Tutorial Organics for Beginners

[Mountain High]

I think what it destroy pH is to water with nutrients sometimes...and plain water other time.

You should check your runoff EVERY watering. That tell you how much your plant needs.

If you water with plain water and nutrients somtimes...its not the same ph. You should water evertimes with nutrients but some more ans sometimes less and ALWAYS WITH A RUNOFF to remove the build in salt up down.

Thanks Exo, I do believe I mentioned this ins't my first organic soil grow... I have successfully completed many organic soil grows with bottle organic nutes, AND grows using guano & kelp teas as well. I have never pH'ed the water for these previous grows and they produced the best buds I've grown. This is the first grow with soil ammeded with dry ferts following the 3LB's recipe. The soil had plenty of time to cook (6-8 weeks) and I know it was mixed perfectly with the correct measurement of each ingredient. I have more clones of a different strain rooting at the moment, so I will put these new clones into a lighter mix to see if maybe the soil is too hot for fresh clones. The strain I'm growing (headband) is an extremely heavy feeder so I didn't think it be a problem for them. This headband is VERY finicky and will show signs of veriagation if not dialed in just right and I am seeing some of that now. This is why I want get this issue nipped in the butt asap.

 

[faintfuzzies]

if i make the organic soil mix LC's Soiless Mix #2: can i use foxfarm nutes with it ? instead of the other nute recipes ? this is the recipe that burn one put up

6 parts Pro Mix BX or HP / Sunshine Mix (any flavor from #1 up) / Fox Farm Ocean Forest or Light Warrior
2 parts perlite
2 parts earthworm castings
Powdered (NOT PELLETED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.
If you use a 3 qt. saucepan as “parts” in the amounts given above, it equals about 1 cu. ft. of soiless mix and you can just dump in a cup of powdered dolomite lime. The dolomite lime is for Ca. and Mg. not just to adjust the PH of the soil.

But, a "part" can be anything from a tablespoon to a five gallon bucket. Just use the same item for all of the "parts".

 

[Mountain High]

faintfuzzies, yes, you can use any nutrients with LC mix #2.

LC's mix #1 and #2 are just base mixes. You can buy similar mediums from a store, but it's just cheaper to make your own. When you make it yourself you know exactly what goes into it.

If it matters to you, Foxfarm nutes are not 100% organic. Look for OMRI on the bottle if you want to go 100% organic. They will still give you good results I'm sure.

 

[grapeman]

First grow in amended soil.
I'm really interested in this method and decided to mix up some recycled soil using the 3LB recipe and let it cook for 6 weeks or so. I just planted freshly rooted clones into the soil this week and I am seeing pH issues, rusty spots and kinda droopy. Seems like they don't want to perk up. Roots look healthy, white and filling up the 16 oz beer cup fast. I never adjusted the pH from my past organic bottle nutes grows and I don't know why I see issues now.

I will give them some time and I just watered with some EWC tea, seaweed to see if they come out of it before I try adjusting the pH.

Any tips from the pros?

I'm not a pro but I wouldn't put newly rooted clones in a fully fortified soil. Heavy feeders or not.

 

[faintfuzzies]

Here are some tried and true recipes for getting started in organic growing. Pick one of the first two soiless mix recipes for your grow medium. Then, choose a nutrient recipe that will work best for what you have available.

Enjoy...

Here are two very good organic soiless mixes...

LC's Mix is great for any stage of growth. You can germ seeds in it, grow mothers in it, root clones in it as well as veg and flower in it.

LC’s Soiless Mix #1:

5 parts Canadian Sphagnum Peat or Coir or Pro-Moss
3 parts perlite
2 parts worm castings or mushroom compost or home made compost
Powdered (NOT PELLETED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.
...Wal-Mart now sells worm castings.

Or, if you use Pro Mix, Sunshine Mix or Fox Farm mixes...

LC's Soiless Mix #2:

6 parts Pro Mix BX or HP / Sunshine Mix (any flavor from #1 up) / Fox Farm Ocean Forest or Light Warrior
2 parts perlite
2 parts earthworm castings
Powdered (NOT PELLETED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.
If you use a 3 qt. saucepan as “parts” in the amounts given above, it equals about 1 cu. ft. of soiless mix and you can just dump in a cup of powdered dolomite lime. The dolomite lime is for Ca. and Mg. not just to adjust the PH of the soil.

But, a "part" can be anything from a tablespoon to a five gallon bucket. Just use the same item for all of the "parts".

Now for the plants organic food source

If i use mix #2 can i use store bought organic nutes ?

Thank you

faint

 

[greenmatter]

^^^^yes ...... just remember not to "love" your seedlings to much. the EWC are plenty of fuel for the first couple weeks. babies don't like/need nutes even if they are organic. start slow!

 

[faintfuzzies]

faintfuzzies, yes, you can use any nutrients with LC mix #2.

