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Soil for Seedlings

I

iSHACKABUKU

Member
Hello

I have some seeds germinating and would like your opinion of the soil i am putting them into. I will be purchasing a bag of soil from a local plant shop, in which i will be adding some SEA KELP and some FISH EMULSION.

Can someone reccomend a good natural soil to purchase and any other organic nutrients i could add into the mix which would be ideal for the seedlings?

Thanks again from the patience with the newbie questions.
 
G

Guest

Regular potting soil works fine. I like to use Fox Farm Light Warrior by itself though.

Adding sea kelp or fish emulsion to the soil early on is not a good idea imo because the young roots of seedlings are more liable to burn. A good idea is to start the young'ens out in small containers- I use Dixie cups- and let them establish a decent root system before putting them into any soil with amendments. They shouldnt need or want anything anyways until a 10 days or so after they break the soil.
 
G

Guest

Till the plants have their first set of true leaves all they need is a good quality potting soil and water. Even after the first set of true leaves. Your babies are tender. Let them get their feet(roots). There is loads of good soil recipes here. Find one that works for you. Relax. Keep the light close. You wouldn't find a newborn baby surf and turf, would you?
 
G

Guest

i have found that .shults cactus mix seems to give me the healthiest seedlings.......dont know if its a ph thing compared to when i just mix 50/50peat and perlite on my own..........

since im bored lately and popping beans ,ill be trying a few small bags shults and black gold ..and some other small bags of there starter mixz , to see which ones seem to give the healthiest seedlings.......................i just soak beans over night in water, then plant in plastic beer cups.............you wanna get fancy buy the clear cups and plant in that ,then ,slip the colored ones over .....then you can pull your cup out every once and while and check and see when is the perfect time the roots have filled in the beer cup and transplant....then i just transplant to 50/50 peat perlite i mix my self......hope some of that gibberish helps :wave:
 
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I

iSHACKABUKU

Member
Great feed back as always. In regards to the Sea Kelp and Fish emulsion I would be using them at 1/4 the regular dosage. I read that from a credible source and should do these well.

have found that .shults cactus mix seems to give me the healthiest seedlings
Click to expand...

Interesting u should mention that. My two clones i have going now i threw them into cacus mix not knowing if this was good or bad. I had assumed this was far from idea but maybe i will stick with the cacus mix.

Again thanks a lot everyone, i absolutly promise to start a grow diary once i am better organized and get past this 50 post restriction thing!

Peace
 
G

Guest

I'm going to lodge a vote for ocean forest although I've heard it said it can be hot for seedlings,I've brought well over a dozen strains up with it very nicely.
 
NamelessCitizen

NamelessCitizen

Member
I agree with The American. I mix the Ocean Forest with perlite at 1:1 and seedlings thrive. I don't even have to feed them until late veg, early flowering. Just plain water & Liquid Karma.

Peace, love and nuggets!
Nameless
 
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G

Guest

Try the new FF Peace of mind granular formula for veg and bloom too,its the bees knees.
 
G

G Brazil

Member
Just use potting soil for seedlings, here in Brazil we have a brand called Plantmax that is very fine, I add some vermiculite to make more airy and have great success. As of right now,I have 100 seedlings in this mix that is one week old from the time I put the seedz in cups with water.. great results
 
NamelessCitizen

NamelessCitizen

Member
The American - Actually I have. I used the Moonshine Mix for seedlings and cuttings and no problems at all (Ocean Forest, Planting Mix, Light Warrior cut with about 1/3 perlite, POM 5-5-5 for veg mixed in, POM Fruit n Flower for flowering mixed in (can't remember NPK))

Nameless
 
G

Guest

G brazil vermiculite will make it more water retentive,not airy or loose for that you want perlite.Vermiculite in an already retentive soil can result in overwatering with the quickness.
 
G

G Brazil

Member
we dont have perlite in Brazil, or its very hard to find, but vermiculite holds air, nutrients and water within, I know it can hold too much water, but I water with care making sure they get the right amount.. i used vermiculite in the past with great success.
 
I

iSHACKABUKU

Member
Thanks so much guys! Im going to see what is available today as my seeds are still germinating. So for example if i use FOXFARM at what point would i need to supplement it? Is there a certain time frame or can you tell my observing the plant?

Thanks again! The strain is AK-47 / NORTHERN LIGHTS
 
NamelessCitizen

NamelessCitizen

Member
iSHACKABUKU - you could search the other forums for other grows, of what your growing. Most grow threads share info regarding medium and nutes and setup.

My experience with Ocean Forest has been to not have to feed them through to the first transplant. A transplant into fresh OF will supply fresh nutes. Once transplanted I find about 3 weeks later a mild veg feeding may be necessary. I usually veg for a total of 6 or 7 weeks and the final transplant into a flowering container supplies fresh nutes as well. No need to feed until flowers start really developing, hairs are really starting to come out, then I feed with mild bloom nutes, upping the dosage in small increments according to the directions on the bottle. If you've mixed in any granular nutes (Peace of Mind All-Purpose 5-5-5 for veg; Peace of Mind Fruit & Flower (forgot the NPK) for flowering), you won't have to feed but with plain water.

I'm not an expert by any means, been growing only about 4 years. But I hope this helps. BTW I love FoxFarms soils. It can really simplify the task of establishing the best soil mix that plants will really thrive in. Over in the Organic Soil forum there is a sticky 'Moonshine Mix'. You should check it out and see what others are doing with FoxFarms soils.

Peace, love and nugs...
Nameless
 
B

burninheavy420

Member
I had a seedling in FFOF and it was growing great at first but then all went to hell..Yellowing on the tip and light brown spots. I was told this could've been a lot of things but most likely nute burn by the soil..Im a noob grower but I have heard and experienced that FFOF is too strong for seedlings..even tho i mixed a good amount of perlite.
 
NamelessCitizen

NamelessCitizen

Member
My experience with the Ocean Forest (by itself or Moonshine Mix) has been no need to feed for 3 weeks. I start off in 16 oz. cups with fresh soil, no need to feed. I'll transplant into 1 gallon in 2.5 - 3 weeks with fresh soil, no need to feed. I give a light bloom feeding at week 6 veg and then start to watch for sex under 18/6 lighting. I'll transplant to 3 gallon with fresh soil and don't feed bloom nutes until 2nd week of 12/12. IMO, you can get by on fresh soil for 3 weeks. If you transplant a few times you eliminate the need to feed extra in veg.

Peace, love and nugs...
Nameless
 
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