Tutorial Organics for Beginners
- Thread starter BurnOne
- Start date
One of the many, many urban myths perpetuated originally by Jorge (pronounced: Whore? Hey!) Cervantes in his first 'book' - and I use that term loosely.
It's based on his original thesis that somehow the cultivation of cannabis is COMPLETELY different from anything else in horticulture/agriculture.
A complete and total idiot from Day 1.
YMMV
CC
NanoScroger
Member
good call on the watering tip, im one of those let her droop a bit types.
with the neptunes harvest tea's, is it still feed every other watering for flower and every third for veg?
with the neptunes harvest tea's, is it still feed every other watering for flower and every third for veg?
That should work fine.
Burn1
i.love.scotch
Active member
Hey I got another one for your guys. I just made my flowering mix with all the dry amendments a few days ago and I've got it moistened and sitting covered in a 10 gallon tupperware bin and it's starting to smell pretty strong. Is this normal? Is it supposed to be covered? I have the lid half on half off right now to give it some air but I think I might have cooked it a bit too much with the lid being on. If i put my hand into the soil its above room temperature in the middle which I'm assuming is a good thing but the smell is pretty raunch.
I haven't noticed that problem. The top sometimes has to be cultivated so that the water doesn't just roll off of it, but that's about it. All of my plants this grow have been watered this way and they retain all of the water I put into them, never leaking out the bottom more than a few drips.
I've been gathering ingredients for my first organic mix today, a few things I had in the garage already, found a good cheap local supplier for the peat moss and mushroom compost.
For the soil mix..
Irish Peat Moss - check
Perlite - check
Mushroom compost - check, bit worried about using it as there are some negative posts about it in this forum, but its SO much cheaper for me than wormcastings, and I'm a long way off having my own compost.
Powdered dolomite lime - check.. well, mine says Garden Lime but I assume is the same thing. This is one of the things that's been sat in the garage for quite a few years, but doesn't seem to have got wet at any point - it's still a powder.
For the blood/bone/kelp..
Bone Meal - check, again have had this in the garage for about 8 years. I assume it's gonna be ok still?
Blood Meal - struggling to find this locally, except as part of a fish/bone/blood mix
I have found somewhere online for "dried blood" though, which I understand is what blood meal is made up of. Would this suffice?
Kelp Meal - check, got it from a local fishing bait suppliers, if anyone in the UK is searching for it try there
Greensand - can't find it, but I've read in this thread that I can live without so it's all jiggy. Are there any alternative amendments I could use instead though?
Also struggling to find the Liquid Karma, any alternative products for us UK/EU people?
Could you guys forsee any problems using the ingredients I've sourced?
Massively appreciate this thread and everyone's input on it, I wouldn't be sat here now surrounded by the component parts of a soil mix if it wasn't for you guys!
For the soil mix..
Irish Peat Moss - check
Perlite - check
Mushroom compost - check, bit worried about using it as there are some negative posts about it in this forum, but its SO much cheaper for me than wormcastings, and I'm a long way off having my own compost.
Powdered dolomite lime - check.. well, mine says Garden Lime but I assume is the same thing. This is one of the things that's been sat in the garage for quite a few years, but doesn't seem to have got wet at any point - it's still a powder.
For the blood/bone/kelp..
Bone Meal - check, again have had this in the garage for about 8 years. I assume it's gonna be ok still?
Blood Meal - struggling to find this locally, except as part of a fish/bone/blood mix
I have found somewhere online for "dried blood" though, which I understand is what blood meal is made up of. Would this suffice?Kelp Meal - check, got it from a local fishing bait suppliers, if anyone in the UK is searching for it try there
Greensand - can't find it, but I've read in this thread that I can live without so it's all jiggy. Are there any alternative amendments I could use instead though?
Also struggling to find the Liquid Karma, any alternative products for us UK/EU people?
Could you guys forsee any problems using the ingredients I've sourced?
Massively appreciate this thread and everyone's input on it, I wouldn't be sat here now surrounded by the component parts of a soil mix if it wasn't for you guys!
NanoScroger
Member
what issues have you heard about with the mushroom compost?
its way cheaper than worm castings, for sure. just curious if there are any real neg's to usin it?
its way cheaper than worm castings, for sure. just curious if there are any real neg's to usin it?
Check this thread.. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=107864
For example..
Now, my local source is just pre-bagged stuff from the West Country (a long distance from me), so judging by the comments on that thread, aint gonna be the good stuff.. Don't know what to do now though, like you said above, mushroom compost is so much cheaper.
For example..
quadracer said:
Now, my local source is just pre-bagged stuff from the West Country (a long distance from me), so judging by the comments on that thread, aint gonna be the good stuff.. Don't know what to do now though, like you said above, mushroom compost is so much cheaper.
dazednconfused
Member
Do you have to wait for the green sand to break down or can you just add it in?
Swim might be able to find it by the time his guano mix is ready for use....
Swim might be able to find it by the time his guano mix is ready for use....
NanoScroger
If you can get your hands on 'mushroom compost' which was used in an organic mushroom grow then there's probably not much harm using their 'compost' (which it isn't). It's not going to be anywhere near earthworm castings.