LC's mix #1 and #2 are just base mixes. You can buy similar mediums from a store, but it's just cheaper to make your own. When you make it yourself you know exactly what goes into it.

If it matters to you, Foxfarm nutes are not 100% organic. Look for OMRI on the bottle if you want to go 100% organic. They will still give you good results I'm sure.

if i make soil recipe #2 the one using sunshine mix #4( i have a bale and want to use it) I will want to find a great organic nute, what would you say to use ? , I would be going to hydro store to buy it. I rather have a ready to use nute rather than finding all the stuff to make nutes or make teas, I dont want to get that involved. does house and garden make a organic nute that would be good for this soil mix #2.

I dont mind using gaunos ,but i dont want the hasle of making teas and stuff like that . I need it to be as easy as possible. one thing i do knowi want to get away from advanced nutes..

 

[StrapAssassin42]

the easiest way to go would be to use one of the dry fert mixes that you use water only...cant get much easier.

use the guano mix if you dont mind guanos.

 

[Mountain High]

I'm not a pro but I wouldn't put newly rooted clones in a fully fortified soil. Heavy feeders or not.

Thanks Grapeman, I agree. I have some different clones rooting now and I'll put them into something a bit lighter.

 

[juskin]

I messed up and didn't put the like into the soil, I just bought it should I still give it like in a root drench or one of the teas? I'm running #3 with guano. I also picked up organic cal may from gh if I use that should it be every feed in bloom?

 

[Mountain High]

Juskin, the lime needs to be mixed into the soil. Remember to add the lime to the unused soil for next time. The GO cal mag should be used if you see a calcium or magnesium deficiency, its nice to have some on hand just incase you need it.

 

[BOMBAYCAT]

BurnOne: I found this very helpful. I just had a pH blowup with a commercial organic soiless mix and I am planning to use LC's Mix #1. What is your opinion of Roots formula 707. I think it is more of a Hydro type mix since it uses coco coir but it seems to have a lot of good ingredients in it. I am a MMJ card hobbist gardener who doesn't want to fuss with a lot of ammendments. A commercial product to which I add a few ammendments would be perfect for me. Hey thanks.

 

[alittlebirdie]

All I got from Roots Organics' 707 were gnats and nute burn.

 

[cmoney_bags]

For tea flowering tea mix does this need to be diluted after the 2cups dry mix makes the 5gallon?

 

[antheis]

i took the organic plunge.
using lc's #1 mix with the water only dry nutes mixed in.
i've got 5 plants going in 2 gallon smart pots. plants really started to take off after i added the blumats, which are highly recommended.
thanks for all the tireless work you've done in this thread, b1.

 

[juskin]

So the lime came from amazon and it's pellets any recommendation on how to purify? I tried a ziplock bag and mallet but didn't have much luck is there a bad consequence if it's not super pure fine powder?

 

[Mr Jay]

Go low tech and grind them between two stones. Worked for me. Not many situations in life you can't fix by banging two rocks together and hooting.

 

[StrapAssassin42]

Hey guys, I'm getting ready for this spring (thinking about it anyway)...here's my plan, anyone forsee any issues or have any suggestions. (Outdoor)

-Use LC's mix #1 with the guano recipe mixed in.

-Put my autos in a hole with 3-4 gallons of the mix in them.
-You think i will need to use supplemental nutes for my autos?

-Put my full season plants in holes with approx. 10 gallons of mix in them.
- I realize i will likely need to feed these plants down the road.

-How much of the mix should i use (how big of hole) for my guerilla gold plants?

Thanks for any input!

 

[h.h.]

Directed at a couple different posts....
Use the same size hole as you would a pot. The roots will tend to stay in the medium and not venture out where there is comparably little for them in the way of food, air and water.
While 10 gallons should be sufficient, 50 gallons is better. Use as much as you can afford and feel like digging in. A lot depending on the surrounding soil for wicking action and drainage.
This kind of makes me wonder if amending existing soil is preferable over replacing it. I guess it would depend on the soil.

As for Roots 707, I can get better stuff at Lowe's or HD. Their other mediums are pretty good, though there are better one's on the market nowadays or at least more available.

Teas can be made in small amounts without any sort of mess or hassle.Still you can use a good top dress and do pretty much the same thing. Mix a dash of microbes to your water ever so often. Not using ACT is no reason to run to bottled nutes.

 

[grapeman]

So the lime came from amazon and it's pellets any recommendation on how to purify? I tried a ziplock bag and mallet but didn't have much luck is there a bad consequence if it's not super pure fine powder?

This is what you want if you cannot find small quantities at your local nursery supply.



Peaceful Valley Supply.

http://www.groworganic.com/dolomite-50-lb.html

A 50# bag for $12. I think if you look at ag suppliers, you might find if even cheaper and avoid shipping charges. I ran out of time last month and ordered this bag and total cost was $30 via fedex ground. Expensive but arrived in 2 days and saved me time looking around.