil recipe?
So KNF is awesome obviously, but I can't seem to find specifics about mixing soil from scratch for potted soil.
How would one best approach this from a KNF perspective?
Can you point me in the right direction with links or try to answer my question?
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
Han-Kyu Cho was talking about potting soil when he was in Papaikou.
It is somewhere buried in this lecture.
I remember distinctly that I was in the back of the building talking with Zach Mermel while he was going over this material.
As best as I can remember
- 30% Leaf Mold
- 30% IMO4
- 30% Cinder
- 10% Biochar
From the KNF library
From the KNF library
Drafted by Claude from Office Hours and the books
·
Sep 2026
·
2 sources
Drake recommends blending your potting soil so it is 10 percent IMO4. (Office Hours Ep. 10, 28:56)
Dust IMO4 on the surface, then water in with soil solution. (Office Hours Ep. 10, 28:56)
Drake gave the same advice to someone who mixed potting soil with biochar, lava rock, and castings. Spread IMO on the surface. (Office Hours Ep. 59, 54:43) Then water in the soil formula from the Recipe Book one to two weeks before planting. (Office Hours Ep. 59, 54:43)
The library does not give ratios for the base mix. It does not confirm the 30 percent IMO4 figure in the answer above, since its own figure is 10 percent.
Sources
- 28:56 Office Hours Ep. 10 (Nov 2021) — IMO Pile Temperature Probes, Sawdust IMO3, Why Not to Bury Microbes · “Turn your potting soil blend into 10 percent IMO4, dust it on the surface, then water in with soil solution.”
- 54:43 Office Hours Ep. 59 (Dec 2022) — No-Smell Pig Pens, IMO4 With Clay, Red Wigglers vs Earthworms · “Spread IMO on the surface and water in the soil formula from the Recipe Book one to two weeks before planting.”
Also discussed on Office Hours
IMO Pile Temperature Probes, Sawdust IMO3, Why Not to Bury Microbes
- 28:54 …um so um is there a good soil recipe for practicing knf for plants grown in containers…
- 29:40 …does recommend is about whatever good soil blend you have make 10 of that IMO4 so whatever potting…
- 29:57 …what he's growing the the um you know the little potting soil mix and if you already have mixed…
