Top Dressing & Side Dressing organic techniques

[Tilt]

I have read in many threads that alot of people use top dressing in their grows. I would like to start a discussion on various techniques the community uses. I would like to incorporate dressings into my grow. Suggestion and ideas wlecome. Here are some of my own questions and concerns.

1. difference between side dress and top dress.
2. ewc slurry?
3. what to use and when to use it
4. Is mulch cover a dressing or just cover?
5. application rates of guano, do you mix it or apply directly.
6. pest control in the soil?
7. ph adjustment. I know it should not be a factor unless you screwed up.
8. vegetative top dressings
9. flowering top dressings
10 correcting deficiencies

I know this is a broad topic. I know teas are very effective. I don't want ignore the potential benefits of a technique in the garden though.

 

[jaykush]

heres what i can answer.

2. ewc slurry? - a mix of about equal parts EWC and water, making a slurry paste.
3. what to use and when to use it - this is completely material dependent. know your materials and you will know when to apply.
4. Is mulch cover a dressing or just cover? - both, regular additional top dressings can be put on top of the mulch and watered in.
5. application rates of guano, do you mix it or apply directly. - you can mix in the soil, scratch it in if you dont have mulch, or just put it on the mulch and water in.
6. pest control in the soil? - diversity.
7. ph adjustment. I know it should not be a factor unless you screwed up. - you gotta screw up pretty bad lol, if so apply EWC slurry.
8. vegetative top dressings - too many to list.
9. flowering top dressings - too many to list
10 correcting deficiencies - diversity before, no deficiencies later.

 

[Iron_Lion]

heres what i can answer.

2. ewc slurry? - a mix of about equal parts EWC and water, making a slurry paste.
3. what to use and when to use it - this is completely material dependent. know your materials and you will know when to apply.
4. Is mulch cover a dressing or just cover? - both, regular additional top dressings can be put on top of the mulch and watered in.
5. application rates of guano, do you mix it or apply directly. - you can mix in the soil, scratch it in if you dont have mulch, or just put it on the mulch and water in.
6. pest control in the soil? - diversity.
7. ph adjustment. I know it should not be a factor unless you screwed up. - you gotta screw up pretty bad lol, if so apply EWC slurry.
8. vegetative top dressings - too many to list.
9. flowering top dressings - too many to list
10 correcting deficiencies - diversity before, no deficiencies later.

That should be stickied, that is excellent, and straight to the point for quick reference.

 

[vonforne]

10 correcting deficiencies - diversity before, no deficiencies later.

I think this is the most important part of Jays post.

6. pest control in the soil? - diversity

.

along with this one.

V

 

[Tilt]

heres what i can answer.

2. ewc slurry? - a mix of about equal parts EWC and water, making a slurry paste.
3. what to use and when to use it - this is completely material dependent. know your materials and you will know when to apply.
4. Is mulch cover a dressing or just cover? - both, regular additional top dressings can be put on top of the mulch and watered in.
5. application rates of guano, do you mix it or apply directly. - you can mix in the soil, scratch it in if you dont have mulch, or just put it on the mulch and water in.
6. pest control in the soil? - diversity.
7. ph adjustment. I know it should not be a factor unless you screwed up. - you gotta screw up pretty bad lol, if so apply EWC slurry.
8. vegetative top dressings - too many to list.
9. flowering top dressings - too many to list
10 correcting deficiencies - diversity before, no deficiencies later.

What do you use currently in your garden for #8 and #9 and maybe why....

Also does dressings always need to be composted or can you put it on green ie alfalfa

 

[jaykush]

i use whatever i have around me, mostly composts, plant meals/extracts, rock powders and whatever nature provides.

because its free, and you cant get more natural and imo high quality nugs.

 

[guest2012y]

WORD!
correcting deficiencies - diversity before, no deficiencies later.

 

[Tilt]

i use whatever i have around me, mostly composts, plant meals/extracts, rock powders and whatever nature provides.

because its free, and you cant get more natural and imo high quality nugs.

I live in the desert southwest not sure about what is available locally as a natural resource. We have almost 0 agriculture here.

 

[jaykush]

tilt i was not talking about agriculture, as far as im concerned whatever modern agriculture has to offer. ill pass. nature provides better. no matter where you live on the planet( excluding the north and south pole, and extreme sand deserts, salt flats) you have the materials you need around you im 100% sure of it. i used to live in a high desert, most would say there is nothing around, yet i found there to be more stuff than i could possibly ever use, i just had to get the whole "lets go to the store and get what i need" thing out of my head.

go take a hike, see whats around you. what nature uses for "fertilizers"