The Secret to "Kats Standard Potting Mix": Let’s Skip the Water Jar

The Secret to the "Kats Potting Mix"

My Plants Don't experience the "Water-Fluffing" treatment – It’s All in the Nuked Mix.

I’m not a fan of water propagation.   My cuttings go straight into a gritty, honest mix.   It’s a "no-fluff" approach that results in soil-hardy roots from day one.  None of this transition from water to soil base for my plants.

People may ask what’s in the mix.   It’s a 10-ingredient blend I’ve refined on the farm, and it involves a bit of "scientific" processing— it includes my microwave and at times a very smoky kitchen.

The Charcoal Nuke.   The star of the show is the charcoal I harvest from tree stump fires around the property.   I pound it down to smaller pieces (usually right after I’ve washed my hair, unfortunately).   

It then goes into a covered glass dish for a "nuke" in the microwave.   This kills off any Waikato weed seeds and clears out any nasties extras, before being added to the mix.

The 10-Point Lineup: I start with a basic, but reliable shop base and a heavy hit of pumice, then add:

• Tree Fern Fibre for structure.
• My own Worm Castings (and the occasional freeloader tomato seedling!).
• Bio Nuggets (when I have them).
• Lime to keep the mix sweet.
• Neem & Suscon for double-layered bug insurance.
• Slow-release fert for the long haul.
• Vermicast

The Result: It drains fast but holds enough "good stuff" to keep the plants happy.  It provides all the necessities my plants need, which is why they don’t need a "spa day" in a water jar to survive.

Negative Nana’s Safety Tip: If you're mixing your own at home, always wear a mask and gloves when handling dry ingredients like pumice or charcoal dust.   And if you're using a microwave to sterilize your mixture, leave the dish to cool completely before you open it—no one needs a face-full of hot carbon steam!