Soil Newbie with Questions

[ColBatGuano]

I had good luck with hydro many years ago, but I remember it being a pain, and a little pricey. I'm now getting serious about the art and science of indoor and outdoor growing, and even though I've been doing a lot of research (some here, some there) it helps to have people interact in a forum like this. I'm looking for a few answers to my specific situation, just to make sure my thinking is correct, and if it isn't, to get the information I need to make a better choice.

I put my seeds in for germination yesterday, and I'm trying to look ahead to the next step. I'll be growing using a combination of one 400W MH for veg, and then adding a 600W HPS for flowering, ending with a couple of weeks of just the HPS. I'm germinating 25 seed, hoping to veg 15-20 from those, and flowering at least 6-12 plants--only the strong (and female) survive. Basically I'm trying to keep it simple and organic. I'll be growing half Purple Voodoo and half Hindu Kush. I also hope to use one of each as mothers. I'm planning on using Black Gold Natural and Organic potting soil, because it was recommended by a local nursery. This brings up my first question:

#1. Is it worthwhile to use their Seedling Mix after germination, and then transplant to the Natural & Organic?

Second, I am trying to keep nutrients as simple as possible, without cutting corners or endangering my ladies. There are a lot of different opinions about nutrients: how much or how little, even whether to use them or not. Again, simple, effective, necessary, and good for the plants is what I'm interested in achieving. I don't mind a grow taking a bit longer if it means a better result. Also, quality first over quantity. I'm not out to shock the world with my massive cola. Most of all: it must be organic.

#2. Should I add nutrients as needed, or preemptively make them an addition to the soil at planting. If preemptive, is it best to be added at regular intervals, in stages, or at planting?

One last question for this round, to help me understand the particular demands of cannabis, regards the addition of drainage enhancers like perlite and sand. I don't know if I can expect my chosen soil brand will be sufficient, so this question is directed mainly at growers who have used BG Natural and Organic before.

#3. Is it helpful, or even necessary to add more perlite or sand to the mix? If so, at what ratio?

Thanks in advance everyone! I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions as I move forward.

The Colonel

 

[Mr. Greengenes]

#1) I'm not sure about that particular mix, but I am sure it will work fine for cannabis.

"to help me understand the particular demands of cannabis, regards the addition of drainage enhancers like perlite and sand" Improving the drainage of stock commercial soilmixes is very important for cannabis because it uses tremendous amounts of water and nutrients (when it's growing fast) which increases it's need for oxygen at the roots. I prefer coarse sand, pumice, crushed lava, kitty litter (unscented) and gravel over perlite, but if those aren't available I use perlite.

Common practice is to add up to 50% perlite, but I think that's way to much for my watering style. I use less than 25%. Besides, I think perlite prevents a positive piston action of the downward moving water which sucks air in from the soil surface. Too much perlite and you never get a full exchange of the old gasses for fresh oxygen at watering.

The real important amendment for a high energy plant like cannabis is lime. Don't try to get away without it. There are so many threads on this forum about plants that didn't have lime in their mix it's not funny. Lime's main function is not to raise PH, but to buffer against the wide PH swings that occur in a container with a rich organic mix and high water needs. Most people use dolomite lime, but I like crushed oyster shells, which break down slower and provide some micronutrients. If you want to try the oyster shells, you can probably get them at a local feed store.

I like to add small amounts of many different kinds of organic amendments to the soilmix, pretty much whatever I have at hand including my homemade compost. Small quantities is the key to stimulating root growth. If the roots don't have to grow to get food, why should they? If there's always a tasty morsel of something just out of reach of the root, you'll get fast growth. Bone meal, bloodmeal, kelp meal, compost and greensand are what I'm using right now, but it might change. Cannabis is very efficient at taking what it needs from a soilmix. Less is more. Everyone makes the mistake of 'over loving' their plants in the beginning.

There is a general opinion going that hydroponic methods can outyield organic, but this has never been proven to me. I've watched, and coached many hydro grows over the years, but have yet to see one match my organic methods for yield, quality or anything. Every single local hydro grower who has befriended me has switched to organic container methods after seeing my garden. You yourself said, 'I remember it being a pain'.

The main feature of organic gardening, whether it be indoors or out, is easy methods. Once you understand this concept, "You can't feed plants, you can only feed soil", you're well on your way.