If you're sourcing the mushroom 'compost' from stuff coming out of a mushroom operation grown under 'conventional methods' (the legal term used in the US), then this stuff is loaded with all kinds of chemical sprays. They're one of the heaviest sprayed produce items at your local grocery store.
I'd pass and get your hands on some compost or earthworm castings.
HTH
CC
NanoScroger
Member
its just the cheap crap at lowes or whatever. nothing organic im sure. earthworm casting are way way too expensive. compost is fine too, but again its gotta be the bagged stuff from a garden center. something like black kow compost/manure.
am i on the right track here? the whole point of making my own mix is to be cheaper than bags of FFOF. which works good for me, but 28 bucks for 1.5cubic feet is insane. i just cant do it.
I've been gathering ingredients for my first organic mix today, a few things I had in the garage already, found a good cheap local supplier for the peat moss and mushroom compost.
For the soil mix..
Irish Peat Moss - check
Perlite - check
Mushroom compost - check, bit worried about using it as there are some negative posts about it in this forum, but its SO much cheaper for me than wormcastings, and I'm a long way off having my own compost.
Powdered dolomite lime - check.. well, mine says Garden Lime but I assume is the same thing. This is one of the things that's been sat in the garage for quite a few years, but doesn't seem to have got wet at any point - it's still a powder.
For the blood/bone/kelp..
Bone Meal - check, again have had this in the garage for about 8 years. I assume it's gonna be ok still?
Blood Meal - struggling to find this locally, except as part of a fish/bone/blood mix
Kelp Meal - check, got it from a local fishing bait suppliers, if anyone in the UK is searching for it try there
Greensand - can't find it, but I've read in this thread that I can live without so it's all jiggy. Are there any alternative amendments I could use instead though?
Also struggling to find the Liquid Karma, any alternative products for us UK/EU people?
Could you guys forsee any problems using the ingredients I've sourced?
Massively appreciate this thread and everyone's input on it, I wouldn't be sat here now surrounded by the component parts of a soil mix if it wasn't for you guys!
I live in europe and i struggled to get certain ingredients... after weeks of research i've find some organic farms dat directed me to some shops to get this kind of elements...organic farm is a good link...we have a thing here name green clay powder which is similar to greensand from jersey...i hope this can help a little...
Congobongo
Member
How are earthworm castings so expensive? A bag of wiggle worm earthworm castings only costs about 10 bucks a bag. As the OP mentioned, you can find castings at Wal-Mart, it's got to be cheaper there then at a hydro store.
Dude, in my area, worm castings are £15/40 litres, and that's for Bio-Bizz worm humus, not good fresh worm compost - that will cost me £17.50 for 25 litres.
Mushroom compost on the other hand costs £2/40 litres from a local place.
If I only had a couple of plants to take care of, I wouldn't care so much, but I've got seedlings, clones, flowering plants, and outdoor plots to consider..
NanoScroger
Member
worm castings for the old crusty bagged stuff is $35 for 30lbs.
and that is not a hydro store, just a regular old garden center. couple of them at that.
when you say a bag, sure you can get a 1lb bag for 5 bucks, but what use is that? i need a shit ton of this stuff.
i appreciate the organic movement and all, but my goal is to replicate the results of FFOF soil all the while completely avoiding the hydrostore altogether AND saving money!! time is money after all, and if i have to drive to 5 stores to gather ingredients, then spend all day mixing the stuff up just to have spent more time and money to have an equal or lesser product just doesnt make sense to me.
better, cheaper, safer. it has to be at least 2 of the three.
and that is not a hydro store, just a regular old garden center. couple of them at that.
when you say a bag, sure you can get a 1lb bag for 5 bucks, but what use is that? i need a shit ton of this stuff.
i appreciate the organic movement and all, but my goal is to replicate the results of FFOF soil all the while completely avoiding the hydrostore altogether AND saving money!! time is money after all, and if i have to drive to 5 stores to gather ingredients, then spend all day mixing the stuff up just to have spent more time and money to have an equal or lesser product just doesnt make sense to me.
better, cheaper, safer. it has to be at least 2 of the three.
u can build u own worm farm, its easy to make and easy to use and of course provide the best compost...
http://www.woodwormfarms.com/http://www.woodwormfarms.com/
same thing with bokashi its very powerfull and easy and cheap to make
PH issues
PH issues
I know ph isnt so important in organic soiless but i have a question. My tap comes out to about 7.8 after letting it bubble overnight. This poses no problems while i'm feeding and using pbp makes it right about 6.2 which is great but what about during flush. Wouldnt the taste of the herb be much better if i'm flushing with 6.0 water as opposed to 7.8 water. If so what is the best/easiest way to treat my tap water.
PH issues
I know ph isnt so important in organic soiless but i have a question. My tap comes out to about 7.8 after letting it bubble overnight. This poses no problems while i'm feeding and using pbp makes it right about 6.2 which is great but what about during flush. Wouldnt the taste of the herb be much better if i'm flushing with 6.0 water as opposed to 7.8 water. If so what is the best/easiest way to treat my tap water.
