As a first time grower, I value the input from experienced growers on my soil mix. I plan to grow Dr. Greenthumb's feminized, Iranian Auto Flower in a PC grow case using CFL bulbs. Regrettably, my circumstances prevent me from using a larger grow space. Germination and Seedlings: After germinating in a paper towel, I plan to place the seeds in small pots of Fox Farm Light Warrior for about two (2) weeks. After that, I will transplant them into a container of my modified Moonshine Mix. Vegetation and Flowering: My modified Moonshine Mix is as follows: 1. 37.5% Fox Farm Ocean Forest; 2. 37.5% Fox Farm Light Warrior; and 3. 25% Chunky Perlite Questions: 1. My local garden store does not carry the Fox Farm Planting Mix -- an ingredient in the original Moonshine Mix. May I dispense with that ingredient or replace it with another product? I have a bag of Fafard 2 Mix. It is composed of Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, perlite, vermiculite, dolomitic limestone, wetting agent and starter nutrients. Would this be a suitable soil to add to the modified Moonshine mix or should I just stick with the FF Ocean Forest, FF Light Warrior and chunky perlite? 2. I have a box of Fox Farm Peace of Mind (fruit and Flower) nutrients. When do I introduce this product into the soil mix, at the start, later on or at the start and later? Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts.
Well, speaking from experience look for soil without the starter nutrients. They tend to be slow release, and can effect your girls adversely early on (As I am experiencing) Wait 2-3 weeks to start with the nutrients, when those first pre-leaves (little circle ones) start to yellow up. Hold out for some good soil, id shop around hold out for a good soil, its headache later on if you don't handle the situation properly to begin with. Here is a fox farm retailer locator: FoxFarm Soil & Fertilizer Company Hopefully someone can answer your other concerns adequately Good luck to yah
First of all, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. Could you recommend another brand name planting mix, instead of the Fox Farm Planting Mix (There are no other Fox Farm distributors in my area).
High Tech Garden Supply Maybe something like this? How many plants are you going with? And do you have a hydroponics store somewhere in your area? If so, they may not carry fox farm, but all you really need is a good organic soil without prefertilization products, and any shop owner should carry something like that, or be able to order it for you. If not, shop around at specality garden stores and look for the lowest N-P-K values you can find, get some extra perlite in there, epsolm salt if its lacking magnesium, and just make the best of the situation. I have see more than one grow journal that started and finished with MG potting soil (crazy prefert'd) and had decent to good results. Personally, as stated, I am having problems with pre ferts. Check out my sig, on page two you can see that one of my girls is deformed due to nutrient problems. Best of luck man, really wish someone else would chime in with some better recomendations for you for alternative soils and/or soil compositions.
Well, you might have to go with shipping if you cant easily get your hands on some good soil. Or a long drive, it might end up costing you the same.