Tutorial Organics for Beginners

[ocean99]

My Casey clone is looking luscious in straight lc's mix. I'm getting neptunes harvest fish and kelp for flowering mutes and I wasn't sure on how to use them, is it every watering or just when they look hungry?

Thanks again to everyone who's given me advice, I'll post my bitch up in here when things get interesting.

 

[OPT]

Burn1 or anyone,

I've used the LC #1 for all my grows. LC got me hooked on it back in the OG days, and i've never looked back.

This go around, I will be using the same mix, only I have greensand to add, hopefully this will compliment the kelp meal well. I'll also be using molasses this go around, I hear great things about this, and I'm looking forward to it.

I have never used teas with this mix, but I have a half a bag of Jamiacan bat quano laying around, and I'm wondering if I should use this in place of the bone meal in the mix, or maybe make a tea with it and worm castings later on in it's life when I hit flowering.

I understand the guano will break down faster then the bone meal, which makes me think the guano would be best in tea form in flowering, if used at all.

It's no big deal if I use it up or not, but figured if I can benefit from it, then I might as well.

What do you guys think?

Strains will be a mixture of AK-48, Maybe a couple pure power plants I got as freebies, and some C99 x Deep Chunk. 4x4 Grow tent, 195 cfm fan with charcoal filter, and a 400 watt HPS light. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep only the best 4 girls and LST them to make them bush out, or if I'll keep all the females and let them do there thing naturally. I know that my tent is a little big for a 400, but It'll be good enough for now, in the future I will most likely upgrade to a 600...or add another 400 in there.

Thanks folks!

OPT

 

[rasputin]

Just wanted to say thanks to LC, B1, Suby, and all the rest for their contributions. This info has been a great resource and I just wanted to share some photos of my exploits with the knowledge gleaned from this forum. Week 1 of 12/12 & some dinner.

Look Ma, no pHing!

 

[AngelKush]

Thanks so much burnOne, your recipes kick ass! I'm a first time grower using your guano soil mix( recipe #2),and the guano tea recipes for my nutes. I just transplanted my clones 12 (xj13's) into 12- 1 gallon pots last night, and gave them one gallon of plain filtered water last night. they are in a room 8x8 under 1000 hps. I'm starting my teas and plan to feed them on the third watering as you recommended. I'm starting on the brew of EWC, molasses, and water. How many days, if at all, do you keep the tea's for? well, thanks for all the info!

 

[staff11]

I have a few questions. This is my first organic grow and I used LC's #2 Mix, but instead of the regular promix I used promix ultimate organic mix. The bag says it has lime and sea weed compost added in but it shows no NPK values. I am assuming that these values are so low that they really wont make a difference in the final mix?( I was using this soil without amending it before and the perlite and EWC seem to help it out a lot)

The problems I am starting to have at about 4 weeks are showing slight signs of what seem to be yellowing of lower leaves between the veins, almost like a K or Mg problem. I added the powdered dolomite lime, and I am using EWC tea with liquid karma and mollasses. I have only feed them a 1/2 strength mixture of the vegging guano tea so it might just be they need some at full strength next watering.

I can't really post a pic, and so far the growth has been pretty good as I topped them and they are now at about 10 inches tall and nice and bushy. I plan to switch to flower soon so another question I have is should I continue the veg teas for a couple of weeks in flower? Like I said I haven't given them much of the veg nute teas.

Great thread btw, I would have never tried organic growing if it wasn't for this info.

 

[BurnOne]

They're starving. Feed them.
Burn1

I have a few questions. This is my first organic grow and I used LC's #2 Mix, but instead of the regular promix I used promix ultimate organic mix. The bag says it has lime and sea weed compost added in but it shows no NPK values. I am assuming that these values are so low that they really wont make a difference in the final mix?( I was using this soil without amending it before and the perlite and EWC seem to help it out a lot)

The problems I am starting to have at about 4 weeks are showing slight signs of what seem to be yellowing of lower leaves between the veins, almost like a K or Mg problem. I added the powdered dolomite lime, and I am using EWC tea with liquid karma and mollasses. I have only feed them a 1/2 strength mixture of the vegging guano tea so it might just be they need some at full strength next watering.

I can't really post a pic, and so far the growth has been pretty good as I topped them and they are now at about 10 inches tall and nice and bushy. I plan to switch to flower soon so another question I have is should I continue the veg teas for a couple of weeks in flower? Like I said I haven't given them much of the veg nute teas.

Great thread btw, I would have never tried organic growing if it wasn't for this info.

 

[staff11]

Alright, that's what i thought thanks B1 for the quick reply. I just transplanted them into 3 gallon pots from 1 gallon and the soil is still pretty moist, can I feed them now or should I just wait until the scheduled watering?

