1st grow, I'm a newbie

Since it sounds like you are going soil (I am a soil grower too) I recommend Ocean Forest® Potting Soil soil for your girls. Do you have a nutrient picked out? Also, I recommend buying an inexpensive PH test kit to test your water/nutrient mix and keep it near 6 - 6.5 on the ph scale. Hydroponics Organic pH Testing and Adjusting Kit VPTK4 at The Home Depot

 

^No. In an organic soil, there is no need to mess with pH. pH up/down products are actually harmful to the microbes in the soil. Harming soil microbes is the opposite of what you want to do in an organic soil. In addition, Ocean Forest is a notoriously sub-par soil. If you want to do a legit organic grow, put the nutrients, pH junk, and expensive sub-par bagged soil back on the shelf. OP, the Kellogg's bagged soil that you already have is a far superior starting point than ocean forest. Build your own soil and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Do a little reading in the organics section, check out the stickies, and you'll find out real fast what an organic grow is all about.

 

," Ocean Forest is a notoriously sub-par soil. If you want to do a legit organic grow, put the nutrients, pH junk, and expensive sub-par bagged soil back on the shelf. OP, the Kellogg's bagged soil that you already have is a far superior starting point than ocean forest."

^^^Quality advice. Stick with the Kellogg's.

 

I dont want to come off rude or act like an ass but i STRONGLY suggest you go with mixing your own soil on the first go. its going to save you time and loads of money. you are in the same boat i was about 5 months ago when i started my first grow. if i knew what i know now i wouldnt have bothered with anything other than a handmade,hand measured soil with hand selected ingredents. would have been a pure waste of 6 months total down the drain if i didnt learn something from it.

 

Is Your Organic Compost Really Sewage Sludge? | Mother Jones


Looks like the Kellogs amend has anything that you can flush down a toilet.

 

OH MY LORD!

 

Thank you for posting that Thundr, that is gross and everyone should definitely be aware of this. However, this article was in reference to Kellogg's "Amend", an "organic" soil amendment that they sell. This was not referencing Kellogg's potting soils (which is what we are talking about here). If the soil contains sludge, it will be listed in the ingredients as "sludge" or "biosolids". Once again, the above article is not referring to the Kellogg's soils, but basically a sewage sludge soil amendment product sold by Kellogg's as "compost" under the name "Amend". Not saying there's no way the Kellogg's soil doesn't contain it, but the above article isn't talking about the potting soil. Thanks again for sharing with us.

dlsmokes, if you're uncomfortable using the Kellogg's soil, there are other good bagged organic soils that you can use. Unfortunately, Ocean Forest still isn't on the list.

 

Thanks InTheGarden! Since the OP stated they were new I was trying to keep things simple. Organics is definately a great way to go. There are multiple sections in GC where blades can learn to build their own soils that when done properly would outshine any retail product hands down. Anyway, best of luck to Dlsmokes on your grow!

 

If you have been satisfied with the outcome from your past efforts with said brand of soil, then use it. You know it and you are obviously comfortable with it.

I have used many different bagged soil mixes in the past and come to realize that most if not all are lacking in some aspect. They have all needed amendments.

You can always purchase a pre-mixed base soil to start off and build from there.

Check this out http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/988488-ready-grow-bagged-soil.html

 

Sam is totally right about all the bagged soils needing additional supplements. Thundr, I didn't mean to jump down your throat about the Ocean Forest. It's just that I have been gardening for a long time and when I see sub-par soils given a fancy name, fancy bag, and an inflated price just to market to mj growers, it annoys me. If it really were this great organic soil, then fine. But it's not, there are much better bagged soils to be had at the regular nursery that are sold to regular gardeners. I came into growing mj as a long time grower (organically of course) of regular plants, so I see the whole hydro store/special "nutes" for cannabis thing as the racket that it is and it definitely gets me riled. Again, sorry if I jumped down your throat. And thanks again for sharing that link with us, no way should companies be able to sell sewage sludge to the unsuspecting public who think they're buying an organic gardening amendment.

 

[quote name='"Thundrstrike420"']
Is Your Organic Compost Really Sewage Sludge? | Mother Jones

Looks like the Kellogs amend has anything that you can flush down a toilet.[/quote]

Night soil is a very good fertilizer if composted properly.

 

[quote name='"dlsmokes"']Well with all of that said, I have used Kellogg's soil, never used the Amend. I have seen it though. could the soil products have sludge in them without listing it as an ingredient?
Garden can you suggest a high quality soil, that wont kill my pocket... Ive already bought so much stuff. Stuff you guy's are basically telling me to trash. Was super excited, and opened everything cause I wanted to check it all out. (excited I said). So I cant return...[/quote]

Use what you bought this grow don't pitch it out its not worthless they are just saying you might need to ammend them by adding things they might lack.

 

dl, what have you bought? Definitely don't get rid of anything. Tell us what you've got, and we will go from there.

 

You're def thinking too hard. Let them get used to the light for a few days before you turn it up.