This just received from the Nobel Prize people:

"We have attempted to reach this nominee through his Perky Piece address, but have received the invitation back marked RETURN TO SENDER: ADDRESS UNKNOWN. Unfortunately, since we are not able to reach the applicant, any potential prize money will be rewarded to the runner up."

On a more serious note...

Steve, your experiment seems to have missed the most basic points about what makes a potting soil good or bad. Good quality potting soil is good because it a) provides good drainage, and, b) continues to provide good drainage for a long time (doesn't quickly break down). Whether the soil "feeds" the plant is really irrelevant to good soil/mix quality. The most expensive professional mixes don't contain fertilizer or substantial nutrients.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's some info that explains what makes good potting soil good.

brandon: Yea, someone on the Soil forum, mentioned a good point. The plant seemed to start to fall off, nutrient-wise when I started doubling the water I gave it. Next year, when I continue what I call my experiment, I will probably keep the feeding level relative to the amount of water I give it. The Hyponex definitely does not provide good drainage at all in some ways & in others, drains too well. weird, eh?

Not really weird. The flow of gravitational water through the soil's macropores is a separate process than the capillary drainage of water from smaller pore spaces.

One of these days, I'm gonna take the time to write a brief summary of how soil drainage occurs. Hopefully, it will be before I'm too old to type.