So this will be my 3rd grow, but my first attemt at mixing my own soil. My first two ( the second one is about a week into 12/12) I used Foxfarm Ocean Mist, with the fox farm Veg/Bloom ferts. The only other thing I added to the soil was some perlite. Used Neem oil as well. The strain was White gold from white lable. So this time I will be growing some Berry-bomb, and I've been slowly collecting my soil amendments and here's what i have so far. Homboldt Mix (had bought this before I read the stickys here) that consists of 60-70% Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, horticultural grade perlite, dolomitic lime and Yucca extract. 2.8 cf 15lbs of Organic Worm castings 5lbs Kelp Meal 5lbs Alfalfa Meal 4.4 lbs of Glacial rock dust 2lbs Azomite 10lbs Organic Dried Blood 10lbs Organic Bonemeal 10lbs Organic Garden Lime 12 qts of pumice So If I may ask a few questions- First how much of each should I use? Is there some kind of guide line? I will be using a 400w to veg and a 1000w for flowering, 6 plants in 5 gallon buckets when all is said and done. Am I missing any thing key? How long should I cook the soil? I seem to remember seeing a few different time periods from a month to three months. thanks, I've tried to digest so much on this sub-forum over the last few months, but I still have a ton to learn, next will be brewing an acct.
"am I missing anything key?" Neem seed meal You can also get rid of either the azomite or the rock dusts, you don't need both I would also toss the blood and bone meals, but other folks use it with success, so your call there. Boro
[quote name='"geneween77"']So this will be my 3rd grow, but my first attemt at mixing my own soil. My first two ( the second one is about a week into 12/12) I used Foxfarm Ocean Mist, with the fox farm Veg/Bloom ferts. The only other thing I added to the soil was some perlite. Used Neem oil as well. The strain was White gold from white lable. So this time I will be growing some Berry-bomb, and I've been slowly collecting my soil amendments and here's what i have so far. Homboldt Mix (had bought this before I read the stickys here) that consists of 60-70% Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, horticultural grade perlite, dolomitic lime and Yucca extract. 2.8 cf 15lbs of Organic Worm castings 5lbs Kelp Meal 5lbs Alfalfa Meal 4.4 lbs of Glacial rock dust 2lbs Azomite 10lbs Organic Dried Blood 10lbs Organic Bonemeal 10lbs Organic Garden Lime 12 qts of pumice So If I may ask a few questions- First how much of each should I use? Is there some kind of guide line? I will be using a 400w to veg and a 1000w for flowering, 6 plants in 5 gallon buckets when all is said and done. Am I missing any thing key? How long should I cook the soil? I seem to remember seeing a few different time periods from a month to three months. thanks, I've tried to digest so much on this sub-forum over the last few months, but I still have a ton to learn, next will be brewing an acct.[/quote] In fact, you could do without everything below rock dust on that list, of you added Neem Seed meal and crab meal. Needs to be kept moist and turned at least every couple days for about month. I use a similar amendment list and I add it at 1/2 cup per ingredient per square foot. Except for the Rock Dust 3-4 cups per square foot should do. If you want to plant earlier than the month it takes to "cook" then you could throw some worm castings and humbolt mix together and start your seeds in just that, should be ok for the first two or so weeks of growth, gets you a jump start. Just do this in small pots and transplant to your soil mix when it's done cooking. Boro
Thanks for the responses, both very helpful! I checked around today and no one had Neem Seed meal (in fact none of the nurseries I called even new what I was asking for!), so it looks like I will have to mail order it. I'll get the crab meal too while I'm at it. The Bone meal/Dried Blood/and garden Lime I had already, and had used some in the past, figured it might be useful, but I'll skip it if its not at all necessary. A friend of mine whole lives on a farm and composts everything is also going to be getting me some fresh EWC and compost material, but it won't be till September. But I have some store bought stuff for now. As for skipping the Pumice, is that do to the fact the Humboldt mix has perlite already?
[quote name='"geneween77"'] Thanks for the responses, both very helpful! I checked around today and no one had Neem Seed meal (in fact none of the nurseries I called even new what I was asking for!), so it looks like I will have to mail order it. I'll get the crab meal too while I'm at it. The Bone meal/Dried Blood/and garden Lime I had already, and had used some in the past, figured it might be useful, but I'll skip it if its not at all necessary. A friend of mine whole lives on a farm and composts everything is also going to be getting me some fresh EWC and compost material, but it won't be till September. But I have some store bought stuff for now. As for skipping the Pumice, is that do to the fact the Humboldt mix has perlite already?[/quote] Ya the Humbolt has lime and perlite in it, BUT aeration amendments should be around 25% of your mix, so you could use both. I use Lava Rock and perlite mixed together and added at a total of 25% of my mix.
Hey Boro, Had a question about lava rock. How fine or course (in size) is the lava rock that you use? Is lava sand the same thing, or is it too fine or sandy in texture? I noticed perlite is more "pellet" like in texture. Should the lava rock grains be similar in size as perlite, or is grainy sand like lava rock sufficient?
You can also get rid of either the azomite or the rock dusts, you don't need both Lean towards to glacial rock dust if you have to pick one. J
You are fine with what you have on hand, no need to order anything online. As you go along and learn, then you can add more esoteric amendments as funds permit. But you have all the basics needed on hand. I think my first organic mix had like 6 ingredients (blood, bone, kelp, lime, EWC and myco's), now it's about 15 or so 4 years later. It's like learning to cook and use spices, fenugreek comes in the later lessons. Wet
Listen to Wet, he's more experienced than I. Sorry to have misguided you. :back in the hole for a while: Boro out
Not at all, you didn't 'misguide', just a bit further along the organic trail and experience than he is. Plus, I was looking at what he had *on hand* and it was more stuff than I had for my first mix and that came out quite well. Enough stuff to get him hooked on organics. Wet