 

[BurnOne]

With LC's Mix the excess liquid will run out the bottom. You can give them a little but don't drench the mix. Then the next time they need watering, feed them as directed in the recipe. They should JUMP!
Burn1

Alright, that's what i thought thanks B1 for the quick reply. I just transplanted them into 3 gallon pots from 1 gallon and the soil is still pretty moist, can I feed them now or should I just wait until the scheduled watering?

 

[BorkBorkBork]

Thanks again for everything B1! Have my second grow going in the 1/1 recipe, and I'm starting to get my feel and timing down better.

Here's a question that occurred to me: Assuming well rooted clones transplanted into containers with LC's#1 w/ dry fert recipe #1, 65 day strain, what would you say is the SMALLEST possible container that they can finish in, with a 1 week veg period? 1 gallon? 2, 3?

Obviously, different strains, different needs, and the bigger the container, the more impressive the result, but what size is NECESSARY to survive (thrive) until harvest?

In addition, if the container were too small, and the plant used up the ferts, would it be possible to feed for the remainder with either bottled liquid nutes, or guano teas? (I have a feeling that this question may have already been answered in the affirmative, but thought I'd check)

Bork

 

[staff11]

With LC's Mix the excess liquid will run out the bottom. You can give them a little but don't drench the mix. Then the next time they need watering, feed them as directed in the recipe. They should JUMP!
Burn1

Awesome, cant wait to see the results. This mix definitely has better drainage with the perlite added in and I plan on watering them tomorrow so I'm pretty sure they will be ok for another 24 hours. I was planning on putting them in 12/12 later in the week, I'm just not sure that I should yet because they really haven't had much time to develop roots in the new pots. (they were nice and healthy when I transplanted). If I do put them in flower, would it be ok to use the veg teas for a couple weeks? I just want to keep them nice and green all the way through.

 

[growclean]

B1, does this mean that I make the tea and then after brewing add the LK and molasses? Or do I put them in while brewing? And for my normal water only watering, do I need to add any cal-mag if I am using RO water?

Veg mix-
1/3 cup Peruvian Seabird Guano (PSG)
1/3 cup High N Bat Guano (Mexican)
1/3 cup Earth Worm Castings (EWC)
5 tsp. Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract
(That makes the "dry mix". You can make all you want and save it to use later.)
Mix with water @ 1 cup of dry mix into 5 gallons of water to make the tea.
To that 5 gallons of tea add:
5 tbs. Liquid Karma
5 tbs. Black Strap Molasses
Use it to water with every 3rd watering.

 

[BurnOne]

Add the LK and molasses to the water then drop your teabag (nylon stocking) with the guano and worm castings in. Steep regularly and bubble for 24 to 48 hours. Then pour directly onto the soil mix.
You don't need CalMag+ if you used powdered dolomite lime in the LC's Mix as instructed.
You did use LC's Mix didn't you? Without the proper soil mix all this is absolutely useless.
Burn1

 

[growclean]

Yeah, I used LCs #2. That is how I made my tea, so I actually did it right, I just wanted to double check. Thanks again. I just got back and they are looking good!

 

[dub 6]

3 things...

3 things...

Flowering nute tea mix:
2/3 cup Peruvian Seabird Guano
2/3 cup Earth Worm Castings
2/3 cup High P Guano (Indonesian or Jamaican)
5 tsp. Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract
(That makes the "dry mix". You can make all you want and save it to use later.)
Mix with water @ 2 cups of dry mix into 5 gallons of water to make the tea.
To that 5 gallons of tea add:
5 tbs. Liquid Karma
5 tbs. Black Strap Molasses
Use it to water with EVERY watering.

using LC Mix #2 i chose this for flowering. i have been bubbling for 2 days and there is no foam. the temps are pretty cool so i stuck an aquarium heater in it for 85 deg. should this be of concern?

also, today i was feeling a bit creative and i pissed in the bucket, thru some more ewc and molasses... then spit in it to add to the microbes. am i in tuned with nature or just buggin out?

thirdly (thirdly??), in lieu of the 5 tsp. Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract, i used the Maxicrop liquid seaweed 0-0-1 at 30mg/gal.
i figured since the bat guano is 0-13-0, the seabird guano is 11-13-3 and the ewc is 1-0-0, i would be ok using the liquid seaweed 0-0-1. am i correct in assuming this? should i add more?

plants are fine.. no deficiencies visibly noticeable

oh, one more thing. i used rain water that i collected in 5 gal buckets. they were left outside for a week or so and leaves got in them and i guess raised (or lowered) the ph from the fermenting process (i guess). i took as much of the leaf, etc out of the bucket before i added the tea components, but ph is not a factor, right??

Thanks!!

 

[growclean]

also, today i was feeling a bit creative and i pissed in the bucket, thru some more ewc and molasses... then spit in it to add to the microbes. am i in tuned with nature or just buggin out?

This is.... AWESOME. I know that I have read of some people doing things like this before, but... this is the funniest post I have read on here. I am going to start alot more senteces with "I was feeling a bit creative..."

