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

[maryjohn]

FF products are way overpriced, under-qualified, and over-marketed. that's a criticism of a product, not any person in particular. it's also quite normal in any number markets.

 

[ambr0sia]

BC and Burnone are right, it doesn't need much. I like to cut is with 20% perlite, 10% EWC and 30% or so Promix or Coir depending on how hot the bag is (I found it to vary a bit). I had some Phosphorus deficiencies once so I also throw in 1-2 tbsp of either bone meal or high P guano (Jamaican etc.). Also 1-2 tbsp dolomite and you should be all set. Adding all this makes an awesome mixture, cheapens the soil mix and helps stretch the bag a bit further at the same time.
-bakelite

With all that extra work that a "stock" bag of FFOF takes, wouldn't it just make more sense to mix your own soil from scratch?

 

[Clackamas Coot]

With all that extra work that a "stock" bag of FFOF takes, wouldn't it just make more sense to mix your own soil from scratch?

Pretty much.

Not to mention that you can control the quality of the ingredients used. There's a wide variable in the quality of peat moss used in commercial soils. Same with coconut coir (if used).

Big savings as well.

HTH

CC

 

[pinecone]

With all that extra work that a "stock" bag of FFOF takes, wouldn't it just make more sense to mix your own soil from scratch?

People do all the extra work because they want to - not because it is necessary. FFOF works very well right out of the bag.

Pine

 

[B.C.]

Clacky I understand what yer sayin about doing it in volume and the price. They'll have to get with the program or get out.



Some folks have no problems spending 20 bucks fera bag of soil, some folks don't wanna mix their own, FOR MANY REASONS! That's THEIR CHOICE and I don't think they should be degraded for doing it. I'd feel the same way if someone was cutting on you for mixing your own. To get respect, you give respect, simple as that.

Again, I don't care what medium people use. If it works for you that's all that matters. Nothing in the world wrong with making yer own, jus don't expect evreyone to do it because you do though. The world grooves to more than one beat. BC

 

[RockyMountainHi]

I have no problems spending 20$ to grow 1500$ worth of weed.

Try that in Miracle Grow!
- - Now some people say MG is the greatest,, so I gotta figgure they either lie, or they could grow orchids on a sand dune.

I just moved over to hydro from FF products - my hydro plants were started later - and will finish SOONER - and yeild more. I haven't lost one of the hydro plants. The plants usually still have the first triple leaves attached and green - when going into flower. And - after I get dialed in - I can prolly leave for a few days with the hydro system - which wasn't an option with soil


As to tuneing FF with Dolomite and pearlite, it makes the plants better. Early on, I learned I could grow bud that is top shelf conisure quality - FF was a large part of that learning experience.

The number of plants I killed in this curve - and some of the results were far from spectacular - until I bought my first FF product. - And yes I managed to kill some more; learning more stuff.

I'd guess $150 for soil and nute package - OF soil - LARGE bag of pearlite 5 lbs of dolomite, Grow big, Big Bud and Tiger Bloom.

Oh and pH down and a damn good tester with calibration fluids. There's a years supply of gowin - and a worthwhile return on your investment.


Add some lights and a couple box fans - welcome to getto groville.

It works for a lot of peeps - but not for all

Then, if your lucky, ya learn about carbon scrubbers, air cooled hoods, air conditioning, hydro and bubble bags.

FF is showing up at a lot of main stream nursery and garden centers around here - I haven't priced it there yet cause of the hydro bender I'm on.

If I did soil again - I might look at sunshine mix - I might go with FF.

Anybody wana buy a couple stacks of 1 and 2 gallon soil pots?

 

[TickleMyBalls]

Coots point is geared towards people cultivating on a commercial scale for businesses.. This thread was started by a first time grower looking to grow good pot. Seems like ya'll are arguing over apples and oranges. I say keep your negative comments about a complicated industry out of a first time growers head. The last thing beginners need is to over think everything.

 

[RockyMountainHi]

industry, with it's misleading labels and boutique pricing is raping this community.

That applies to Bill Gates and about half the bankers that got bailed out and million dollar bonuses too ya know?

 

[maryjohn]

now you're getting me, man. those FF people and all those MJ geared nute people are of the same ilk, unlike the people who make promix for instance, who are dealing with a much more informed consumer.

and I get fucked by Steve Jobs, not Bill Gates. With Steve you get a reacharound.

I'm on a vapo break in the middle of my first harvest from a container ever, in LC's mix with dry nutes mixed in. It got compost tea twice, EM 3 times, neem a bunch of times, 4 doses of fish emulsion, and water. It's a modular scrog in an 8" pot, 2 at a time but offset so I harvest one pot at a time, using cfl's. my yield is quite respectable and feels worth the effort and is delicious in the vapo, and very potent.

I was by no means a good grower to get this result: my rubbermaid cab wasn't ready on time, I put the scrog net on too late, I scrogged from seed (got a mother now) without knowing how to train it for yield (still don't get it), I had very bad heat problems, and last week I was gone for 7 days.

