Step-by-step guidance shows how to hand-blend raw HydraFiber Advanced Substrate with other components to create small batches of growing media for trials. It explains how to determine bulk density using a screened cylinder, level and weigh each component, and calculate accurate mix ratios such as a 70% peat-30% HydraFiber blend. The piece then walks through filling a bin with components, hand-mixing, and finishing with a drill-mounted mixing tool in reverse until a complete blend is achieved, with a reminder not to overwork the mix and to add water as needed.
Key Points
- Trial HydraFiber material is shipped as ready-to-use, “fluffed” material in plastic bags, rather than highly compressed 50-lb. bales.
- Use a 20-liter cylinder with a 1.9-cm mesh screen to determine bulk density, filling gently, leveling with a straight edge and weighing to get weight per volume for each component.
- Calculate blend recipes from these weights, such as 7 lbs. of peat and 0.51 lbs. of HydraFiber for a 70% peat-30% HydraFiber mix when given example bulk densities.
- Mix in a bin by hand to about 50%, then use the supplied drill attachment in REVERSE for about 2 minutes until a 100% blend is achieved, avoiding overworking and adding water during this step.
