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Bird and Bull go back to work.

J

JackTheGrower

I have sputtered around the forums and while perhaps a grow thread may be best combined with other grow threads I doubt there is another like mine for it's Organic soil example.

Jack
 
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J

JackTheGrower

Blowing the dust and cobwebs out..

Blowing the dust and cobwebs out..

Well Ladies and Gents..

The time has come and the old Medicine refer is long empty..

A little background for the newer member.
I'm JackTheGrower or JTG as some call me and I have been "recycling" my soil for going on 8 years now.
I have described my grow and the soil in it as my other Pet ( my cat being number one ).
That is because I tend it, feed it and in return it provides me with a reward.

My box is 16 sq ft of soil surface area that is about two feet deep i think.
[The construction is in another thread on another site so ask if you want to see that old thread]
Doing a search for "The Green manure thread" and you will see an example of how I have worked with various organic gardening techniques.

"green manure" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_manure

I have mainly kept to raw materials and nature take action as the number one engine in this garden.
I try to avoid doing things that are organically one dimensional like using chemical or organically derived fertilizer mixes.

Not that I'm a total prude just that for now, at this time, i can do it as pure as I can think of.

Always willing to learn so feel free to suggest or correct.

Today I am applying a layer of compost that has been in the the compost tumbler nearly a year and fired up no less than three times.
This compost started out as a big bag of oak leaves from a clean mountain area where someone had cut up a tree so it wasn't taken from a fragile eco-situation. Important to respect nature by giving our actions a little thought.. I try anyway.
To that I added all my standards. A healthy handful of earth, all the food scraps and coffee grinds Plus i cleared out the old bulk materials on hand.


Let me reintroduce my two Garden Spirits Bird and Bull.

New Season 2009 - 2010 083.jpg New Season 2009 - 2010 081.jpg

Bird and Bull have been watching over the fallow field that is my garden for a long time.
So now i have polished them up and we are back on the Job.

I have a new batch of compost and I have screened it to 1/4 inch. This top dressing may be slightly acidic but it has been allowed to "cure" . To be safe I am applying it to the surface early and it will have time to interact with the native soil.
It's important that seedlings be provided a neutral soil condition. Meaning let all the interactions between materials happen before delicate seedlings go in.




The first thing i notice is a difference in earthy smells. The next is the change in texture as small twig pieces are obvious; a first for this soil.
Oh how could I forget it also is the first char mix in the box.



Well that's it for today. A week or so and hopefully my diabolical plans will fall into place.

On the list are two light blowers and some help with some bulk light parts till I can afford two digital units.

Even more important is what strain to grow I have a few on hand.. But those topics are for later entries.

Till then...

JTG



JackTheGrower is growing a medical supply in a California County that prohibits cannabis dispensary and is a 10 year Medical person in that California County
 
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J

JackTheGrower

Vetus Fossor said:
Is this the same soil you grew alfalfa in, Jack? That was an interesting thread.
Click to expand...


Hey Vestus,

Yeah it is.. Nothing has been grown in it since then. It's been fallow so to speak. I'm excited to try this out.
 
V

vonforne

Alright........front seat! Nice looking soil JTG. Hope to see some great things.

V
 
J

JackTheGrower

vonforne said:
Hows the kids doing Jack?

V
Click to expand...



By kids I take you mean seedlings? Well there aren't any just yet..

I'm still installing the venting and doing construction. I'm modifying the setup.

If you mean the family well they both have to go to Summer School!!! HA! LOL I get revenge on them after all the "get your home work done" I've shouted for so long.

As for the Garden. I have decided on bubba kush X OG Kush. I also wish to get some of my now 7 year old seeds to sprout. Two strains here from Berkeley Ca of 2001 that i crossed with a third from Berkeley that have been standard medical stock and those i call Glad and BG..
The Kush will be a challenge with it's need to get lanky and it will have to get along with the other two strains.

I will be making soil blocks soon and will let them "cure" for a few days then plant the seeds in them.

So forgive the delay. You know how sometime we end up accomplishing tasks that are in the way of getting the task we want done, done.


That's where i am.. I'm looking forward to some life in this room.

Jack
 
J

JackTheGrower

Soil Blocks, PH test, Final prep.

Soil Blocks, PH test, Final prep.

Today I enjoyed a visit to a nursery. I stopped to look at one of those Japanese maple or elms, that look like pot leaves, and i laughed to think that in California that it may be legal shortly, I might be coming there for clones...
How the political climate has changed for Cannabis but, I digress.

Alright then this entry is about making soil blocks and final amendments to the mother soil.

I picked up some supplies:

DSC09131.jpg DSC09129.jpg DSC09133.jpg DSC09138.jpg

Soil mix for the soil blocks:

Nothing special. I picked up a bag of premix for seedlings. I trust it is a light peat based mix that wasn't loaded with chemicals.
To that I added worm castings. Note: I have not used worm castings before but, I've read good things. I also added the 1/8th inch screened compost from this season, greensand, and a bit of alfalfa meal.




Mixing the mix by hand and well I added enough water to make it easy to make blocks out of but not too much. I have read Organic folks saying add water until like a brownie mix. Advice, add a little at a time and mix well then repeat as needed.



Once the mix was ready I use these soil block makers to make a batch of blocks for seeds and clones.



For seeds I use the two inch blocks and for clones I use the 4 inch blocks.
Once you have a block you really can just pick it up and move it about carefully while wet.

I am planning on 4 plants this time because the weather is warm and i am unsure on convection needs in the box.


