I am planning a mirco grow and have been making a list of every thing I need. But I am stumped when it comes to what soil to use. So what do you guys think is a better soil OF or HF ? Also what Nutes should be used with these soils ?
I'm using ocean forest with out any additional amendments to the soil and the signature ff nutes. And it works great. And ive heard many times ocean forest is even better for clones. But I know happy frog is also very useful I just have no experience with it.
I use FFOF. I add a lot of things to it but did use it by itself many times and is my favorite store bought soil. I've heard people having it burn their clones or seedlings but I haven't had that problem. If you're worried, flush the soil once or twice before using. It'll lighten it up a little. Are you going to add stuff or just use as is?
The guy at the hydro store told me this: Both are made by the same company. Both are organic. Both are good. You get more dirt with Happy Frog for like a dollar more. FFOF uses more aquatic based nutrients and therefor can go longer before you need to supplement the soil with added nutrients. You cannot go wrong either way. I'm using Happy Frog.
I was planning on use it as is, I am just unsure about what nutrients to use and when. I know that both soils have a lot of nutes in them already but i dont know after what amount of time i would have to start adding my own. I am use to outdoor grow so...
[quote name='"stealthboxit"']The guy at the hydro store told me this: Both are made by the same company. Both are organic. Both are good. You get more dirt with Happy Frog for like a dollar more. FFOF uses more aquatic based nutrients and therefor can go longer before you need to supplement the soil with added nutrients. You cannot go wrong either way. I'm using Happy Frog.[/quote] Exactly. But many people add aquatic based amendments like kelp and such when ocean forest already contains worm castings, humus, moss, crab nd shrimp meal, bat guano etc. But personally I would use either or. Both are great from things I've heard.
Usually 3 weeks or so and then start using 1/2 or 1/3 strength mix of nutes and work up to full strength. This keeps the plant from getting overdosed with nutes. I would get some blood meal, bone meal, pearlite, earth worm castings, seabird and bat guano, dolomite lime, and maybe some Epson salt for cal-mag if you don't have any
With my seedlings having just sprouted in fresh Happy Frog I'll probably go 2 or 3 weeks before I add nutrients. FFOF might be able to go an additional week or three. The nutrients you choose after that period of time is primarily up to you and can be totally independent of the soil you choose. You can go all organic or whatever. Just pick a major manufacturer and stick close to the feeding schedule. Once you learn more and get more experience you can experiment more and more.
[quote name='"greenbudguy"']I use FFOF. I add a lot of things to it but did use it by itself many times and is my favorite store bought soil. I've heard people having it burn their clones or seedlings but I haven't had that problem. If you're worried, flush the soil once or twice before using. It'll lighten it up a little. Are you going to add stuff or just use as is?[/quote] I've heard ocean forest is very salty. So just flush well here and their. But I hardly use nutes as it is. Just here and their and I have orange hairs in my buds and it smells like lemon diesel or something?
greenbudguy is exactly right when it comes to using a more diluted mix of nutrients as you start out using them.
[quote name='"greenbudguy"']Usually 3 weeks or so and then start using 1/2 or 1/3 strength mix of nutes and work up to full strength. This keeps the plant from getting overdosed with nutes. I would get some blood meal, bone meal, pearlite, earth worm castings, seabird and bat guano, dolomite lime, and maybe some Epson salt for cal-mag if you don't have any[/quote] Yeah I think MI wolverine told me it's better to add some sand and dolomite lime just not as much. And Id listen to him more then many ppl. But I wanna make my own soil so I don't need nutes
And you can always get a cheaper organic soil and add a lot of stuff to make it better. Earth worm castings is something I strongly suggest getting. It really works well mixed in with soil or brewed for the beneficial bacteria and watered into the soil
I think if you are just starting out you should buy some premixed stuff so as not to get too overwhelmed. Its not a huge price difference.
[quote name='"Thadrought"'] Yeah I think MI wolverine told me it's better to add some sand and dolomite lime just not as much. And Id listen to him more then many ppl. But I wanna make my own soil so I don't need nutes[/quote] All the things I mentioned will help you to be able to just water and not have to add nutes but most of the time you'll need to add some. If you get some bat guano, you can use that in the soil and water with as nutes when it comes time to flower because it has a high phosphorus level
[quote name='"greenbudguy"'] All the things I mentioned will help you to be able to just water and not have to add nutes but most of the time you'll need to add some. If you get some bat guano, you can use that in the soil and water with as nutes when it comes time to flower because it has a high phosphorus level[/quote] I'm already flowering. Read the ingredients in ocean forest. It's got almost everything ppl have suggested. I just don't know the percentage of things
Go to the organic section in the forum and read a few threads. I always find a soil mix thread and there are some good and easy to make soil mixes. Get some bat guano with a higher PK than N and mix in water and water with that
[quote name='"greenbudguy"']Go to the organic section in the forum and read a few threads. I always find a soil mix thread and there are some good and easy to make soil mixes. Get some bat guano with a higher PK than N and mix in water and water with that[/quote] I'm just curious, but would you think putting fox farms big bloom (1,3,7 I think?) into a spray bottle(very small amount) and giving my girl a light misting would help or hurt?
I've never tried it but I don't think it would be a problem if you dilute it big time. Let me know how it works out for you
Hey everyone Folar feeding is fine as long as you keep the nutes weaker than usual. I use Foxfarm Ocean Forest soil. I have had great luck with it and I use Earth Juice Gro and Bloom. The bottles have specific recipes for mixing with a gallon of water. If you follow those directions or the directions on any decent product that has a flowering stage mix suggestion, you should be right on point! It's nice that we have multiple good soil products that are premixed just for our kind of crop! By the way, during flower you can also add unsulphered blackstrap molasses. Jorge Cervantes did an experiment and added sugar to a grows irrigation water in he last 4 weeks of flowering and he noted a 20% bud increase. He suggests about 1 tbs per quart of water. Blastrap molasses contains iron, calcium and potassium.