I need a new soil medium. Here's the limitations..

[FreeThePlant]

As I have a thread open regarding plant issues (either nutrient burn, pH issues or something else) I began to realize that it may just simply be genetics and FFOF, as I've heard a lot of people say that FFOF is somewhat "hot" for certain genetics and can burn the plants.

Anyway. I need a new soil mix. Hopefully to avoid buying the expensive FFOF over and over again. I do have some limitations, but anything that I can buy in-person (to avoid hefty shipping charges) is fine, but in my area (PA) the only option seems to be HTGS or the local home depot, lowes, etc.

HTGS carries:

FF Light Warrior
FF Ocean Forest
FF Happy Frog
Perlite (additional amendment)
Pro-Mix BX
Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic
Roots Organic Potting Soil
Roots Organic Cocofiber

I am seeking a soil mix that is pH balanced for what we grow (from what I hear that is 6.5-6.8) and is easily obtainable. If I have to buy some amendments online that isn't an issue, but the bulk of it must be bought in person to avoid the shipping issues.

Secondly, I tried Sunleaves Bricked Coco and many have said that most bricked coco has unflushed salts and you must flush before use - I do not have the ability to do so being I am in a highly residential area and due to the setup it would be impossible for me to be lugging rubbermaids full of coco, flushing, carrying up flights of stairs, etc. I have my own home but at the same time I need to go the easiest route possible here.

I hear many refer people to buy a certain soil, add this, add that, such as lime for pH balance, perlite for aeration, etc. I need quick recommendations as I'll be making a purchase in the next ~2-3 weeks. All ideas welcome, but please keep in mind I'd like to hear something that has been tried and tested! Thanks!

 

[Chronito]

Hi Free,

Im not sure which medium to pick from the ones you listed as im from different area BUT whichever one u pick i would 100% run dolomite lime in the mix. Theres a sticky thread on the Virtues of Dolomite Lime (its in the Organic Soil section), i swear by this stuff for helping keep the PH of your soil inline as well as preventing Cal/Mg deficincies. Very very good stuff to give your girls and its basically impossible to hurt your plants using this, it will only help.. It has a neutral PH. The best way ive found to use it is simply mix it in your soil mix at the very start. You can also use it during your grow by top dressing it into your soil.

I also run a small amount of worm castings, and neem powder in my soil mix.. by mixing it all in the soil at the start i find i really only have to feed maybe 1time in veg and a couple times in flower.. the rest of the time just give them straight water.

Just my 2 cents

take care & good luck
Chronito

 

[Hydrofarm420]

Im definitely inclined to agree with Chronito on the dolomite lime. I've had pH problems in the past and it definitely helped. Doesnt really add any substantial amount of time to your prep either. The other thing is that I've used roots organic and its not a bad soil, however that being said I would STRONGLY recommend you sterilize that soil. It has all kinds of insect and parasite larvae in it (especially fungus gnats) that would be unwise to allow to stay. Im currently using FFOF with no issues but I only nuted once during a 3 month veg period and my strain doesnt seem to have a problem with it. Cant say for the promix but if I'm not mistaken thats a soilless mix. That might be exactly right for your setup as they contain no nutes on their own. Just my 2 cents.

 

[geopolitical]

Promix ultimate organic is moderately close to the mix I use now, except mine has more perlite & compost. Dolomite lime isn't a necessity, but it can certainly help buffer against acidity & our favorite plant is a pretty heavy magnesium feeder and it's a nice slow-release additive just for that purpose. The more compost in my mix the less dolomite I seem to need but I'll tend to add it anytime in doubt. Promix ultimate seems to have limestone already in it to help buffer acidity. I would try just using it strait out of the bag to be honest, if you find you're trending acid well after the fact you can always top dress with a little dolomite after the fact.

 

[Chronito]

Foking fungas gnats, OMG i hate them to death!!!

Good news is.. they're easy as to get rid of them.

Step 1: Disrupt the breeding cycle.

Place a layer of pumice, perlite etc approx 1inch thick on top of grow medium.. this will stop those fokrs from entering your soil and laying the larvae that eat your plants alive literally! Its a slight pain in the ass with the layer on top for a week or 2..just remove and replace when it comes to watering time.. After about 10-14 days the hatched larvae will all be dead and u can remove the top amendment layer for good....

NOTE: Forget about top dressing your soil with pyrethums etc.. this will disrupt them but NOT destroy them.

Step 2: Place yellow sticky traps barely above plant canopy.

This will catch the adult gnats as they are weak flyers they tend to fly straight into the traps over about a 7 day period.

Step 3 (optional) : Talk to the adult gnats as u trap them on your sticky traps and rejoice.

As above watch those adulkt gnats fly onto your sticky traps and then laugh and torment them as they die slowly.. One of my favourite things is to tell them that their time IS upon them.. makes me feel like Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry,or maybe Mel Gibson in Payback!

My soil also came with complimentary fungas gnats, oh how i enjoyed engineering their destruction!

chronito

 

[moonie]

1 bag of Happyfrog to 1 of the medium sized bags of perlite is great, just perfect almost. I go to the Do It center, Home depot basically. I think its a 6 liter bag of perlite? Maybe 12? But yeah, keeps my PH right around 6.6

 

[bcell]

I had used FFOF last run and had signs of over fert in early flower with no additional nutes. Cost of soil is an issue - spent more on soil than seeds.