Now that my blocks are done they need a few days to cure. Once that is done i will start seedlings. I also have more work to do on my procrastanated upgrade to the lights and venting.

To the soil box I now added worm castings, oyster shell, greensand, and a little alfalfa meal. This is the last solids I will use for a while..





I also found and stuck my PH meter in the soil before i added amendments and it read 6.5 ish in 4 different locations so, I'm thinking it is absolutely ideal for seedlings. How do you feel about 6.5 soil to start out with?

I added some crushed oyster shell for insurance on PH issues. It is the type that is fed to chickens so it's more small flakes then powder. It's slower than dolomite and adds calcium I understand.
Ya know I just looked at some links to see what the PH buffer of oyster shell was and found this.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2176982/The-Potential-of-Crushed-Oyster-Shells-as-pH-Buffer. I need to read it completely but it looks comprehensive for a High School-er? If nothing else a fine example on writing about an organic material's benefit. Nice job.

I feel I have a "loaded pistol" here soil wise so, we will see friends.

I would like some advice on germinating older seeds if you have learned any new info.

Next up then is the sprouts. I have decided to do some seeds I have labeled Bubba x OGK. I assume it's Bubba Kush x Ocean Grown Kush. I'm needing more info on the cuts used in this cross so any help on this is welcome.
Also some old Gald and BG seeds i made many moons ago.. Standard medical strains for me.

Jack
 
V

vonforne

Hey Jack. Did you add the Alfalfa to the seedling mix. Might be kind of hot. I like just WC and peat. I love castings. Seedlings grow like hell in that stuff.

Cool set up you have there. You make your own blocks. How cool!


procrastanated upgrade
Click to expand...
LOL me too! I am still working on my fowering room. When they are ready to harvest I might get it done.

I like the choice for seeds but have no information on them for you but I am sure JK does. He is the KushMaster.

V
 
J

JackTheGrower

vonforne said:
Hey Jack. Did you add the Alfalfa to the seedling mix. Might be kind of hot. I like just WC and peat. I love castings. Seedlings grow like hell in that stuff.

Cool set up you have there. You make your own blocks. How cool!


LOL me too! I am still working on my flowering room. When they are ready to harvest I might get it done.

I like the choice for seeds but have no information on them for you but I am sure JK does. He is the KushMaster.

V
Click to expand...


Yes Alfalfa in the block mix but i understand a three day cure time is alright. Also it wasn't much.

Thank you on the Blocks.. They are an old school English thing i think.. Hey no one had money for pots?! They work great and the roots stop at the air. That's called air pruning.
In the case of clones that allows more root development time but with seeds i try to get them in the ground as soon as the tap root shows.
Also no transplant stress..


About the seeds i am talking with the breeder so i hope that turns out.

I'm getting kind of wishy-washy on what to plant.
I think 4 Bubba x oG and one Argens haze #3 or?

That's the problem with a selection of seeds LOL El Nino, AH #3, White Rhino, or White widow? Any suggestions? Maybe i can squeeze 6 in there

I'll be sure to get Jay's input..

I decided on how the venting will work so it's all about the build now.. I ordered a dual 250 watt ballast unit for the side lights. That was the only disappointment last grow; that the outside buds were delayed while sweet spot bud was excellent. I'll see if the extra light will help.

Glad to share.


Jack

Edit: I did a little reading and found that soil blocks are...
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=128796
 
V

vonforne

I would like some advice on germinating older seeds if you have learned any new info.
Click to expand...

I would just soak them in liquid seaweed and water. Have you had them in the freezer? If not put them in there for 2 days and then soak them in the seaweed-water solution and then to the paper towel or block in your case. I used to place in a towel and then wrap with a heavy shower towel and then to the top to the TV. Works great.

V
 
V

vonforne

White Rhino and WW. Shantis work.
I do not like anything with Arjan´s name on it.

But that WR will knck ya cold. I love that stuff. I think it was made of a Brazilian strain. I have a Brazilian Punch (100% sativa) HTC called it Sunshine.

V
 
J

JackTheGrower

I would just soak them in liquid seaweed and water. Have you had them in the freezer? If not put them in there for 2 days and then soak them in the seaweed-water solution and then to the paper towel or block in your case. I used to place in a towel and then wrap with a heavy shower towel and then to the top to the TV. Works great.
Click to expand...
Thanks Von!
I'm saving that advice. I think I need to practice safe seed storage.. People store them in the freezer? Is that a long term storage solution? My bud Fridge has a nice freezer :)

White Rhino and WW. Shantis work.
Click to expand...

cool! I'm getting to know some strains other then my own creations.. LOL I had seeds for years with one grow.


The Update is the final selection of what will be grown.

That will be 4 Bubba x OG and one "The Doctor" Yes i understand that the pack i have which has the name scratched out and AH #3 written in ink on it is a rare pack of the old "The Doctor." So it will be one "The Doctor"

The doctor may have a strange budless phenotype so i may just make oil or butter if that happens with it.

The placement is the four Bubba x OG will have the outsides and "The Doctor" will be center.

Now to continue on the remodeling. Man I'm slow...


Jack
 
Microbeman

Microbeman

The Logical Gardener
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Jack,

Nice work. I see no big issue with your amendments so long as the alfalfa is minimal. You really should get your own composting worms on the go. There is nothing; I mean nothing better than fresh finished vermicompost.

I've kept seeds in the freezer over 10 years with 99% germination just in wet vermicompost.

Maybe I should move to California!
 
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