Managing irrigation with lightmix amended with organic dry nutrients like our Bioline require a different method than using mineral fertilizer in powder or liquid form.
The main objective is to maintain a consistent moisture and optimal oxygen content in order to support the best possible microbial activity that mineralize the organic elements in the substrate.

Lightmix/allmix (peat based substrate) has a very good water holding capacity but doesn't like excess drying, it will shrink and compact if dry too much and re-hydrating it can take days !

Due to his high CEC (cationic exchange capacity) Lightmix are ideal substrate for dry organic amendment.

BUT ORGANIC DRY NUTRIENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE DIRECTLY !

You need to have optimal moisture, oxygen, microbial activity and good temperature.

You need to avoid draining/leeching (you will flush the nutrient and reduce microbial activity)


Ideal Moisture: 

Use a moisture content meter, ideal water content is between 45% and 70% 

Below 45% the microbial activity is slow and peat become hydrophobic
Above 75% oxygen is content is lowering creating anaerobic conditions and PH drop resulting nutrient problems.

!Never over water or let the substrate fully dry down.

Irrigation:

- The best is to use smaller but more frequent irrigation, to reach optimal water content % 

- If small and frequent irrigation is not possible, water with 10% of the volume of the pot (ex: 10L pot , give 1L for adult plant) 

- Avoid runoff 

- Don't wait that the pot is "light" before watering again ! 

- Always water the whole pot and not  just around the plant, if not you will create hydrophobic area in your substrate and reduce mineralisation efficiency. 

Peat hold the water very well so you need a dry back to allow oxygen coming in the substrate! Normally when the plants are adult and the climate conditions are good, over one night you have enough dry back. 

- NO FINAL "FLUSH" NEEDED!

Water temperature: ideal temp is between 18 and 22 deg (cold water reduce microbial activity, hot water will hurt the root system) 

Consistent and optimal moisture will allow consistent nutrient mineralisation !

If additives/biostimulant, (like our Enhancer or compost tea) in liquid form are needed, apply during watering irrigation time. 

IN SUMMARY: 

When using peat based substrate like lightmix/allmix with organic dry nutrient like our Bioline, irrrigation is more of biological control tool than just water delivery ! 

The goal is to maintain a stable water %, optimal oxygenated substrate and therefore a good microbial activity in the root zone !