I made the switch to ProMix BX this grow and results so far are great with 2 tsp/gal of Botanicare Pure Blend Pro every water.

 

[Hydrofarm420]

So then I take it I was incorrect in my statement about Promix being soilless mix. So is the stuff just regular organic and non organic soil like FF or Roots?

 

[mrheadie]

ok guys, after trying different mixes over the years, we've found our best mix to be;
1 bale promix (use promix bx now w/mycro)
1 bag ffof
1 small bag of perlite

this mix has been great for us. the ffof is to strong by itself and expensive. the promix is good by itself, but we saw healthier plants with ffof mixed in. we also fortify our mix with sub culture b treated water and we run the whole ff line. though i cant say that you'll have the same results as us, i will say i think you will be happy.

also, watch out for the coco. we had bricks that were infested with fungus knats and took months to iradicate. never had a problem with any promix or ffof. hope this helps. gl

 

[GanjaSnake]

I'm in!

600W w/cool tube, I've run many different soils and I've found the best results with a mix similar to the above post..
3 part promix
1 part Black Gold or FFOF
1 part generic compost from home depot
1 part EWC
1 part perlite

Add in 1/3c cup of dolomite lime for every 5gal bucket of mix, and if it's a flower mix I'll usually add in 1/2 cup of Indonesian bat guano to a 5gal bucket.

 

[yukonjoe]

Dude check out cdgrowlights.com dirt cheap shipping costs. Best price I have found for FFOF.

 

[FreeThePlant]

Okay so judging from all of your recommendations, it seems as if the best possible mixture (with what i have available to me for in-store pickup)

- Pro-Mix BX
- FFOF
- Perlite (is additional perlite necessary being FFOF has chunky perlite and pro-mix is peat-based?)
- Dolomite Lime

Now how would you all break this down (IE, how many parts of promix, ffof, perlite, etc.)

PS, yukon thanks for the site but a bag of FFOF at HTGS is ~23-24 after tax while shipping from that site is $30 a bag

Also, where online can i get a bag of dolomite lime, or are there any particular brand recommendations or places to get it? A quick google search shows some available at Lowes, but I'm wary of big-box stores that provide sub-par products for our "specialty"....also, i don't need 40 pounds as the search found...lol

 

[FreeThePlant]

edit

 

[Madrus Rose]

Okay so judging from all of your recommendations, it seems as if the best possible mixture (with what i have available to me for in-store pickup)

- Pro-Mix BX
- FFOF
- Perlite (is additional perlite necessary being FFOF has chunky perlite and pro-mix is peat-based?)
- Dolomite Lime

Now how would you all break this down (IE, how many parts of promix, ffof, perlite, etc.)

Like Mr Headie or ganjasnake's recipies ...or

just add a "1" in front of each of those above & u pretty well got it .
They already have the dolomite in them ...could add a lil more ,
any lowes , depot , nursery carry's

Like a good chef add the perlite last "to taste"... start with 1/2 bag
...then you would be good to go , cept the EWCastings which mixed
in or top dressed and are the best thing to amend with .

 

[SirTOKESalot]

Did not see any pics, but you should know that ICE is just a touchy plant, durring Veg they cant handle much at all, in flower they can be pumped up a little bit. But yeah, that might be part of your problem.

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

Check out blazeoneups perpetual soil thread, he has an awesome add water only mix I have been using for 5-6 rounds now.

 

[Chronito]

Okay so judging from all of your recommendations, it seems as if the best possible mixture (with what i have available to me for in-store pickup)

- Pro-Mix BX
- FFOF
- Perlite (is additional perlite necessary being FFOF has chunky perlite and pro-mix is peat-based?)
- Dolomite Lime

Now how would you all break this down (IE, how many parts of promix, ffof, perlite, etc.)

PS, yukon thanks for the site but a bag of FFOF at HTGS is ~23-24 after tax while shipping from that site is $30 a bag

I would also add worm castings to that mix free. They provide a solid available nitrogen base for your plants in veg. In terms of quantity it will vary very widely depending on who u ask but personally i use about 2 big handfuls worth in a 5 gallon bag. (Very scientific of me huh..)

Good Luck man
Chronito

 

[FreeThePlant]

thanks pure, will be sure to do so. EWC noted!

here are the pics, sorry, i selected private album

i attribute the crappy deficiencies to the soil mix...lets hope that when i bump up to 2,400 watts in 2-3 weeks it'll turn out better with a new soil mix

 

[FreeThePlant]

also, here's what i can find from BOU's thread

mix:

1 bag foxfarm ocean forest
1 bag foxfarm happy frog
1 bail bcuzz hydro mix
1&1/4 cup blood meal
1&1/4 cup bone meal
4 cups earth worm castings
3/4 cup of powdered lime
20-30% chunky perlite

my question is, when does it become 'overkill' for a soil mix? i don't have much privacy outdoors due to being in a highly residential area, so starting a compost or "reusing" soil isn't an option sometimes as everything i must do will be indoors, not to mention there's a lot involved from what i hear with reusing soil as the nutrients are sucked out of it from the plant.

 

[kstampy]

Happy frog + another 25-30% perlite works nicely for me to get more waterings, I have had pretty good runs in straight HF too but it stayed wet for a while. The plants are good for nutes for a lil bit too depending on size.