FFOF Soil: Does it need to be mixed with anything?

[Hella THC]

Hey IC Mag! Quick question about Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil.

Is that stuff ready to go off the shelf? Or does it need to be mixed with other things such as perlite, etc? I would really like to keep my grow all organic, and people rave about this stuff. I'm just not very experienced and know nothing about soil.

So what's the verdict?

Thanks a bunch for the help. It's greatly appreciated!

- Hella

 

[habeeb]

yep, perlite or rice hulls are needed. some might suggest coco but I say no unles syou know the properties of coco, and by asking this question I would avoid coco for now.. you could add rock dusts while at it also

I don't know what people are talking about not mixing FFOF with perlite, it's thick as mud when wet and our plant does not like soggy wet "soil"

 

[BurnOne]

FFOF is mostly peat.

6 parts FFOF
2 parts perlite
2 parts earthworm castings
Powdered (NOT PELLETIZED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.

Burn1

 

[B.C.]

I've grown in it for years and I only add 30% perlite, that's it! You don't need any thing else.... BC

 

[TickleMyBalls]

I would say it depends on your garden. if you have a garden that runs hot and the plants drink a lot, then you don't necessarily have to add perlite. I have great success with just FFOF in my 12 x 10 2000w grow, but when I had a 6kw grow in a much larger area where the heat didn't build up at all I ended up losing a few plants to root rot. Didn't figure out the problem till almost the end of the operation. luckily it was 75% hydro

 

[milehighmedical]

I throw a bag of FFOF with a bag of FFLW and call it a day. Just make sure to mix it well. Kinda expensive.

 

[Hella THC]

Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like I'll be doing a little mixing! I for sure don't want to suffocate my girls!

 

[medmaker420]

If you have quality nutes, I would do LESS fox farms and MORE perlite. Keep the mix cheaper in the end because if you go through bags of that shit it does get pricey in the end.

 

[BurnOne]

I've grown in it for years and I only add 30% perlite, that's it! You don't need any thing else.... BC

Hi BC
For those of you who don't know, BC and I have debated this for a long time.
We both grow BIG BUDS despite our differences.
The bottom line is this... Use what works best for you.
Later Bro.
Burn1

 

[bubblegumkings]

ffof n perlet

ffof n perlet

i use
4 bags of ffof and 1 bag of ff chunky perlite.
works great and never have to feed in veg. enough nutes in the soil to last at least an easy month. so i just by nutes for flowering. go FF

 

[Hella THC]

The bottom line is this... Use what works best for you.

Hey there, Burn. Thanks for stopping by to spit your knowledge.

I know 90% of this stuff comes with practice. I just want to be sure I'm starting with a good foundation so that I don't have to spend 5 or some odd grows trying to dial things in. I mean, I will do what is necessary to make sure I grow some juicy sluggers, but a good start never hurts.

6 parts FFOF
2 parts perlite
2 parts earthworm castings
Powdered (NOT PELLETIZED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.

I think I'm going to try this. So from what I understand, most of the mixers is to give the soil a little more "fluff" and allow for better drainage. I know the dolomite helps with other things as well.

I'm wanting to use the trifecta of FF nutes as well. The exact ones slip my mind but I think you all know which ones I am speaking of. I'm planning doing some LST and I've heard calcium is going to be key to do some good LST as it strengthens the plant a good amount. Will this mix provide what I need?

You're all the best,

- Hella

 

[pinecone]

Quick question about Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil.

Is that stuff ready to go off the shelf? Or does it need to be mixed with other things such as perlite, etc?

FFOF doesn't need to be mixed with anything. It is already 25% perlite by volume and contains crushed oyster shells for PH buffering. It also has quano, casthings, kelp, and all sorts of other stuff people routinely add to soil mixes.

I have used it for 5-years. When I started using it I mixed it with perlite and dolomite lime, based on what most other people where doing in the the forums. I started experimenting with using it right out of the bag and found that it produced results that were just as good for me and was easier to use (less watering, less feeding, and no soil mixing).

