I am going to be using subcools super soil mix (look it up if you don't know) in 20 gal holes in the ground. I am using dr earth pot of gold as my base soil. I will also be adding a good bit of compost perlite and vermeculite to the mix all organic. And the last few ingrediants that are less than a cup I am going to bump up a little. Besides this, what else can I do to improve the plants? Saying is there anything else organic that I should put in the soil mix to improve them, and I would like to do the water only method but if there's any product I could feed the plants with watering that is organic that would improve the plants could be please enlighten me? Also, what are good ways to combat mold and bugs? This will be my second grow, first one with a good soil mix and premium feminized seeds. Speaking of that, and good mold resistant strains with high yeilds that are good for beginners anyone would recommend? I know its a lot but I appriciate any help I can get thanks!
I would suggest looking through this site for some of the information you requested. It's all here, just waiting to be absorbed.
I would like to do the water only method but if there's any product I could feed the plants with watering Read here - http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/951823-botanicals.html J
I made I huge batch of subcool soil, but didn't like layering the soil I wanted a soil i could fill the whole pot with. Inthegarden told me to do this and I followed it and the plants look better then any plant I have ever had. Only been giving them water and occasional kelp and alfalfa tea. "Hey pos, welcome to GC. I'm going to assume that the bags of soil you used were 1.5 cubic foot bags. That's 12 cubic feet of soil right there. Then 25 lbs of ewc is around 5-7 gallons (I think, depending on moisture level). Is it fair to call it 13-14 cubic feet of soil? Plus 18 lbs of amendments, that's around 36 cups of amendments. Way, way, way too heavy on the P amendments. The directions for super soil tell you to only fill half the pot with it, right? In that case it sounds like you'll need to dilute it by at least half. I'd also dilute to knock down the P levels (way too high), since despite what cannabis growers have been told, massive doses of P don't result in bigger flowers, but they do lock out other nutrients and harm soil microbes. I'd end up with something like this: 50% super soil, 25% compost/ewc, 25% aeration amendment. Or even 30% super soil, 20% peat moss, 25% compost/ewc, 25% aeration. Depends on how strong the super soil is- you're the one who's been using it so you can best make the call on whether it needs to be diluted by half or more than that. Diluting it by at least half allows you to add a good portion of alfalfa, neem, and kelp- far superior amendments than blood, bone and guano. Then make a blend of alfalfa meal, neem meal, and kelp meal (I'd do equal parts alfalfa and neem, 2 parts kelp since you don't have any kelp in the mix). Then add 1-1.5 cups of this amendment mix per cubic foot of soil. You should definitely add more rock dust, that 1/2 cup of azomite isn't doing much of anything. Add 4 cups rock dust per cubic foot of soil. That should give you a soil that has around 2-3 cups of amendments per cubic foot of soil. I know you have a lot of soil, but it will help to get a 5 gallon bucket and measure it all out so you know exactly how much you have before you start re-amending. Remember that you will have to let this soil sit and cycle for 3-4 weeks at least before you can use it. Like the title of the thread btw, glad you found your way to a better mix"
I am using dr earth pot of gold as my base soil. Sure - especially as the soil mix calls for store bought bagged soil as a "base". This mix is much, much better - http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/1116550-easy-organic-soil-mix-beginners.html J
How about a suggestion as to what you can do with his soil? No, not that first thought you had......although. Seriously...........Perhaps a run through the compost heap !