It sounds to me like my experience with LC's mix is way better than yours with FF, despite the fact you are obviously more experienced and more attentive.

 

[JJScorpio]

I don't see any reason for these kinds of comments. If it's not worth the extra 5 bucks a bag to you thats your choice..... Is it really that excessive for all the drama?

 

[pinecone]

For the record, I bought enough to make 8-10 bags of FFOF and paid about $120 for the ingredients.

This honestly makes it seem like a great deal @ $16 a bag. A guy with a small personal grow can buy a bag or 2 at a time and avoid having to purchase and store amendments in bulk and mix up soil.

A lot of people seem to understand that they pay a premium for FFOF - and yet they continue to do so. I wonder why? They liked being fcked? I bet it is because FFOF is an easy solution and after all we are only talking about a few bucks (unless you go through a lot of soil) on a bag of soil). I go through less than one 1.5 cubic foot bag of soil a month so for me the extra cost is minimal.

Pine

 

[maryjohn]

I don't see any reason for these kinds of comments. If it's not worth the extra 5 bucks a bag to you thats your choice..... Is it really that excessive for all the drama?

I felt that a bit of dramatic flair was necessary, yes... not just over pricing, but based on rocky's description of his experience.

too much?

 

[JJScorpio]

Personally, I use the cheaper soils because of the amount I use, and the fact I have to drive a hundred miles to get the FF. But there are times I get sick of picking out big chunks of wet bark, sticks and rocks that come along with the cheaper soils.

 

[JackTheGrower]

Personally, I use the cheaper soils because of the amount I use, and the fact I have to drive a hundred miles to get the FF. But there are times I get sick of picking out big chunks of wet bark, sticks and rocks that come along with the cheaper soils.

I'm better I maintain..

LOL I couldn't resist.. You people buying your soils... LOL

 

[JackTheGrower]

FOOD FIGHT

 

[baet]

uh oh

edit:ffof is 12$ at my hydro store, i like using it for plants before they go into their final pots because it feeds and plants thrive with just water, makes it easy to just water while plants are youngins. its premium stuff, but quality isnt consistant :/

 

[JackTheGrower]

uh oh

edit:ffof is 12$ at my hydro store, i like using it for plants before they go into their final pots because it feeds and plants thrive with just water, makes it easy to just water while plants are youngins. its premium stuff, but quality isnt consistant :/

In my mind a soil mix is just the start..

It's about managing the soil biology in such a way that our plants grow well!?

 

[bakelite]

With all that extra work that a "stock" bag of FFOF takes, wouldn't it just make more sense to mix your own soil from scratch?

Ambrosia, Good point, I was thinking that same thing as I was reading more posts lol. I don’t use FFOF exclusively but I do use it a lot. I began using it a while ago as I was having some strange deficiency issues with my home made soil mixtures. I got pretty frustrated and said f*ck it and bought a bag of FFOF. I was sick if dicking around wanted to grow some herb

I use FFOF as a stable base from which to work with. I have tweaked it a bit hence the addition of perlite/coir/guano/dolomite etc. If an emergency transplant is necessary, I can whip up a batch in about 15 minutes or so, no waiting 1-2 weeks for the ingredients to compost/decompose etc.

My FFOF mix as used runs between $1.30 to $1.90 per gallon (including fertilizer) depending on the ingredients used. But as someone here stated if one can get an oz of high grade sinse from $1.90 worth of dirt the cost is pretty much of a moot point IMHO.

-bakelite

 

[ibjamming]

EVERYONE just want's to make money...that's all. If YOU think something is worth the price...you pay it. You could say the same thing about seeds...what makes ANY strain worth almost $300? When you can get GOOD weed for $30? What makes a car worth a million bucks?

If you want to teach someone about something...go ahead. I WANT to know when a suitable sub can be ad for 1/10th the price! I don't have a problem with the people who "call someone out" on a claim when it's not true. I like the John Stossels of the world. Someone has to look out for us in the big wide world. We can't be an expert in everything...and you sure can't count on anyone to steer you straight.

Like I said, it's all about the money...everyone's out to take as much as they can...from you. Your job is to educate yourself so they can't.

So...who's got a great simple soil formula for growing some Satori, CindyHaze, and something dark...Afghan? White Rhino?

 

[darookie2000]

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

I know that I'm responding to something pretty early in this thread, but your success with FFOF without amendment depends a bit on your nutrients and water supply. I started off using FFOF unamended (okay, I added a bit of perlite for drainage, but nothing else) and I had major cal/mag and pH issues. I have been adding dolomite since then and it cleared them up. My water has very little magnesium and only a small amount of calcium, so I have to add it one way or another - using dolomite which has the added bonus of pH buffering seems like a pretty good way to do so. Part of my issue was that I was using the FF nutes which are not pH stable. I was pHing the water and then adding the nutes, because I thought that was what you were supposed to do and dropped the pH to the point of lockout.