Soil/Nute concerns

[Chamez]

After reading about the Lucas formula online (here at IC and the Lucas website) I decided to use Floranova Bloom as the sole nute for my next grow.

The growing medium is going to be soil:
40 Percent FFOF
40 Percent FFLW
20 Percent Perlite
In addition, I am going to add some dolomite lime and EWC to the soil during veg, and some Bat Guano during flower.

R/O water will be used as well.

I have 2 concerns about this combination.

The first is pH. I really dont want to have to adjust pH at all, and I think this combination will allow that. Does anyone disagree with this?

My other concern is micro elements. Does Floranova Bloom contain enough of the micro elements that the plant will need like Cal, Mg, Mn, etc?

 

[maryj315]

I have used that mix previously except, I used one bag of ffof to one bag of light warrior and 1 tbls of lime per gallon of soil. That would get me through veg and 4 weeks into flower using just plain water.

If you are going to apply ewc I would just use them as a top dressing. Guano I would stay away from, unless you are well-versed in using them. Moving on to your water add some tap back to your rez and that should take care of micros depending on your strain.

If you choose to use flora nova then get prepared to shake the hell out of before every use. Do not go crazy with it lots of good info floating around here addressing the use of flora nova. It would be wise to take advantage of it and save yourself some bad experiences.

I personally do not concern myself with ph, but I used to and a lot of other growers I respect suggest to do so your call on that one.

Mj

 

[pinecone]

The growing medium is going to be soil:
40 Percent FFOF
40 Percent FFLW
20 Percent Perlite
In addition, I am going to add some dolomite lime and EWC to the soil during veg, and some Bat Guano during flower.

FFOF and FFLW already have a bunch of perlite in them. Unless you are adding a bunch of castings I would recommend against adding more perlite. It isn't needed.

Also, add the castings to the veg and flower mix - or topdress you pots with a thick layer. Castings are a great source of microbial life and micronutrients. I suggest mixing in the P. guano at the outset as it takes time to break down. N. guano is avaiable faster in my experience so can be top dressed as needed.

I really dont want to have to adjust pH at all, and I think this combination will allow that. Does anyone disagree with this?

You have this sort of odd hybrid between an organic and non-organic grow in that you are using FF soil, castings, guano, and FloraNova. With just the FF soil, castings, and guano I can tell you from experience that you won't need to worry about pH. I'm not sure about the FloraNova though. Personally I don't think you need it. Just get some molasses or kelp for a K source and you should be good to go.

My other concern is micro elements. Does Floranova Bloom contain enough of the micro elements that the plant will need like Cal, Mg, Mn, etc?

Castings is rich in micros. Also, FFOF has other things it it that supply micros (guano, kelp, oyster shell). I have been using RO water in an organic grow (with castings, kelp, guano, ect) and have no micro deficiencies. You should be good even without the FloraNova.

Good luck

Pine

 

[Chamez]

Thanks for the responses. After reading this, I'll add the bat guano immediatly and drop the amount of perlite.

I'm also starting to second guess using lime. I found a few articles yesterday saying that lime takes a long time to break down to the point of usefullness, and unless you let the soil mixture sit for 6 months there is no benefit to using lime.

Should I buy epsom salts as well just to have on hand in case they are needed?

 

[maryj315]

Thanks for the responses. After reading this, I'll add the bat guano immediatly and drop the amount of perlite.

I'm also starting to second guess using lime. I found a few articles yesterday saying that lime takes a long time to break down to the point of usefullness, and unless you let the soil mixture sit for 6 months there is no benefit to using lime.

Should I buy epsom salts as well just to have on hand in case they are needed?

What you read was correct yet it will have an immediate effect on the ph of your soil.

If you decide not to use it be on the look out for your ph levels to drop a few weeks into flower.

Mj

 

[Chamez]

Damn- I was avoiding lime because I didn't want to lug a 50lb bag home. That was the smallest size the organic store had. Can anyone suggest a decent brand that I can find online and have shipped?

 

[maryj315]

On the condition that you have got a localized source you are in luck a lot of members, including myself had to scour high and low to locate it.

If you intend on harvesting a crop every 70 days you are going to go through that bag faster than you conceive. Place it up in a dry spot and disregard it until your next use.

Mj