So before I post my question.. Here is a little rundown of whats going on... Currently am running Happy frog soil, with Gen. Hydro Nutes, 1400w veg and 3800w Flower. I just went out and got a new line of Nutes to use for my upcoming grow. I purchased Hydro-Organics, Earth Juice standard advanced grow line, Earth Juice Grow, Bloom, Catalyst, Microblst, and Meta-k. Now with everything being organic and the brew that Im making for my plants having to be airated for 24-38 hours before use to raise the PH to an acceptable level. It is said that Ph adjustment after airation is not necessary. (What with EJ products ph being so low to accomadate for the living microbes within the nutes.) After this airation period if my Ph is still ... idk 5.0~ give or take.. should I still adjust to 6.0 - 6.5??!? If this is the case do I need to go out and get EJ line of Natural PH-up and PH-down, because Gen, hydros ph-up and down are chemical and I've read/heard that it will kill lots of my benificial organics within the brew?? Looking for anyone growing or have used EJ products while airating? while not Airating? with using Gen hydros ph-up and down? While using EJ Ph- up and down? While not adjusting Ph after airation? While adjusting Ph after Airation? Any help would be appreciated -Mike
Hi Mike! Although this is an organic fertilizer line, you may be better off asking such questions in the hydro section. Many, if not most folks here, are mixing up their own soil and do not pH up or down. If you ever feel like making a top quality soil, start with this thread, and feel free to ask questions. Lots of knowledgable people on this forum. http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/1116550-easy-organic-soil-mix-beginners.html Peace! P-
sorry for posting in wrong thread, I grow with organic store bought soil, and organic nutes... thought this was the right thread, Thanks man
I'm not saying it's the wrong thread, so my apologies if I came across the wrong way. What I am saying is just because the products say organic doesn't neccesarily mean the people here use them. Some may, and hopefully they will speak out. If you don't get a lot of response here, you may either try the hydro/chem section for your specific questions; or you might do more reading into organic gardening which is why I posted the link. I'd prefer you did the later. Again, my apologies if I offended you. If there is anything I can do to help, shout (I don't do pH adjusting sorry). Peace, P-
Ive looked into making my own soil, I just dont have the space for it right now, nor the extra cash.. It has always piqued my interest, to make high quality soil as to go nutrient free. Ive even read the thread you gave me and a few others in it. Do you know if I would have to flush while using EJ products, or organic products in general..? Have you ever used bottled nutrients? or straight to organic making soil?
I ran earth juice for YEARS before I switched to no-till. Definitely follow "the three little birds (3lb)" recipes if your looking for a great starting point with the lineup. http://www.fathergrowsbest.net/2010/12/three-little-birds3lb-on-earth-juice.html?m=1 I never once experienced the PH lower than 6.0 after 24hrs of aeration... Maybe your not pumping enough air into the rez? The more the better for sure. BUT if your not willing to buy a bigger pump (or your already using a big one) then consider using a potassium silicate product to help bring the PH up a bit. Bham Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Once I started mixing my own dirt it really didn't end up being as much work as I thought. In fact, I really started to enjoy it. Now that my beds are full, I don't mix up much new soil. I have not used earth juice, and honestly I'm still confused by the whole concept of flushing. I've heard the reasoning, scientifically, it still doesn't make sense to me. When you mix your own soil and don't use the bottled nutrients flushing is not only not neccesary, but detrimental imo. I have used bottled nutes - botanicare, fox farm, general organics (I even used the powdered miracle grow for many years) and I have to say switching to a DIY living soil has been a vast improvement over anything I have tried. Best of luck! P-
I have not actually mixed and airated a brew using EJ yet, I still have my last bit of older nutes im still using before switching.. It was more of a question of "Will I need to buy new ph up/down when I start?" Ill do a trial run soon, just trying to plan ahead. Thanks for all the help guys. Bahm Buds? Did you flush any of your plants while using EJ? or cut down to just water the last two weeks?