Pine

 

[Hella THC]

(less watering, less feeding, and no soil mixing).

Is this due to the "lack" of drainage that using it right out of the bag provides? I'm assuming you've never had issues with root rot... - Hella

 

[pinecone]

Is this due to the "lack" of drainage that using it right out of the bag provides? I'm assuming you've never had issues with root rot... - Hella

FFOF drains fine without anything added to it. I've never had issues with root rot or any other drainage problems. FFOF is actually designed as an out of the bag soil mix for container applications. All the plants shown in my gallery-albums were grown in str8 (uncut) Ocean Forest from germination all they way though flowering.

Pine

 

[BigappleNugz]

i still cant beleave how much they sell this FFOF for> a few dollas more and i can get a bale or even a 3.8cuft bag of PROMix which i think is far better then FF .

 

[Frozenguy]

I've used it for years with great results!

I never went strait FFOF, I walways cut it with FFLW and it worked great. When I added dolomite lime at about 2tbs/gal of soil my results got substantially better. Now i do the same thing but add in a part or so of perlite and add in a part or so of EWC.. Should only make a great mix better..

 

[Hella THC]

i still cant beleave how much they sell this FFOF for> a few dollas more and i can get a bale or even a 3.8cuft bag of PROMix which i think is far better then FF .

It comes down to the convenience factor I think, BigApple. I feel the same way about computers. I've been building my own for years and never understood why people pay twice as much for a pre fab system. But then I remember that not everyone has the patience or knowledge to do it themselves. It's just what I choose.

Plus a lot of people really believe in the Fox Farm name. I know I do. I've just flat out heard great things about it. In my mind, I feel it's the best place for me to start.

That's what's great about this plant. People get great results from so many different methods. Sure, FF is pricey, but to me it's worth it.

I never went strait FFOF, I walways cut it with FFLW and it worked great

Regarding Light Warrior, what exactly is the difference or benefit? I haven't been able to find why exactly it's better or even different from FFOF. - Hella

 

[pinecone]

i still cant beleave how much they sell this FFOF for> a few dollas more and i can get a bale or even a 3.8cuft bag of PROMix which i think is far better then FF .

With FFOF you are paying for the convenience of a amended, pre-mixed, premium container soil that is ready to go right out of the bag. I suppose whether this is worth it or not depends in part on scale. For me, its worth the extra price just to avoid having to mix in lime or some other amendment.

Pine

 

[B.C.]

Food for thought....

Food for thought....

That soil will feed yer plants for 3-4 weeks from seed. After that you need to be watching for the first signs of deficiencies to start ( usaully the bottom leaves ), indicating it's time to start feeding nutes, simple.... Dailing it in will depend on how much each plant wants. Each strain and even each pheno sometimes will be a lil different. Jus like people don't all eat the same amount. *Learn to read the plants!

I like cutting it with 30% perlite for the air! not jus drainage or fluff. The roots as well as the microherd LOVE air! They don't call them aerobic bacteria for nothing. It's these lil guys that are feeding yer plants, so it's important to keep them happy. The Happier they are the more vigorous yer plants will be.

I also strongly suggest to new growers to make a ton of holes in the bottom of their pots and add the perlite to avoid over watering. Doing this assures there's always enough air in the soil, it's kinda like a big sponge.

If you feed em when they ask, and transplant on time, yul have no problems with this soil at all. I've started many folks out on it and they have all had good yeilds their very first time. Good luck! BC

 

[Frozenguy]

Regarding Light Warrior, what exactly is the difference or benefit? I haven't been able to find why exactly it's better or even different from FFOF. - Hella

Have you ever seen the stuff in a bag? It is sooo light and soooo fluffy. Ocean forest is thick and solid.. LW has EWC, humic acids, lots of perlite, oyster shells, and mycorrhizae fungi.. helps build the soil up microbialy..

It's advertised a lot as a seed starter mix, but I carry it through, cutting OF.. Its just a good mix that worked, not the best, but a good mix. And it gets better if you recycle it and keep it "alive".