Hey everyone I had to put my other two plants down today and I'm germinating some new guys. Just needed some experienced growers to see if my new soil combo is adequate or not. Also should I use compost tea I've been hearing it's good and I've also been hearing that there is no need for it. This is it Base: ffof Dr. Earth 707P Organic 8 Bud & Bloom Fertilizer Worm gold plus Perlite Compost It's going to be two seven gallon fabric pots or should I just do one seven gallon. Any thoughts would be great Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I think your going in the right direction by what you have listed but without the ratios of your "mix" it's better for you to look in the Organics Forum sticky's. Look for a water only soil base mix but you have to let it cycle/cook for 3-4 weeks before you can use.
Instead of using bottled nutrients organics uses living microorganisms to breakdown amendments and convert them into food that then becomes available to the plants. Cycle/cooking is the breaking down of the amendments into food for your plants. This is my mix: 1/3 each: Peat, Vermiculite, EWC (worm poop) My amendments are: Tomato Tone Kelp Neam Alfalfa Crab Meal Dolomite lime will help balance PH of the Peat Look at the organic section and find the "Easy organic soil mix for beginners". Great info.
Quality prepared grow soil really doesn't need a bunch of additives. It's designed for optimal results straight out of the bag. Adding other stuff will likely burn your plants. Read up on the nutritional needs of the plant during it's life because this changes according to the different cycles of life. FFOF is just fine on it's own till plants have time to use what was in soil initially. Soil (FFOF), pH'd tap water and sufficient light should easily get you through the first several weeks of veg. Start feeds after plants have had opportunity to use what it has access to. Resist the temptation to "do stuff" to your plants constantly. They need little help from you for first several weeks if you have all the basics covered. Use a soil recipe if you want to make your own mix. TWW
Iv read up on that section. The problem is I have 2cubic feet of ffof and I want to use it. Before it goes bad on me. This is what I came up with. Now I'm thinkin its to much ingredients. Going for two 7gallon fabric pots -Base: ffof= 2cub feet -Dr. Earth Organic Bud & Bloom Fertilizer=1.5cup -Worm gold plus= 6quarts -Perlite = 6quarts -Compost = 9 quarts -rock dust= 8quarts -lime= 8cups Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
So you think I should just use ffof and nothing else until flower what would the feed after veg period consist of. Like a top dressing for the soil ? Iv read up on the sticky section of the forum. The problem is I have 2cubic feet of ffof and I want to use it. Before it goes bad on me. This is what I came up with. Now I'm thinkin its to much ingredients. Talking to u lol Going for two 7gallon fabric pots -Base: ffof= 2cub feet -Dr. Earth Organic Bud & Bloom Fertilizer=1.5cup -Worm gold plus= 6quarts -Perlite = 6quarts -Compost = 9 quarts -rock dust= 8quarts -lime= 8cups Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I agree with TWW. Put them in the FFOF. (and add 30% perlite to the mix) ...and simply water them with plain water for 3 weeks or so..... at that point you can then introduce a grow formula nute. Use that nute 'til you want to flip...then switch to a bloom nute. Don't make it harder than it is by mixing a bunch of amendments into your soil. Once you do that, you've lost all control of your grow and you are merely an observer along for the ride. Those "super soils" are a bit down the road for you/your experience level, IMO. If you are wanting to stay "organic"....buy a bag of grow formula guano and a bag of bloom formula guano. If you go this route, get the "micronized" product that will mix with water fully. (The "whole turd" stuff gets all floaty and is hard to mix properly.) If you want to make "tea"....mix the guano with the worm castings and the compost in a mesh bag....and then bubble it for 24 hours before putting it on your plants. . Like TWW said...just don't "over-love" your plants. No need to mist....no need to defoliate to get light to bud sites (2 of many popular myths). They know what to do if you give them what they need. best of luck
FFOF I think is already PH adjusted so maybe 1/2 cup lime per 7 gal pot if it needs any at all. I have not used FFOF in years. Rock dust also looks heavy. I would do 8 cups not quarts. Dr E is good stuff. Good luck.
Do you think I need a Tea to activate the soil or what I'd be OK just having water that's pH Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Again...I would skip that tech for now. ALWAYS remember that once you put something on your plant or in your soil there is simply no going back. It's a far easier and far more successful route to take to WATCH your plants for what they may need and add it then than to guess what they may need a month in advance and hope you are right. FFOF has some guano/worm castings/etc in it...certainly enough to make em grow well initially. DON'T mess with pH in soil grows! The FFOF is balanced well.....and if your water isn't from a well that has low/high pH/etc...you shouldn't have to do anything else but water them. Again...I'm amazed when I see new growers with pH up/down and EC pens and all that crap....all they are doing is setting up for failure! (too much 'love"....like TWW said) Focus on lights///ventilation////temps/// rather than nutes/etc. You can get it right with the nutes by simply following directions. The other parameters take a bit of toying with....but are THE key to a successful grow. good luck!