I am really not mocking you, this just made me laugh out loud! Thanks!

 

[staff11]

using LC Mix #2 i chose this for flowering. i have been bubbling for 2 days and there is no foam. the temps are pretty cool so i stuck an aquarium heater in it for 85 deg. should this be of concern?

also, today i was feeling a bit creative and i pissed in the bucket, thru some more ewc and molasses... then spit in it to add to the microbes. am i in tuned with nature or just buggin out?

thirdly (thirdly??), in lieu of the 5 tsp. Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract, i used the Maxicrop liquid seaweed 0-0-1 at 30mg/gal.
i figured since the bat guano is 0-13-0, the seabird guano is 11-13-3 and the ewc is 1-0-0, i would be ok using the liquid seaweed 0-0-1. am i correct in assuming this? should i add more?

plants are fine.. no deficiencies visibly noticeable

oh, one more thing. i used rain water that i collected in 5 gal buckets. they were left outside for a week or so and leaves got in them and i guess raised (or lowered) the ph from the fermenting process (i guess). i took as much of the leaf, etc out of the bucket before i added the tea components, but ph is not a factor, right??

Thanks!!

lol

From what i have been reading, CT guy (the local tea expert) has done tests and foam has absolutely nothing to do with a tea being active or not. In fact you can add a few drops of vegetable oil to stop the mess.

 

[dub 6]

This is.... AWESOME. I know that I have read of some people doing things like this before, but... this is the funniest post I have read on here. I am going to start alot more senteces with "I was feeling a bit creative..."

I am really not mocking you, this just made me laugh out loud! Thanks!

thanks dude. I'm happy to inspire. Sometimes u get the feeling to do things. No doubt about it I was high at the time, chockin on some cough-locking papaya from nirvana that I let go too long.

 

[dub 6]

lol

From what i have been reading, CT guy (the local tea expert) has done tests and foam has absolutely nothing to do with a tea being active or not. In fact you can add a few drops of vegetable oil to stop the mess.

cool.. that's good to know. thanks man! I'll update in a week or so stating if they like this tea or not...

 

[rasputin]

Ola ic-mags, I know this is an infirmary related post but it's more strictly concerning organics as thats the approach being used and perhaps you guys in here can best relate or suggest what or why this may be occuring. Getting some yellowing of lower growth, only 18 days into flowering, on a few of my plants and I'm wondering if this is somewhat to be expected using organics? ie; its a must to keep hitting them with the Flowering Tea as often as they need to be watered. They went a day longer than usual between feeds and I've been a little light on the brews, started at 20 mL per gallon and then moved up to 30 per the recipe. (2/3 Cups per 5 gallons breaks down to 30 mL per gallon, I haven't yet needed to brew 5 gallons in one shot). Should I just start hitting them heavy and stop worrying about gradually working them up?

There's plenty of N in the Peruvian Seabird guano so they shouldn't exactly be N deprived even tho they've needed a lot these first few weeks of flowering. Should I brew the next tea with some Mexican in it or just keep rolling along?

The room has a very thick canopy and lower growth could likely not be receiving adequate light altho it's a 1K HPS. Canopy height is roughly 28". It isn't typical N def yellowing from the tip working back. The whole leaf is generally lightening up yellow from all sides and its still green in the middle. Wish I had some photos but I didn't manage to take any today, I might be able to get some tomorrow.

EDIT: Found a pic of someone else's and its very similar to how the leaves looked. Could just be that it's low growth, shaded under the canopy and the plant is wisely cutting off unnecessary parts. But I just want to be sure, on the White Rhino the yellowing is a bit high up, about half way after trimming the low growth and I'd hate to see it start hitting the top fan leaves so soon, the Rhino & Skunk (the two most doing this) are 9-10 weeks, easy but the Pure Afghans are supposedly 8 tops and those all seem fine.

Here's a room shot from a few days ago to give you an idea of how thick it is in there and just maybe explain why lower leaves are yellowing up?

Room shot

Just was wondering if this is anything you guys may have run into. Only thing I could think is they went 3 days between feedings, using LC's #2 mix, and maybe they just got real hungry with so little food left in the bags for them? Just hoping this isn't a bigger issue that might potentially cause trouble since it's still pretty early in flowering for this.

Appreciate any help or info you may have!

 

[noproblempablo]

I am having a problem with my plants drinking really slow. I am using Black Gold Organic Potting Soil and form the beginning two of my 4 looked a little stressed and the other two looked fine. The Black Gold is probably a good 6 months old (actually longer since I bought it 6 months ago) and I am wondering if the humates can die off in that amount of time or if due to the length of time the soil has been in the bag it has perhaps gotten hotter. I'm wondering about humates because I saw the thing about them helping a plant take up water. Just a noob trying to learn himself some organics! Thanks!