An Alternative to that hard to find soil

[keico]

Ok like many beginners, I was faced with that same problem as to where to find good soil. I read everywhere that FoxFarm was the best, so naturally I went looking.

What was available to me was Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, who mainly carry MiracleGro and Scotts soil.

Even when you purchase the MiracleGro Organic choice, you are pestered with those damm fungus gnats.

Plus the nearest Hydro Stores were just to far. Believe me I drove 6 hours round trip just to make the purchase.

And lets not mention trying to order it online, where the shipping and handling prices are just way to much.

Even the local nursery shops didn't carry a good quality soil. Most had no label, and employees either didn't know what was in it, or just didn't care.

Finally Lowes is carrying a pretty decent soil, you can use.

Jungle growth http://www.junglegrowthusa.com/products.html#organic

seven dollars for a 1.5 cubic foot bag.

Of course lets not forget to amend it with Peat Moss, Perlite, Dolomite Lime, and some good organic fertilizer (Bone Meal, Blood Meal, and Kelp Meal)

I am sure you can add other stuff, but I think for starters its good for beginners.

Anyway just wanted to share this info with everyone, who has had a hard time looking for FoxFarm Soils.

Now yes I do have a worm farm now, so later I won't have to worry about purchasing soil. But that will come later for the newbie.

Yet I still haven't graduated yet to making my own teas. After a few more grows I will finally take the great tea plunge

 

[treewizard]

I'm not saying that it isn't easier to buy a premade soil mix like that, but why not learn how to make your own? You can use meals like bone, blood, cottonseed, or alfalfa which are pretty easy to find. Also look up local horse farms and see if you can have some of their compost. They usually have a big pile of horse shit and bedding. Try to get the darkest most broken down stuff you can. You might luck out and get something that is completely composted or you might have to dig into the pile a little deeper to find the good stuff. Anyways, the beauty of organics is partially due to it's adaptability. Just research what you need and contrast it with what's available. This seeming hurdle is simply a means for you to become a better grower. I mean its easier to simply open a bag and then feed the plants with something out of a bottle at a recomended rate. Its like a boxed dinner. Where as learning how to use soil ammendments properly is more like learning to cook from scratch. It might make you have to soak up a bit more conceptual knowledge but will most likely make you a better more successfull grower in the end. As far as the soil born pests go, that will be an issue that you will most likely run into sooner or later. So you might as well order/find some predatory neematodes, a good mycohorizal innoculant, and get some neem oil concentrate(probably available at Home Depot/Lowes). Good luck! Also choir which absorbs water much more readily than peat (due to a waxy coating which envelops each fiber) is available at Ace around here. You might want to try to get them to order it for you if they don't stock it. I'm just saying if you can find a source for free horse shit compost, not only is it free, but it also will be stocked full of living mycrobes and if composted enough, humates and fulvic acid. Plus if you find a good block of coir, once you mix it with the perlite and compost, you will probably do better than $7 for 1.5 cf. I'm sure that you could use the Lowes stuff as well. I just like to start from scratch.

 

[keico]

I'm not saying that it isn't easier to buy a premade soil mix like that, but why not learn how to make your own? You can use meals like bone, blood, cottonseed, or alfalfa which are pretty easy to find. Also look up local horse farms and see if you can have some of their compost. They usually have a big pile of horse shit and bedding. Try to get the darkest most broken down stuff you can. You might luck out and get something that is completely composted or you might have to dig into the pile a little deeper to find the good stuff. Anyways, the beauty of organics is partially due to it's adaptability. Just research what you need and contrast it with what's available. This seeming hurdle is simply a means for you to become a better grower. I mean its easier to simply open a bag and then feed the plants with something out of a bottle at a recomended rate. Its like a boxed dinner. Where as learning how to use soil ammendments properly is more like learning to cook from scratch. It might make you have to soak up a bit more conceptual knowledge but will most likely make you a better more successfull grower in the end. As far as the soil born pests go, that will be an issue that you will most likely run into sooner or later. So you might as well order/find some predatory neematodes, a good mycohorizal innoculant, and get some neem oil concentrate(probably available at Home Depot/Lowes). Good luck! Also choir which absorbs water much more readily than peat (due to a waxy coating which envelops each fiber) is available at Ace around here. You might want to try to get them to order it for you if they don't stock it. I'm just saying if you can find a source for free horse shit compost, not only is it free, but it also will be stocked full of living mycrobes and if composted enough, humates and fulvic acid. Plus if you find a good block of coir, once you mix it with the perlite and compost, you will probably do better than $7 for 1.5 cf. I'm sure that you could use the Lowes stuff as well. I just like to start from scratch.

I appreciate the advice.

At first I knew nothing about soil mixes, manure, organic, fertilizers, etc

My first grow was with Miraclegro. Welcome to the invansion of fungus gnats. Plus biggest newbie mistake was over fertilizing. Add to that out of control temps, and one plant almost died, the final two produced some ok bud but very airy.

Second grow I went organic. Drove 6 hour round trip just to get FoxFarm, and Premier Peat Moss. Utilized Blazeoneup soil recipe and improved grow box with cooltube, and installed AC in the room. Bought some Neptune's harvest for flowering, and end result was 5 females with better buds, and smoke was better.

Both first grow was bagseed.

Now on my third grow. DIYed my own air cooled hood for better light displacement . Moved operation into larger closet. Ordered some AK48 from Nirvana. Started recycling soil from second grow, utilizing worm BIN. Invested in General Hydro Organics Sample kit (only had to pay S&H) Improved ventilation with better fan.

I have all the supplies I need and then some. I am a firm believer in buying everything in twos . As a matter of fact my 400MH bulb died this morning and I had the replacement ready. Already picked up another one.

While at Lowes today I noticed the soil and wanted to share the info with others who are starting out.

It is a question asked many times by the beginner including myself, about soil. By buying this soil it helps out I think, until your technique can be upgraded to the preferred methods.

I think it takes time to slowly figure things out, and I am still learning, while I am learning I share with others, just like everyone else here.

But thanks again for the info