Haha, thanks Waktoo. I've tried pretty much everything in my 7 years of growing. Spreading the information and experiences I've collected over those years is a pleasure. Bham Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Nah, never "flushed" just used straight water for 7-10 days before the chop. Bham Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I used to use Earth Juice and Fox Farms back when I thought that was the way to go. I love the fact that I only need water if I please in a living soil. Organic FTW!
Pleasure to be of service to people other than my buddy's here at home. I'm all in on the no-till game since my read through on bluejay's thread, love the fact I can just add water and be in and out of my grow rooms in under 30 minutes no problem. I only run a couple plants each run using my remaining bottles That are laying around. I hate wasting money so I continue using what I have till it runs out. So at this point I have 3 methods of growing going on in the same room (earth juice/Aptus and GH flora/Aptus, and No-till) lol. Bham Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I think you've received some good feedback thus far and my aim is to try and add to it. Non-specific to your product line because I have no experience with it but rather approaching your questions from more of a generalized soil science perspective (CEC and +'s/-'s), I believe if you follow the same principles of ensuring balanced soil organic matter as is advocated here in the O section you'll be just fine and shouldn't have to do anything special at all. That's opinion. Withstanding discussion of soil microbe life being impacted by your product line, again I have no experience with it/them, the ions and anions (+'s/-'s) of the soil chemistry and their impact on soil CEC should be equal to that of organic only soil. IOW, amend your soil with quality EWC minimally and if you can secure quality finished compost you're on cruise control. Again, that's an opinion. There are no laws or principles of soil chemistry CEC that are violated by use of an organic bottled solution that I am aware of. In the end CEC is still the number one consideration of any soil that will be used to grow any plant by any means. As for "flushing", just water-only normally during last days/weeks as was previously suggested and again you should be just fine. A natural senescence is what we always would like to see - I think eh? That was a good/great suggestion offered on the potassium silicate. However and for example, the AGsil line potassium silicate has a ph of 11.5. IDK about other products MSDS without checking. That's very alkaline so a little bit will go a long way perhaps and you have to factor in how much K is actually being supplied if you're using a potassium silicate as a K source. Also keep in mind the calibration aspects of ph pens. There is usually a +/- accuracy in the .2-.5 range even if they're calibrated expertly so that also should be factored in if you have to use one. AgSil MSDS I hope you do well and would like to see your journal if you get one started. Good luck!
Yes I agree, a lot of very useful information to have handed to me within a few hours. Im glad I joined this site, and I will be starting a grow journal =).. ill be taking a bit of info from everyone, I will airate with a 12inch air stone within 5 gal buckets for min 24 hours, If ph is too low at that point I will look into suppliment the Potassium Silicate, If my gut tells me that I need it.. I feel this is a nice starting point and at some time in the future Ill switch to no till, but for now the stigma of mixing something with water is still within my grow routine. As for "flushing" I think Ill just run straight water the last two weeks. Has anyone looked into/ or used Fulvic Acid as a finishing agent?
Big +1 on all that. Be sure and give the 3LB a read. A liming agent is also a great help if you can't bubble for 24 hrs or so. Then you really don't need to worry about the pH of the EJ. I never pH'ed, period. Nor flushed, just used plain water. EJ really kicks it when used with an amended mix. Cd
My experience has taught me to not use fulvic acid as an amendment for an indoor grow in conjunction with the many advocacies for ensuring a balanced amount of soil organic matter (humus and humic type substances) is added to your Happy Frog soil. I think most folks herein would agree that that particular soil out of the bag is not going to give you the advantage you achieve by adding some basic and easily sourced components, those being; EWC, compost, and your choice of aeration amendment (perlite, pumice, rice hulls). We're dialoging ...
Ive read through it multiple times and have printed it out and made notes for easy reference already. Also I have a nice air pump, with two outlets. One bubbling a 20gal container with plain water and the other will bubble a 5 gal brew of my EJ. What soil amendments should I do to Happy Frog? I still have 10cu ft of soil unused, Ide like to use this up before making my own no-till soil.
Thanks, I was kind of on the fence leaning towards not getting it. So would it be benificial to add EWC? or would that alone do nothing?