Again... topsoil question

[rusted180]

Soooo... i live in comifornia (CA)
Wish i can live in TX someday. Anywho...

Apparently all topsoil brands like timberline and earthgro that sells over here says "organic" on the bags.. i believe that's not a good sign.
However, i found the following at home depot:

Gardeners 1 CF Top Soil-S1TOP-1CF-GP - The Home Depot

Gardeners 1 CF Top Soil-S1TOP-1CF-GP - The Home Depot

Topsoil is ideal for filling holes and leveling low areas. This regionally formulated topsoil can also be used to build landscape beds and gardens. This product does not contain fertilizer.

www.homedepot.com

What do u guys think? Safe? Im planning to get a fossorial at some point.. and i heard topsoil is good.
I like cocofiber for my other T's but for a fossorial, i believe its not good.
Any thoughts?

 

[DomGom TheFather]

I use peat and pack it as tight as I can.
What would be wrong with organic?

 

[rusted180]

I heard from many past threads thay anything mentioning organic could have fertilizers in it. Not true?

 

[wesker12]

I heard from many past threads thay anything mentioning organic could have fertilizers in it. Not true?

Lol I think organic just means they limit pesticide usage.

 

[Hardus nameous]

Your best bet may be to call the company directly and ask them. Ask about manure content too; that's probably what they mean by "organic."

 

[rusted180]

Ahhh. I see. Hmmm.. man im so hesitant in getting topsoil. I read each state has its own blend so be careful, horror stories of how crickets survived the 24 hr run but slings dying when used with them, dont buy em if placed next to fertilizer bags at the store, etc etc.. dang.. am i over thinking this??
Ill be so pissed if i killed any T's cuz i used this sub instead of something safe like cocofiber.. but then again, i dont want mold or shrooms growing if too wet. And yes, i know ventilation is key but i still cant escape the fact cocofiber is too loose..
I really don't wanna use coco fiber with fossorials... and i dont wanna buy that lugarti expensive stuff.. so i really wanna try topsoil.

Your best bet may be to call the company directly and ask them. Ask about manure content too; that's probably what they mean by "organic."

Dang it.. i knew it! They all say "organic" even the stuff mods, other members recommend.. maybe CA has only organic topsoil..

Soooooo... dang. This is frustrating.

 

[Hardus nameous]

I remember a thread where this came up before. There's a member here who worked with soils in Ca; I don't remember what he recommended but Cold Blood might. I'll see If I can find the thread.

Edit: Found it, read through this one. https://arachnoboards.com/threads/anyone-use-this-brand-of-topsoil.327977/

 

[wesker12]

I wouldn't be so certain they all have manure, definitely check, hopefully organic just means no pesticides (good), no fertilizer (good), and lots of humus as the organic matter rather than manure.

That topsoil from home depot looks fine but maybe double check on the manure thing forsure. Topsoil details also say no fertilizer which is good!

 

[The Snark]

Want to know what 'Organic' really means in the US? Fasten your seat belts, take your favorite tranquilizers and a few deep breaths then go here: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-i...rgn=div6&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32.7&idno=7

Please take note: There isn't one 'organic'. Scan on down the page. Food production organic, animal production, non organic substances that are allowed... have fun.

 

[cold blood]

What do u guys think? Safe? Im

Should be.

I like cocofiber for my other T's but for a fossorial, i believe its not good.
Any thoughts?

Coco fiber is just fine, it simply needs to be tamped down tightly (unlike top soil).

What would be wrong with organic?

All soil is inherently organic, so when you see this label, its not a reference to the dirt, but its additives...organic means manure and/or compost is in the soil...neither is something you want in an enclosure.

Ahhh. I see. Hmmm.. man im so hesitant in getting topsoil. I read each state has its own blend so be careful, horror stories of how crickets survived the 24 hr run but slings dying when used with them, dont buy em if placed next to fertilizer bags at the store, etc etc.. dang.. am i over thinking this??
Ill be so pissed if i killed any T's cuz i used this sub instead of something safe like cocofiber.. but then again, i dont want mold or shrooms growing if too wet. And yes, i know ventilation is key but i still cant escape the fact cocofiber is too loose..
I really don't wanna use coco fiber with fossorials... and i dont wanna buy that lugarti expensive stuff.. so i really wanna try topsoil.

Simply leave a few crickets in the enclosure for a few days, if the crickets survive, youre golden.

Ive never had an issue with top soil, its all i use (and ive never even done the cricket test).

 

[Dorifto]

Here organic means that there is not any pesticide or fertilized added to the substrate...

It's says that there is not fertilizers on it, so it could be a good sign. I'd mail them asking about if there is any pesticide on it, if the answer is no, go for it.

 

[rusted180]

Should be.


Coco fiber is just fine, it simply needs to be tamped down tightly (unlike top soil).


All soil is inherently organic, so when you see this label, its not a reference to the dirt, but its additives...organic means manure and/or compost is in the soil...neither is something you want in an enclosure.
Simply leave a few crickets in the enclosure for a few days, if the crickets survive, youre golden.

Ive never had an issue with top soil, its all i use (and ive never even done the cricket test).

thanks cold blood! always appreciate your help/wisdom... hmmm.... i do pack coco fiber like hell.. so i guess ill possibly add that to the equation... but if i can confirm all these things with the company im gonna buy topsoil from.. then i may go with it.

thanks all for the help as well!!

 

[FrmDaLeftCoast]

I remember a thread where this came up before. There's a member here who worked with soils in Ca; I don't remember what he recommended but Cold Blood might. I'll see If I can find the thread.

Edit: Found it, read through this one. https://arachnoboards.com/threads/anyone-use-this-brand-of-topsoil.327977/

I'm that member!

And if you want to follow anyone's advice, you can't do any better than @cold blood

PS. I personally wouldn't use EarthGro Topsoil, it's the "bread pudding" of soils (hopefully you understand what that means, if not just ask). If you want a topsoil that I can guarantee doesn't have any fertilizer (either organic or non-organic), I'd suggest Scotts Premium Topsoil (it's a white/red bag). Since your in California....off the top of my head, below is a list of substrates I'd recommend:

Miracle-Gro Garden Mulch (don't let the word "mulch" scare you away. It resembles soil more than it does mulch)
EarthGro Ground Cover
Scotts Premium Topsoil
Vigoro Coco
Vigoro Sphagnum Peat Moss

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Manure?
In top soil?
Weird.

 

[Rhino1]

"Organic" soil simply means no chemicals, it still could have manure, processed chicken poo pellets, wetting agents etc

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

All y'all who think "organic" means "no chemicals" need to do some research on the subject. Lots of fertilizers and man-made chemicals (including some very nasty ones) are allowed in organic farming.

 

[Dorifto]

Here for example, Bio and organic labels are regulated by law, and they can't contain any added unnatural chemicals. This may differ from one place to another

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

Here for example, Bio and organic labels are regulated by law, and they can't contain any added unnatural chemicals. This may differ from one place to another

I don't know where "here" is, but in the US, "organic" can definitely contain a variety of man-made chemicals.

 

[Dorifto]

I don't know where "here" is, but in the US, "organic" can definitely contain a variety of man-made chemicals.

Basque Country

 

[cold blood]

Here organic means that there is not any pesticide or fertilized added to the substrate...

Yeah, but for this conversation, it really only matters what it means where the op lives.