The TRUTH about ABG Mix!!

frogboy · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 04:29 AM

The truth is...it just plain ROCKS!! This ABG Mix is 8 years old! It was in my salamander viv. It was kept even wetter than a dart frog viv. Totally closed top, no vents, with a fourth of the viv being a pond. A waterfall leaked all over it for many years.
I found a new home for my salamander and we are tearing his viv down. My dad (Pumilo) said it was going to be rotted and stinky when we dug into it. We churned it up and guess what? It smells fresh and clean! Like it was just put in! Dad said to point out all the air pockets you can still see in there. That's how it gets such good drainage! He said it's still perfectly good but we can't reuse it anyway because of germs.
It was developed at Atlanta Botanical Garden (thus the name, ABG Mix)

Here is how you make ABG Mix. My dad helped me make sure the recipe was right.

1 part milled peat

1 part milled sphagnum moss

1 part fine charcoal (We usually at least double this)

2 parts fine tree fern fiber

2 parts fine orchid bark

Here are a couple threads about ABG
confused about a couple substrate ingrediants
What substrate

Scott · #2 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 04:35 AM

I agree that it is good - but it is too "rich" in comparison to what we are trying to emulate. Plants grow way too fast in it. I'm kind of weird in that I want my plants to grow slower (I pluck and toss plants that grow too fast).

Of course us saying we're trying to emulate a jungle in a small box is pretty ridiculous as well.

One excellent use for "used" ABG mix is for use in flower pots. I used mine mainly in African Violet pots. For those you need a "light" soil, and ABG works splendidly.

s

Pumilo · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 04:50 AM

Sure, a clay substrate is closer to the real thing, but not everybody is ready to put in the time it takes to make a good clay substrate. Frogboy and I are experimenting with clay substrates in several vivs too. Here is what we are working with. Clay Substrate How-To
But for an organic mix, I think it's hard to beat.

Scott · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 05:18 AM

It's an excellent substrate. Used if for 16/17 years myself.

s

dmartin72 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 06:35 AM

What are you using now?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

It's an excellent substrate. Used if for 16/17 years myself.

s

Pumilo · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2011, 08:20 PM

He's talking nutrient poor, so Scott is most likely referring to a clay substrate.

tommy2 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 03:25 PM

Can all of the ingredents be picked up at a Home Depot or Lowes to make this mix?

RMB · #8 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 03:36 PM

Everything but the tree fern fiber, you'll have to get that online most likely, or leave it out/ substitute coco fiber.

Colleen53 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the info Frogboy. I usually do not use "soil" in my vivs, as I have seen lots of gnats in the soil. Have you experienced any issues with soil gnats? I just use premium New Zealand spagnum moss, reptile bark and lots of leaf litter. Great thread too!!

Pumilo · #10 (**permalink**) 02-16-2011, 06:32 PM

I am Frogboy's dad. I have some answers for you. The tree fern fiber adds aeration and drainage. I don't think cocofiber would be an acceptable substitute for the tree fern. For the peat and sphagnum maybe, but not the tree fern. I feel that the tree fern is an important part of AGB.
First, AGB Mix is available at Josh's frogs.
Second, Every component for AGB is available at good prices, here. OFE International Web Page

Colleen, as you mentioned, just about every soil mix can have fungus gnats. ABG can have them too. They will clear up after a short amount of time. They may be present for a month or so, but they have cleared out of every viv I've ever set up, soon enough.