 

[VerdantGreen]

hi, i dont know either about the particular soil you are using, but if it supposed to be a complete soil for mature plants then it should have enough nutrition for cannabis without adding extra - although dolomite lime at 5g/litre of soil or 1tablespoon/gallon is highly advisable.

i like to transplant my plants into a fairly rich mix and then water until they look like they need feeding - sometimes they never need feeding and sometimes they need feeding after a few weeks, depends on the strain.

it is very easy to burn seedlings with too hot (nutrient rich) soil, in fact i would say that cannabis is one of the easiest to burn at the seedling stage than any other plant i have grown. so it's worth making the first pot a very light seed/cutting mix until the plant has a few leaves.

good luck

V.

 

[VerdantGreen]

p.s. i would also agree with Mr G about yields with organic. i havent seen many (substantiated) claims of higher yeilds than i get. factors like distance from buds to light and size of pot have a much bigger effect on yield in my (limited) experience.

 

[ColBatGuano]

Thanks folks. My Purple Voodoo's germinated very fast, in about a day 13 of the 14 had cracked and sprouted a taproot (from .5 to 1.5mm, I'd guess,) so I had to put them into soil last night. They're perched in my closet under a mild 80W of 5000K fluorescents. I went for a light organic soil mix, as VG suggested.

Mr.G: The simple solutions method is precisely what I'm going for. I did a lot of research before jumping in again, and after factoring the costs, materials, and labor over a complete theoretical cycle, organic soil growing came out on top for cost effectiveness, ease of growing, and quality of yield (regardless of size.) Besides, I like mother nature. The sun and the worms take care of everything.

I reckoned 80W of 5000K (2' T12 tubes) fluorescents would be fine for sprouts. Do any of you think I should go up in wattage at the start, maybe to 150W, or change the color temperature of the lamp? I wasn't planning on putting them way under the MH until their third set of leaves grow out. I'm a very patient person by nature. I figure that's gotta help me as a grower.

 

[Mr. Greengenes]

Sounds like you're off to a great start. I don't put any light on my seedlings until they're a couple inches out of the soil because light can make other stuff grow too. When they first come out, they usually still have the seed over the cotyledon leaves and can't absorb the light any way. Hard to believe, but seeds like it dark until they have leaves.

The reason patience is SO useful for growing is not the obvious need to wait for a crop. It's the ability of the patient person to remain skeptical as they learn. When people need results now, they're more likely to be sold on technology or methods that they don't understand. That's growing by recipe, just open the book and mix one cup bone meal with blabla. It's fine for now, but when you're ready to evolve around that recipe, you can't because you don't know how the recipe actually works. A person who is patient at learning, will learn the truth whatever it takes.

 

[ColBatGuano]

Funny you should mention that Mr.G, because I have a friend who is doing his first hydro grow, and he got in over his head a little by trying to read from a recipe he didn't fully understand. Plus, he's the sort who, when making a cake, will start mixing before he knows he's got all the ingredients. Like how he bought his clones before he had even turned on the pump in his system to see if there were any leaks. Or even if the thing worked at all. I'm the exact opposite. If I need three eggs to make a cake, I make sure I've got three eggs before I start.

I think he'll come around, but he's still trying too hard. I try to keep telling him to relax, take copious notes, and keep it simple. I need to remind him that he's a beginner, and anything can happen. He should think of it as an experiment, which can be a failure, a success, or even a successful failure. Either way you learn a bit more, and get better the next time.

Thanks again for the tips about lime. I didn't realize it could be so simple to keep organic soil happy. The reason I'm going with a store-bought (actually nursery-bought) potting soil is convenience (at this time.) I'm new to this area, so I haven't been able to scout all the places around. This is farm country California, though, so I'm sure I'll find great stuff around. My partner and I won't have our compost ready for some time. This Valley makes a happy home for cannabis in the outdoors. We can't wait to try it out.

 

[ColBatGuano]

Woot! 8 Purple Voodoos are coming up, just three days after I started germing them. I must be on the right track. Two of three Hindus are just showing themselves a little, too! Thanks again for the advice.

 

[californiajoe]

blah, blah, blah...check out my latest post to see what my problem was...hahahaha...i'll call you tomorrow.